All Chapters of BENEATH THE LIES : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

032[CHARLES’ POV]I couldn’t have prepared myself for what I saw downstairs—Alora in Stanley’s arms. That wasn’t just acting. No. That went way beyond what the plan required.The way she clung to him, head resting gently on his chest like he was her safe place… it was too natural, too intimate. And Stanley—he held her like she belonged to him. Like she wasn’t mine.My chest tightened, a painful knot forming just beneath my ribs. I stormed into my room and slammed the door shut, the echo a poor substitute for the scream building in my throat.“Damn it!” I hissed, slamming my fist into the wall. The sharp sting that shot through my knuckles was nothing compared to the fire burning in my chest. The girl I loved—no, the girl I still love—was falling into someone else’s arms, right before my eyes.I sat on the edge of my bed, hands tangled in my hair, breathing hard. Every time I tried to block out the image, it came back stronger—Alora, wrapped in Stanley’s arms, like she belonged there.

034CHARLES' POVI stared at the scene unfolding before me, my fingers tightening around the edge of the table. My jaw locked, chest heaving. I couldn't take it anymore."What?" I said aloud, louder than I meant to—but I didn’t care. The words flew out like a bullet. My voice sliced through the silence in the room, making everyone turn.Stanley didn’t even blink. My own friend. My so-called friend, standing there with a damn ring box, proposing to the one woman who made my heart race.He said it was all an act.An act?This—this was too far.Alora was only supposed to pose as his fiancée. Just for appearances. Just until his mother left. That was the deal. That was the line.And now he was crossing it. Publicly. Boldly. Like none of it mattered.“Is there anything wrong, Charles?” Stanley’s mother asked, her voice coated in concern, but it was laced with the kind of judgment that sliced deeper than kindness ever could.All eyes were on me. Burning. Questioning.I swallowed. My fists c

036ASH'S POV"Ash!" The director’s voice sliced through the silence, snapping me out of the fog clouding my mind.My eyes blinked rapidly as the cheers died down, all eyes on me, the girl who'd just ruined a flawless scene with a misplaced bite. Drake looked at me, confused and slightly concerned."What just happened?" the director asked, adjusting his glasses. "You were doing great and then—""I... I’m sorry," I cut in quickly, pushing strands of hair out of my face and faking a confident smile. "I lost focus for a second. I'd like to do it again. Please. Just one more take."He looked at me long and hard, then at the casting team. A brief pause."Fine," he said at last. "One more shot. Make it count."Drake gave me a reassuring nod. I tried to ignore the chill crawling up my spine as I took my place again, but it wasn’t easy. My eyes involuntarily scanned the crowd. Clark was gone. Like he was never there. But I knew what I'd seen—his grin, his cane, that goddamn hat."Action!"The

038As Stanley knelt before me, a heavy silence seemed to fall over the room. His leg was bent at an awkward angle, and his hand stretched forward, presenting the diamond ring with an air of uncertainty. My gaze flicked to his mother, whose mouth hung open in sheer excitement. Her joy was contagious, radiating like a beacon in the room. But, for some reason, I couldn’t shake the unease gnawing at my insides. This was all an act, yet the weight of the moment felt too real. I gulped, trying to steady my breathing. You got this, Alora, I whispered to myself. Just act natural. Pretend it’s real. Without missing a beat, I covered my mouth, letting out a soft gasp. “Oh my God, Stanley,” I exclaimed, my voice trembling with the right amount of surprise. I took a small step forward, my cheeks flushing crimson, feigning the deep, overwhelming emotion that was supposed to be there. “I’ve always waited for this day, Stanley,” I said, my voice quivering with fake excitement. “The day you’d put

040“What is it, Ash?” Drake asked as he walked towards me.I quickly switched off my phone. “It's nothing, Drake. Let’s… get back to where we were,” I said as I sent my finger running down his chest.At this point, his dick was already painfully hard again, veins pulsing like it had a mind of its own. The hunger in his eyes made my breath hitch. I reached for it, wrapping my fingers around its thick length, feeling the heat burn against my skin. With a smirk, I dragged him toward the bed."Get on," I commanded, but he didn’t resist. He let me take control—at least for a moment.Once we reached the bed, I shoved him down and straddled his lap. My fingers traced a slow, tantalizing path down his chest, making him groan. I watched his muscles tighten beneath my touch. Then, without breaking eye contact, I lowered myself onto his dick, inch by thick inch.A hiss escaped his lips as I seated him fully inside me. The stretch was delicious, intense, and it made my toes curl.I started slow—