All Chapters of SHADOWED DECEPTION: Unraveling The Truth : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Jessica's POV I stand in front of Michael’s door, tapping my fingers impatiently against my thigh. I know he’s home I made sure of that before coming here. A few seconds later, the door swings open, and there he is, standing shirtless with a towel slung over his shoulder. His face twists into a frown the second he sees me."What the hell are you doing here, Jessica?" he asks, leaning against the doorframe.I smirk, stepping forward. "Relax, Michael. I just came to have a word with you."His eyebrows shoot up in surprise. "You left with Stanley yesterday, and now you're here looking for me? What could you possibly want to talk about?"I push past him into the house, ignoring his groan of frustration. "I need you to do something for me. And if you agree, you’ll get a huge sum of money in return."Michael shuts the door, folding his arms. "Jessica, I don’t need your money. What kind of favor could you possibly want from me?"I take a deep breath, pretending to hesitate before droppi

Stanley's POV The night air is cool, but it does nothing to soothe the rage burning inside me. My fists clench at my sides as I stride toward the little lab house, my guards making sure no one is following.I don’t know why I even feel nervous. I already know what I’m about to hear, but a small part of me is still clinging to the possibility that maybe—just maybe—I was wrong.Mrs. Eliot is sitting behind her desk when I step into her office. She looks up, takes one glance at my face, and shakes her head."Sit down, Stanley.""I’m not here to sit," I snap. "I’m here for answers."She exhales slowly, folding her hands on the desk. "I know. But you’re not going to like the answer."My stomach tightens. "Just say it.""The DNA doesn’t match," she says, her voice firm but laced with sympathy. "You are not Aurora’s father."For a moment, my entire world tilts.I force out a breath, clenching my jaw so tight it hurts.She keeps talking, her voice softer now. "Stanley, I think it’s ti

Stanley's POV I watch as Jessica walks back into the room, her expression unreadable, but I know better. That was an important call. The way she left abruptly, the way she kept her voice low she’s hiding something.She catches me staring and tilts her head. "What?"I don’t look away. "Who was that?"She shrugs, walking toward the mirror to adjust her earrings. "No one important. Just business."I narrow my eyes. "Business? At this hour?"Jessica rolls her eyes. "Yes, Stanley. Business doesn’t have a curfew."Before I can push further, my phone rings. My chest tightens as I glance at the screen an unknown number. But I know it’s not just any random call. I answer, pressing the phone to my ear."Mr. Lockwood?"I recognize the voice immediately—one of the officers from the local precinct."We received a report of gunfire at Mrs. Flora Lockwood’s residence. A bullet went through her window. No casualties, but we’re investigating. Just thought you should know."My grip tightens ar

Senator Jones’ POVI lean back in my chair, a smug grin on my face as I swirl the whiskey in my glass. The office is dimly lit, the only source of light coming from the cigar burning slowly between my fingers. The phone is pressed against my ear, and on the other end, the boss chuckles."You should’ve seen the look on Stanley’s face," I say, exhaling a puff of smoke. "He bought it completely. He actually believes Flora is shacking up with some secret lover."The boss laughs a deep, rich sound that holds the weight of power. "Good. That fool has always been easy to manipulate. His ego won’t let him think clearly when it comes to her.""Exactly," I say, taking a sip of my whiskey. "It’s all working perfectly. His anger keeps him distracted. He’s so consumed with proving Flora is unworthy that he won’t see what’s really happening right under his nose."The boss hums in satisfaction before his tone shifts. "Now, about Jessica…"I raise an eyebrow. "What about her?""She’s been play

Flora’s POVMy footsteps echo against the cold concrete as I climb the last set of stairs leading to the rooftop. My heart pounds with every step, and my fingers grip the rail tightly, as if letting go would send me spiraling into the unknown.When I push open the heavy metal door, the crisp night air greets me, sending a shiver down my spine. The city sprawls beneath me, lights flickering like a million secrets waiting to be uncovered.I step out cautiously, my eyes scanning every corner. There’s no one here.The rooftop is eerily quiet, except for the distant hum of traffic and the occasional gust of wind. The paranoia settles in my bones—I shouldn’t be here. This feels like a setup.I wrap my arms around myself, glancing over my shoulder, expecting someone to emerge from the shadows. But nothing happens.Then, my phone vibrates in my hand.The sharp buzz startles me, and I nearly drop it. My breath hitches as I glance at the screen. Unknown Number.I don’t answer.My hands are