Semua Bab SHADOWED DECEPTION: Unraveling The Truth : Bab 41 - Bab 50

Stanley’s POV The sound of Jessica’s voice is a constant buzz in the background. She’s talking—again—about her upcoming fashion show, how the biggest names in the industry are lining up to work with her, how she’s becoming the face of luxury fashion. I sit across from her in the private dining area, my fork lazily pushing around the food on my plate. I nod occasionally, pretending to be engaged, but the truth is, I’m not listening. I stopped listening to Jessica a long time ago. She’s always talking about herself, about her success, about how lucky I am to have her by my side. I don’t remember ever asking for any of it. I take a sip of my drink, shifting my attention to the invitation card in my hand. The gold-trimmed edges catch the dim lighting, and I read the details again. A mask party. Senator Jones' birthday. A night of networking and political positioning. Jessica’s voice suddenly cuts off, and I feel her eyes on me. "What’s that?" she asks, tilting her head in curio

Jessica’s POVThe night feels suffocating. The chandeliers cast their golden glow over the grand hall, laughter and chatter filling the air, but I hear none of it. I see none of it. The people around me are dressed in opulence, their masked faces barely hiding the judgment in their eyes.I force a smile as I sip my champagne, but I can still feel their whispers slicing through me like knives. She’s not Flora. She doesn’t belong here. Stanley made a mistake.No matter how much I tell myself it doesn’t matter, that they’ll all come around eventually, it still stings. They don’t know me. They don’t know what I’m capable of.I glance around the room, searching for Stanley. I need him by my side. If they see us together, maybe they’ll take me seriously. But he’s nowhere in sight.A flicker of movement by the balcony catches my attention. My heart skips a beat. Stanley is standing outside, leaning against the railing, his back turned to the party, his entire posture tense. Something

Flora’s POVMy phone vibrates in my hand, and for a moment, I hesitate. I’m afraid of what I might see. With shaky fingers, I unlock the screen and open the message.A cold wave of fear crashes over me.It’s a picture.My mother and Aurora. Tied up. Their eyes wide with terror. A dark room surrounds them, shadows creeping along the walls.I gasp, a strangled sound escaping my throat. My heart pounds so loudly I can barely hear myself think. My breathing becomes shallow as I stare at the image, my mind scrambling for a way out of this nightmare.Then another message appears."Your move. No police. No games. You should’ve come to the party. Actions have consequences."My fingers tighten around the phone. I have to do something. I can’t lose them. I can’t let them suffer because of me.There’s only one person I know who has the power to help me.Senator Jones.I rush out of the offic

Stanley’s POV The cold space beside me is the first thing I notice when I wake up. Jessica is gone. A deep breath leaves my chest, and for a brief moment, I savor the peace that her absence brings. But that relief is short-lived. If Jessica isn’t in bed, then she’s somewhere else in this house, plotting something.I run a hand down my face, pushing off the last remnants of sleep before heading to the bathroom. A splash of cold water does nothing to shake the unease settling in my stomach. I brush my teeth quickly and throw on a shirt before making my way downstairs, bracing myself for whatever chaos awaits.As I step into the dining room, I find Chloe and my mother already seated. They’re not eating. Instead, they’re both looking at me with smug, almost expectant expressions. It’s unsettling.“What?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.“Everything,” my mother replies without missing a beat. “Everything is wrong.”I exhale slowly, already tired of this conversation before it even begins. “A

Flora’s POV I’m almost done packing up for the day when I hear footsteps approaching my office. The air shifts slightly, alerting me to an unwelcome presence before I even look up.The agent stands at the door, arms folded, eyes sharp and observant. She tilts her head, studying me with a smirk that makes my skin crawl.“Are you okay?” she asks, her voice deceptively casual, but I can hear the undertone of something else. Something unreadable.I force a smile, straightening my posture. “I’m perfectly fine.” My voice is even, controlled. But my hands clench slightly around the papers on my desk, betraying the nerves I refuse to show.The agent steps further inside, her smirk widening. “Good,” she says, pausing for effect. “Because you never know what might happen next if you fail in this job.”I stiffen, my patience thinning. I’ve had enough of cryptic warnings and veiled threats.I meet her gaze directly, my tone unwavering. “Don’t threaten me. I’ll do what I want, and no one will