Chapter 1

Latest chapter

• Love in Deceit   Chapter 42

  VLADIMIR POVFLASHBACKVladimir’s Private Library – After MidnightThe city had gone quiet by then. New York’s usual hum had settled into something softer — like the moment between breaths. In his penthouse library, the only sound came from the low crackling of the fireplace and the gentle rustle of pages turning. Ayala sat curled on the corner of the leather chaise, her legs tucked beneath her, barefoot, wearing one of his oversized shirts that swallowed her frame in the best way.Vladimir had watched her for over five minutes without saying a word.He didn’t know why this particular night felt heavier — maybe because the world outside had paused, and for once, so had they. No meetings. No rivals. No Irina. No Alexei. Just her. Her and that damn book she barely seemed to read because her mind kept wandering.“Are you bored?” he asked finally, his voice low.She didn’t look up. “No.”“You’ve been on the same page for ten minutes.”She smiled, the kind of smile that tugged more at his

• Love in Deceit   Chapter 41

  AYALA POVThe sound came just as I stepped back from the canvas to evaluate the color balance—three soft knocks on the studio door. Not forceful. Not hesitant. Just… measured.My heart jumped.I wiped my hands on a paint-stained rag, my pulse already quickening. Part of me whispered Vladimir. But it was too soon, wasn’t it?I crossed the room slowly, peeking through the window first.It wasn’t him.A man stood on the stoop. Mid-thirties, maybe older, in a sharply cut gray coat and dark trousers. His hair was cleanly trimmed, his jawline angular. Hands behind his back like he’d been waiting a while.And he wasn’t alone.Behind him, parked across the street, was a black town car. Not flashy. Just… expensive in the way quiet power always was.I opened the door a crack.“Can I help you?”The man nodded politely, his voice low and smooth. “Miss Shomer?”“Yes,” I said cautiously.“I represent the foundation that awarded your grant. I was asked to deliver a personal letter—along with a few c

• Love in Deceit   Chapter 40

  Vladimir POV – Two Days After the GalaI watched her from the sidelines.Not literally, no. Ayala had vanished from my physical world the moment she ran out those gallery doors, the hem of her navy silk dress fluttering like a war flag in the wind. But I watched her everywhere else — the headlines, the interviews she ignored, the photos flooding my inbox from agencies trying to capitalize on the scene. And what a scene we had made.I had never felt so ashamed in my life.Alexei and I, raised like two branches from the same cursed tree, had brought our feud to the altar of her career. We turned her moment into a battlefield — two egos jousting for dominance in front of a crowd that only wanted to watch her shine. I had wanted to protect her. And instead, I humiliated her.I could still see the betrayal in her eyes when she looked at me. Not anger — not rage. That would have been easier. What she gave me was worse: disappointment. As if she expected better of me. As if some part of her

• Love in Deceit   Chapter 39

  Ayala – Two Days LaterI was followed by Alexie and a stranger, not Vladimir. It made my heart ache, and I expected more.“Ayala! Hold up” Alexie screamed for me.“Just leave me alone “ I scream back, and he did. I was grateful for that.The gala led to a spiral of headlines and hashtags. The conflict between the two Igor cousins had led to a media crisis. The internet was buzzing with speculations and thoughts on it and once again, I was once again the center of the feud. Once again, they are placing me in thesame terrain of confusion and social media scandals.I was embarrassed they could think that adding the monetary value to my paintings could buy me over, like I was all for their money. They made me feel like cheap items at Walmart that one could easily buy. The only good that came out of it was the worth attached to my paintings. I loved the afterward worth of my paintings after the gala.By Monday morning, my inbox was overflowing. Art blogs, social curators, youth magazines

• Love in Deceit   Chapter 38

  VLADIMIR’S POVThey say time heal, but time was doing nothing to me. I decided to take my mind off it. I transitioned my energy back to my work. I spent days on my chair working. Some days I never left the office. I devised working hard as a good coping mechanism. Once again, our stocks skyrocketed. Sometimes, the greedy voice in me would reason, “maybe the separation was worth it” but my mental health begged to differ.I had gotten a new secretary, she was good and competent but she wasn’t still Ayala.One day, an application was sent to my office. I never saw the need to open it. Finally, I decided to open it, it was for an art sponsorship. It made me remember her, Ayala.Ayala had given into art all of a sudden, a part of her , I never thought she would follow through with. Ayala had become an instant wonder. It was not suprising, her art was beautiful. I was not so much into art but when I saw good art, it was difficult not to acknowledge it. I did. I acknowledge it, she deserved

• Love in Deceit   Chapter 37

  Ayala’s POVThe progress in my work was intense.It started with a message.Then another. Then five.They all had something sweet to say about it and all saw it from different point of views.“I saw your work at Leona’s corner. “The downs of privilege “.”“I’d love to buy the one you posted with the yellow streetlamp.”“My wife cried when she saw ‘Safe Space.’ Said it made her remember me. I’d like to get it for her .”They poured in like drops of unexpected rain, beautiful and enchanting commentaries. I hadn’t prepared for people to see me, much less want what I’d created. I thought I’d be ignored, or politely dismissed. I thought I’d be unlucky at it as I’ve had a streak of unlucky events. The paintings began to sell, not slowly, but rather suddenly. The downs of privilege. Safe space. A collector bought “Rain on Roosevelt Street” after spotting it on my Instagram. A local café requested prints for their reading nook. Even a quiet man who never gave his name left a wad of cash in f