LOVE, SECRETS, AND SCHEMES

Memories returned in jagged fragments—the bar lights, the slow music, the way his voice had wrapped around her name like a promise. Panic clawed its way up Liora’s chest as she jolted awake, her heart pounding violently against her ribs.She lay still for a moment, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling, dread pooling in her stomach. Then she felt it—the warmth beside her, the solid presence of a body under the sheets.Last night came crashing back in full force.The man she had met only hours ago was still asleep beside her, his breathing deep and steady, completely unaware of the storm raging inside her. Liora sat up slowly, the blanket clutched tightly to her naked body as reality settled in.They had slept together.Worse—they hadn’t used protection.Her breath hitched as the memory replayed: the heat, the urgency, the way they had been so caught up in each other that caution had slipped through their fingers. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She wasn’t supposed to lose control like tha

Liora had never seen Mr. Ambrose straighten so fast.The moment her mother’s voice echoed through the room, his shoulders squared and his expression snapped into obedience. Liora rose from her kneeling position just as quickly, turning her face away and lifting a hand to hide her eyes. She prayed her mother wouldn’t notice the redness, the faint shine of tears she hadn’t fully wiped away.“I asked a question.”Her mother’s sharp tone sliced through the air. Liora felt it before she saw it—the weight of that stare, cold and assessing.“What exactly were you doing?” her mother demanded, eyes narrowing slightly. What is she thinking now?“Nothing, Mother,” Liora replied softly, keeping her gaze fixed on the floor.“That didn’t look like nothing to me.” Her mother scoffed, already dismissing the answer. “Anyway—Ambrose, go and get the maids to set the table. We have important guests coming.”Liora’s head snapped up before she could stop herself.Guests.“Mother… what guests?”“Don’t ask s

The small tablet slid down Liora’s throat and left only a faint bitter taste on her tongue. She gulped down water and looked up at her reflection. She looked drained and exhausted. The thought of the emotional turmoil she had experienced in the span of days made her feel nauseous.Walking back to her room, she saw that her food had already been laid out for her. She had no appetite right now, so she chose to tell Nadia to take it back.“Ma’am, you need to eat,” Nadia said, worry etched on her face.Liora shook her head and gave Nadia a small smile. “Nadia, you’re looking at me as if I’ll die if I don’t eat now. I promise I’m okay.”Nadia sighed in defeat and took the food away, shutting the door with a soft click. Hearing the door lock, Liora wondered how long her parents would keep her confined to her room. She had not been allowed to leave since the night of the dinner with the Williams family. The only person she got to see was Nadia; she hadn’t even seen Mr. Ambrose.Just then the

Liora paced around her room like a restless shadow. Three days had passed since that treacherous dinner with the man she had slept with that night.Ashvin Grey.His name kept winding its way through her thoughts. She remembered his gaze, the sharp line of his jaw, the subtle twist of his lips. After what Nadia had told her the previous night, fear had settled deep in her chest.She couldn’t be pregnant. She simply could not.Pregnancy was impossible. They hadn’t used protection, but she had taken precautions immediately afterward.Just then, Nadia stepped into the room with something in her hand.Liora’s eyes immediately fell on the pregnancy test kit, and her throat tightened.Without saying a word, she took the kit from Nadia and hurried into the bathroom. Closing the door behind her, she drew in a shaky breath before opening the package.Minutes passed.All Liora could do was stare in fear and disbelief.Two red lines stared back at her.Her fingers loosened, and the test dropped f

Liora had never imagined the night would end like this.Standing outside her parents’ mansion like a stranger.The cold night air brushed against her skin as she slowly turned to look back at the house she had spent her childhood in. The large gates stood tall and silent behind her, the golden lights from the mansion glowing warmly against the darkness.To anyone passing by, it would look like a perfect home.But for Liora, it had never been one.Her childhood inside those walls had never been happy. Every memory that lived there carried more pain than warmth.And now, she didn’t even belong there anymore.No money.No home.No family.No friends.Nothing.Her chest tightened painfully as reality finally settled over her.She was truly alone.Tears filled her eyes again as she slowly picked up her bags. One suitcase rolled behind her while she held another tightly against her chest, as if it was the only thing grounding her to the world.Without looking back again, Liora began to walk