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Chapter 61. To family
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2025-05-18 14:50:03
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Love Lies and Deceit Chapter 61. To family
* Julliane *Sunlight pours through the tall, arched windows of Magnolia Manor's drawing room, casting warm, golden patterns across the polished wooden floors.I pull the soft cashmere shawl tighter around my shoulders, the creamy fabric a gentle cocoon against the persistent ache in my shoulder. The doctors said the wound would heal in time, but the deeper scars, the ones etched into my heart, feel like they might never close.I lean my head back against the overstuffed couch, closing my eyes and letting the warmth of the fire seep into my bones. Until I hear some noise.Footsteps. Sharp, rapid, and unsteady.I open my eyes just in time to see Penny burst into the room, her tiny feet slipping slightly on the polished floor as she hurtles toward me, her pigtails bouncing with each hurried step."Julliane!" she chirps, her cheeks flushed pink from playing outside. She clutches a handful of slightly crumpled daffodils in her small, dirt-streaked hands, their bright yellow petals a vivid
Love Lies and Deceit Chapter 60. Passed the danger
* Julliane *The first thing I see when my eyes flutter open is Lance, his tall, broad figure slouched in the stiff chair beside my hospital bed. Harsh, fluorescent lights overhead cast sharp shadows across his sharp jawline, emphasizing the deep, dark circles beneath his eyes a silent testament to sleepless nights and raw, unspoken fear. I blink, the world around me a painful blur of sterile white and soft beeping. The air is heavy with the sharp, antiseptic smell of alcohol and disinfectant, a clinical scent that clings to the back of my throat and makes my stomach churn. When I shift slightly, my dry lips parting for a shallow breath, Lance's head snaps up, his bloodshot eyes locking onto mine. For a heartbeat, he freezes, his broad shoulders going rigid, and then his eyes soften, a storm of emotions crashing through him a relief, disbelief, a fierce, protective love. "Oh, sweetheart," he breathes, his voice raw and gravelly, as if he's been screaming or crying or both. "Thank
Love Lies and Deceit Chapter 59. Fighting to stay alive
* Julliane *The world around me felt like a thick, suffocating fog. I was floating in darkness, every breath a struggle, each heartbeat a distant echo in my chest. I couldn't open my eyes, my body too heavy, too numb, but I could hear.The steady, rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor. The soft rustle of hospital sheets. The sharp, sterile scent of antiseptic clinging to the cool air.And then, a voice deep, rough, trembling with barely contained fury."I swear to God, if anything happens to her..." Lance's voice cut through the fog, his words sharp, each one trembling with raw, unfiltered rage. "How the hell did this happen in my own home, inside the Magnolia manor?"A pause. Heavy footsteps. The sound of a chair scraping against the polished hospital floor as someone shifted beside my bed."We're doing everything we can, sir," another voice, calm but cautious. One of the police officers, I guessed, his tone respectful but firm. "We've taken Marriane into custody, but she's claimin
Love Lies and Deceit Chapter 58. She’s not my mother
* Julliane *As the blood gushed from the deep gash near my shoulder, the warm, sticky sensation spreading down my arm made my pulse race. I thought my wound was shallow but now I realized it was deep. My vision wavered, every heartbeat a hammer strike against my temples. Panic clawed at my chest, my breaths coming in short, shallow gasps, but a sliver of hope cut through the haze of terror. Lance's room is just next to mine. He had left for work early, but Nana Carmen, ever the diligent housekeeper, always started her rounds in his quarters first."Nana Carmen! Please, help me!"I forced the words out, my throat raw and my voice hoarse, but it carried. If she was nearby, she had to hear me. For a split second, I dared to hope, but my mother's darkened eyes locked onto mine, a twisted grin splitting her face as she registered my fear."Oh, you can scream all you want, Julliane," she sneered, each syllable dripping with venom, her knuckles whitening as she gripped the knife. "But you'
Love Lies and Deceit Chapter 57. Revelations of my mother
* Julliane *Lance stirred beside me before the first light of dawn, his warmth leaving the bed as he slipped into the bathroom. The soft rustle of sheets and the distant hiss of water breaking the pre dawn silence told me it was still early five, perhaps. I stretched, feeling the coolness of the vacant space he'd left behind, the faint smell of his cologne clinging to the pillow. I closed my eyes, listening as he moved quietly around the room, his steps a careful ballet on the polished hardwood floor.I cracked one eye open just as he leaned over me, his shadow framed by the muted glow of the bedside lamp. He kissed my forehead, his lips warm, lingering just a second longer than usual, as if whispering a silent promise."I'm sorry, sweetheart. Did I wake you?" he whispered, his deep voice a gentle rumble.I smiled sleepily, reaching for his hand, my fingers brushing the crisp cuff of his shirt. "Hmm, it's alright. I can go back to sleep when you leave. Are you going to have some cof
Love Lies and Deceit Chapter 56. A pleasant evening
* Julliane *The evening of Darren's return to Magnolia Manor is one of those rare, warm nights when the air is thick with the scent of blooming gardenias, their perfume seeping in through the open windows. Nana Carmen and the servants have truly outdone themselves, the dining room is bathed in the golden glow of candlelight, the long mahogany table adorned with freshly cut flowers and polished silverware. It's a quiet but heartfelt welcome for Darren.I find myself seated beside Lance, his hand resting over mine, his thumb brushing gently against my skin, a silent gesture, one that feels like both a comfort and a plea for reassurance. Across from us, Penny is already digging into her salad, her curls bouncing slightly with every enthusiastic bite, clearly relieved to have Darren back from the hospital."Good evening, everyone! Am I too late for dinner?" My mother's voice is a smooth, practiced melody, polished from years of society dinners and carefully curated conversations, acting
Love Lies and Deceit Chapter 55. Trust Issues
* Julliane *The following day came with a foggy, oppressive stillness clinging to Magnolia Manor, the kind that seeps into the bones and whispers that something is amiss. My mother remained locked in her room, the door a silent sentry to her isolation. The incident with my ring had not been spoken of again, the air thick with unspoken words.I couldn't decide if she was truly unwell or merely playing a role in some intricate game of guilt and manipulation. She had called for her personal nurse again, adding another layer to the small, guarded world she had constructed around herself, despite already having her therapist, Daniel Stone, visit five days a week.Two bodyguards maintained a constant, silent vigil. Robert, a stoic presence with a sharp gaze, took responsibility for my younger sister Penny, shadowing her whenever she stepped beyond the manor's iron gates for school. John, a towering figure with watchful eyes, was assigned to me. They moved with the quiet efficiency of men a
Love Lies and Deceit Chapter 54. Deception
* Julliane *My mother's composure shattered. Her perfectly controlled mask cracked, and she stumbled back, her hand clutching her chest as if the accusations had struck her physically."No... no, this is not happening," she whispered, her eyes wide, the defiant spark flickering and dying as the weight of the situation pressed down on her. She raised a trembling hand to her mouth, her perfectly manicured fingers barely covering the trembling of her lips. "I... I didn't... This can't be right."Lance took a step closer, the box still clutched in his hand. His broad shoulders cast a long, menacing shadow over her. His jaw tightened, and every muscle in his face pulled taut with fury."Stop dancing around this, Marriane," he snapped, his voice a low, dangerous growl. "Tell me why this box is in your trunk, why her ring was under your car. Tell me now."Marriane's eyes filled with tears, her chest heaving as she staggered back, her designer heels clicking sharply against the polished floo
Love Lies and Deceit Chapter 53. The Real Culprit
* Julliane *The search continued through the long, echoing halls of Magnolia Manor, the weight of suspicion growing heavier with each passing moment. I stayed close to Lance as the bodyguards swept through each room, their footsteps muffled against the thick Persian rugs. As we made our way to the garage, the cool, oil-scented air hit me, a stark contrast to the warmth of the main house. The rows of luxury cars gleamed under the harsh overhead lights, their polished exteriors reflecting fractured glimpses of our uneasy expressions. The air was tense, like the charged stillness before a storm.John stepped forward, his keen eyes scanning the vehicles as Robert moved to the far end of the garage, his flashlight casting sharp, shifting shadows against the concrete walls. My heart raced, each step echoing like a countdown, a ticking clock in my mind.Then, Robert's voice cut through the silence, sharp and certain."Sir, over here."Lance's grip on my hand tightened as we hurried over, o
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