Shadows Of Deception のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 11 - チャプター 20

MAXWELL (POV)As we exited the building, the sharp contrast between the stark, cold interiors and the warm, afternoon sun was jarring.Adrian walked silently beside me, his initial aggresive demeanor replaced by a distant, almost vacant expression. Caleb followed closely behind, his eyes darting around as if he were still trying to piece together a puzzle that didn’t quite fit.The maids and guards, who had been brought in for questioning, stood huddled near the second car. They exchanged nervous glances, their fear palpable. Miss Hawkins, in particular, looked like she was holding herself together by sheer willpower. As I approached, I noticed the small tremors in her hands as she adjusted her coat. I gave her a reassuring nod, though inside, I was battling my own storm of doubts.Adrian stopped beside his car, a sleek black Benz that seemed almost too polished for the so called grim situation. Caleb moved to open the door for him, but Adrian hesitated, his hand lingering on the

The knocking on the door grew louder and more persistent. I could feel the tension tightening around us. My heart thumped harder as the once-muted murmurs outside grew clearer, sharper and violent The tones belonged to men who clearly meant us harm. My gaze shifted to Mr. Collins, who was standing by the window with wide, fearful eyes, his calm demeanor giving way to an anxious looking different, completely different from the person I saw few minutes ago. He was sweating now, small beads forming on his forehead, a stark contrast to the calm, composed man I saw few minutes ago.Dr. Collins sat beside me, her hands clasped so tightly in her lap that her knuckles was beginning to turn white. I could feel her fear as acutely as my own, a cold, creeping sensation that had settled into the pit of my stomach. We both tried to keep calm, to pretend that maybe just maybe if we stayed quiet, if we didn’t move, the danger outside would pass us by. But the relentless knocking and the gro

Ivy POV) Caleb walked in, his eyes locking onto mine with a male volent intensity that made my blood run cold. Instinctively, I reached for the door and locked it, a futile attempt to create some barrier between usBut Caleb kept advancing, his steps slow and deliberate, like a predator closing in on its prey. I backed away until I felt the rough wall against my spine.Isabella’s voice echoed in my head, questioning everything that had led to this moment. The pieces were all scattered in my mind, but the picture was still incomplete, hazy with fear and doubt.Caleb stopped at the table, his lips curling into a devilish smile that sent chills down my spine. He laughed, a sound so devoid of warmth that it filled the room with a palpable sense of dread. Then, slowly, he sat down in the same chair the police chief had occupied earlier, as if claiming it for himself. He raised his hands in a mock gesture, as though he were about to take an oath, then dropped them just as theatricall

ADRIAN (POV)Four years. Four long, torturous years, and somehow, I was still there, sitting behind the same desk in the same office where it all began. The polished mahogany desk remained as pristine as ever, the view from the floor-to-ceiling windows just as breathtaking, but the man sitting there? He was barely a shadow of who he once was.My fingers absently traced the cool, smooth band of the wedding ring on my finger. A symbol of love and commitment, so it was supposed to be. For me, it was nothing but a shackle, binding me to a fate I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. It had been four years since the day I said, “I do,” to Ivy Grant. Four years since I honored my grandfather’s dying wish and secured my inheritance by marrying the daughter of his late friend.Back then, I convinced myself that this was just a necessary step. With Maxwell and the police’s help, I maneuvered through the labyrinth of legal and personal hurdles, securing my position in the company and claiming

ADRIAN (POV)After letting out the first bomb, I had actually tried to stop myself but the words had slipped out on their, faster and sharper than I intended, cutting deep into the very thing Ivy had always been sensitive about. And once they were out, I couldn’t take them back."Childless," I spat, barely recognizing my own voice. "And still, you won’t let me have any peace!"The silence that followed was deafening. Ivy’s face twisted in shock and hurt, her eyes wide and filled with tears. She stared at me as if she didn’t recognize the man standing before her. "You called me childless?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "Is that what you tell your friends about me?"I palmed my face and tried to reach for her, my hands shaking with regret. ".....Look look I'm I’m so…" I started, but the words choked in my throat.She didn’t let me finish. Ivy pushed me away, holding up her hand to keep me at a distance. Her eyes, now filled with anger and pain, were enough to make me fe