Lahat ng Kabanata ng TWO LIVES - Shattered Illusion : Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 20

"Look what you've done now, sweetheart," he said, fake-pouting, flexing his wrist like it had hurt him. That annoying word again. He said it like Alex used to—condescending, mocking, like he owned the right to address her however he pleased. His eyes stayed on her too long, raking over every part of her like she was already bought.Niya tried to steady her hand, but failed. The man’s sleeve darkened where the whiskey spilled, and she knew she was screwed.The others chuckled low and lazy, like a pack of dogs watching their alpha corner a prey.There were only three of them. Three devils sent from hell. The blonde one she was pouring a drink for led, while the almost-bald one leaned in with a pervy grin, eyes twinkling like he enjoyed watching women squirm. And the third, darker-skinned and muscular, lounged back with a cigar between his teeth.“What do you think, boys? I like her,” he continued."Not sure she can handle it, Palix,” the almost bald one shook his head, pushing his glas

A Few Hours Before.She was already late, and somehow, the fucking cab kept rocking like it was trying to sabotage her winged liner on purpose.Niya dragged the small pouch open with her teeth, compact mirror in one hand, trying not to stab herself in the eye with the brush. Pony’s highlighter sat on her lap - she swore by that thing like she wasn’t already ethereal with that porcelain doll complexion. But on Niya, it didn’t ‘glow.’ It shimmered, obnoxiously.She barely wore makeup, and when she did, Alex usually wouldn’t let her do it herself. This sloppy attempt was supposed to be a peace offering for Rina, for being late. She just hoped it said ‘I care’ and not ‘I cried and wiped my face on glitter.’Niya bit her lip as the cab swerved again, this time her brush slipped, dumping too much onto one cheek. “Holy mothe—”She heaved a deep sigh. Perfect. Now she looked like a disco ball.“You're late already, calm down,” the cab driver said without looking back.“I know I’m late,” Niya

PRESENT"Out," Daniel Lexi said without glancing up from the tablet he was scribbling on.Rina huffed, her nose scrunching. "The fuck, Dan—""As in, close the fucking door on your fucking way out," he cut her off. "I’m allergic to backup singers during serious talks."Niya stifled a cough, unsure if he was serious or just mean with flair."Daniel..." Rina warned."Rina," he exhaled loudly, visibly impatient, finally lifting his head, one brow arched high enough to throw off the symmetry of his tanned face. "If you breathe too close to the contract, it might revoke itself. Go bother the bartender or threaten a valet, something more in your damn department."She grinned. “You’re lucky I like you.” Then to Niya, “I’ll be right outside.”Daniel gestured to the chair in front of his desk without a word. Niya sat, quietly counting how many times he could fit the word ‘fuck’ into a conversation.“You’re fucking quieter than I expected,” he observed.“I figured it was safer to listen first.”

“You’re here to satisfy me tonight.”Her heart skipped a beat, then kept going like it didn’t matter, but it did. Still, was she expecting a casual drink and handshake?Rapha could smell how tightly she was wound, so his jaw flexed once before he spoke again.“But don’t worry,” his deep voice was as dry as gin, as his eyes swept down her body in one clean motion, almost like he was judging her. “You won’t need to sleep with me. You’re not my type.”It wasn’t that she wanted him to want her. No, that wasn’t the point. That’s exactly what men say right before they try to screw you anyway, she thought bitterly.Niya's tongue brushed her bottom lip before the words tumbled out too fast as if they’d been stacking up in her throat.“Maybe that’s just ’cause you haven’t given me the chance,” she took a step closer, ignoring the twisting in her belly. “Maybe I’m not your type yet. I mean -” she let out a breathless laugh, nerves bristling up her spine, “- you haven’t even looked at me properly

Palix jumped mid-glance at his wristwatch, like a kid caught lying, his spine visibly stiffening. The others reacted like a ripple effect - Scott, the balding one, jerked upright, his collar already soaked through with nervous sweat, while Parker, the dark-skinned smooth-talker fumbled a step forward then back again, like his legs were trying to make up their mind. All three of them shook as if stillness might get them killed.“Uh, Rapha,” Palix stammered, his lips pulling up into a smile but failed woefully as his lips twitched around the edges. “It’s nothing. New watch. I keep looking at it.”Scott and Parker exchanged a glance, uncertain whether to play dumb or nod along like fools.From the far corner of the room, Kade peeled himself. In his hand was a tab identical to Rapha’s - same model, same custom specs, even the same faint smudge clinging to the lower corner. He let it drop onto the glass table behind Rapha with a soft clack that somehow echoed louder than it should have.Hi