All Chapters of TWO LIVES - Shattered Illusion : Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

If she hadn’t locked her door, Raphael would’ve come in because he looked genuinely ready to follow her into the bathroom.Freak or not, Niya started to rethink everything when he sent Silas to bring her a dress.The dining room was warm with the scent of roasted turkey, aged booze, and something sweet from the kitchen that made her mouth water. The long mahogany table gleamed beneath the antique chandelier, already set when they arrived – crystal glasses, folded napkins arranged by the staff, roasted turkey, garlic potatoes, glazed carrots, five different kinds of wine. And that was just what she could see from her seat. Everything was too perfect.It shouldn’t have surprised her. May had always been obsessed with the illusion of elegance. And maybe Alex was just good at providing it.“Mr. Raphael, it's a pleasure to have you over for dinner,” Ma Phil said gently from the head of the table. “I hope you didn't go through much stress coming over here.”“Not at all, ma’am,” Raphael gav

May’s smile vanished for a beat, genuine hatred flashing behind her eyes before she slipped the mask back on.“I know,” she said lightly. “Isn’t that the part that stings most?”She reached past Niya, and picked up the cranberry sauce, then, with a final satisfied smile, May turned and exited the kitchen, humming to herself like she hadn’t just detonated a bomb.Niya stood frozen, her fingers twitching at her sides. Her eyes pooled but she wasn't going to cry, and her body shook like she was holding back rage, shame and perhaps grief for all the times she’d tried to make peace with someone who’d never once offered it in return.May returned first and slid back into her seat with a pleasant smile. “I hope Ma didn't bore you with all her questions, Raphael,” her voice was light and filled with faux sweetness. “She’s always been the thorough type.”Raphael parted his lips to reply, but his attention got divided mid-turn. Niya had just walked in behind May, eyes down for a second too lon

Niya couldn’t help but steal glances at him through the mirror. He’d shut his eyes, arms still folded behind his head, sinking deeper into the pillows like he owned the bed and the air around it.Her eyes lit up, betraying her thoughts.He was effortlessly charming, in that dangerous kind of way that didn’t ask for your attention but stole it anyway. His skin looked flawless, unnervingly so. Did he use products? No, he didn’t seem like the type. He didn’t look like he had that kind of time. Or patience. Or vanity.But then… what if he did?What if he was one of those quietly disciplined types who had a regimen no one saw coming? God, why was she even thinking about that? He probably didn’t know about skincare. She barely knew anything about him.Her chest rose and fell faster than it should have.Why was she starting to hyperventilate?She started to take deep breaths while running through her night routine. Despite the room being large, she could practically smell his perfume from wh

Even before her lashes fluttered apart, Niya felt the dull ache blooming deep between her legs, a reminder of what she’d begged for hours ago. As she moved, every muscle in her body ached and every nerve lit like candle wax.Her eyes peeled open slowly to a room dimly washed in pre-dawn blue. She didn’t need to turn fully to know he was still there. His slow, warm breath skimmed the side of her neck, earning soft heat over her skin.He was sprawled around her, and carved in moonlight. His chestnut hair had come loose, falling over his damp forehead in feathered strands. His thick, dark lashes were motionless, fanned across his cheeks. A faint mustache framed the curve of his full, cupid’s bow mouth which was still slightly parted and looked too swollen to be innocent. A faded beard darkened the hollows of his cheeks and sculpted his chiseled jawline, and beneath it all, his face held a calmness that wasn’t sleep. It was something else. Something untouched.Niya couldn’t look away. His

Her brows pinched as she dragged her thumb across the screen. The lock screen was open with no passcode, just messages stacked one beneath the other.It wasn't her intention to open the phone or even read on, but the picture before her had made the quiet night around her went silent, while a million drums beat noisily inside her head. She wanted to be sure she saw it right the first time. ~ ‘I miss the way your lips taste after wine. Next time, don’t wait for me to undress you.’The messages were new, only from tonight. It looked like the conversation went far beyond this, and whatever came before had been wiped clean carefully. All but these last few confessed desires left behind, like the sender hadn’t expected someone else to see. Or maybe they wanted to be caught. The photo icon beside the name was blank. She tapped on it anyway, praying it would lie to her. But no, it opened to the default contact page. The number was plain and simple, without any frills or initials.But it w