All Chapters of Masked Desires: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Minnie sat in the sleek office of Marlena’s law firm, the weight of the file before her feeling heavier with every page she turned. The case she’d been assigned was bigger than she’d anticipated. The shell company, the laundering of money, and now, the dark web of connections that seemed to spread across the city like a spider's web.She had hoped to dive into legal analysis, to make a name for herself by cracking the case, but each revelation pulled her deeper into something more dangerous.She could feel the weight of the shadows pressing in around her.Marlena leaned over, pointing at one of the financial reports. “We’re looking at a businessman with a lot of influence.Whatever's going on here, Minnie, this goes all the way to the top.”“I’m not sure I want to go all the way to the top,” Minnie muttered, rubbing her eyes.She had been at this for hours, and the more she uncovered, the more it seemed like the truth was something she wasn’t sure she wanted to face. Powerful men with

The events of the past few days had left Minnie frazzled. Between the high-profile case with Marlena and the looming threats against her, the tension was wearing her thin. She was no longer just worried about legal documents and deadlines; she was worried about her safety. The cases she was handling were starting to cross into dangerous territory, and the more she uncovered, the deeper she sank into a web of uncertainty and fear. But the worst part wasn’t the threat itself—it was the constant feeling that someone was watching her, that she couldn’t escape this growing darkness that seemed to encircle her.After the incident in the office, where the strange man had tried to grab her, Ethan had insisted on staying with her. At first, Minnie had tried to resist. She was fiercely independent and didn’t want to seem weak or needy. She didn’t want to admit that she was scared. But after another round of late nights, the mysterious threats, and the creeping feeling that she wasn’t safe in he

Minnie had been locked in a cold, dim room for what felt like hours. Her wrists were bruised from the tight zip ties that had only recently been cut away, and her body ached from the earlier rough handling. Yet despite it all, her mind was still racing—not from fear, but from adrenaline and quiet determination.Across the room, her laptop sat on a table surrounded by two of Cressida Vale’s tech specialists. The soft clicking of keys filled the silence, each keystroke digging into Minnie like a needle. She knew what they were doing. They were trying to break into her files.She had anticipated this.Cressida Vale entered the room like a storm about to erupt. Her tailored black suit, blood-red lips, and cold eyes gave her the aura of someone not to be crossed. Minnie looked up slowly, her expression blank."Any progress?" Cressida asked her techs, her voice sharp and expectant.One of them looked up with a tight expression. "We’ve managed to bypass the system’s shell encryption, but mos

The evening light was dim as it streamed through the curtains, casting soft, ethereal shadows over the room. Minnie lay in her bed, her body aching with the familiar, insistent throb of bruises and scrapes. The warmth of the room was a small comfort against the gnawing feeling in her chest. The past few days had been a blur—filled with tension, courtrooms, revelations, and a sense of finality that had both empowered and broken her all at once.Despite the verdict, despite Cressida Vale’s incarceration, Minnie felt weary in a way that went beyond the physical. She had uncovered the truth, saved a colleague’s career, and walked away with a piece of her soul shattered, but whole. The victory was supposed to feel like relief, but it felt like a heavy weight, one that she couldn’t quite shake off.She had been so focused on the case, on the goal of revealing the truth, that she hadn’t given herself a moment to breathe. Her body ached from the torture it had endured, the bruises and scars n

Minnie sat alone in her apartment, the quiet of the space wrapping around her like a heavy blanket. The silence was both comforting and unnerving—comforting because it allowed her the space to think, to breathe, but unnerving because it was a stark contrast to the chaos of the past week.She glanced at the clock. It had been a few hours since Ethan left, and though he’d promised to come back, Minnie found herself unable to shake the feeling of loneliness creeping into her bones. It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate Ellie’s presence—Ellie was always a steady friend—but the silence of the apartment felt hollow without the steady sound of Ethan’s voice, his reassuring presence, his careful attention.The pain in her leg throbbed again, reminding her that the physical toll of the ordeal wasn’t over. The burns on her skin, the bruises, the general fatigue of the past few days—it was all still there, lingering like an uninvited guest.Minnie adjusted herself on the couch, the cushions sinki