All Chapters of The Deceiver's Handbook: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

It was Friday morning, two days after the birthday party, and the day arrived with the kind of quiet that felt earned. The day before which was Thursday had been a blur of rest, reflection, and recovery. I spent most of it curled up in my bed with Haley nestled against me, strands of her hair tickling my chin as she watched cartoons and nibbled leftover snacks and cupcakes from her day. Before we left on the evening of Wednesday, we made sure to tidy up the environment of the garden even better than before. It was my little way of saying thank you to it for saving my face. I didn't want to think about how tragic the day would have turned out, had we not found a replacement venue. Also, I could not stop thanking my aunt for the quick suggestion, she truly saved the day. The joy from the day still lingered like good quality perfume so much that Hayley could not stop yapping about it. The party seemed like the greatest gift yet to her.The party hadn’t drained me like I'd thought it

It's funny how at first, I thought that all I had for Nelson was pure admiration but slowly it was drifting off that border and tending towards something more romantic.Lately, I found myself glancing at the clock more often than I cared to admit, anticipating Nelson’s arrival with a flutter in my chest that felt suspiciously like hope.Each time I saw his name pop up on my screen, a broad and uncontrollable smile tugged at my lips and when he spoke, I could not stop grinning from ear to ear. There was always a quiet thrill when his voice cut through the monotony of my day, crisp and commanding, yet laced with warmth. Right now, I live in a lie. Whenever I did any of those acts or gestures, I told myself it was just admiration and respect. But deep down, I knew better.He had such main character energy while still maintaining humility and confidence while I on the other hand, who had built walls so high even sunlight struggled to reach me, found myself lowering the drawbridge, just

My relationship with Nelson was fast blossoming into a beautiful one and we soon began to appear like a family in the eyes of the public especially when we went to pick up items from a stall or needed to do a quick shopping for the house, except I didn't let him get too close to Hayley.I'd created the unspoken rule in our relationship that he had no obligations to my daughter. She was my responsibility alone and I didn't ever want to have to forcefully involve him in her life.Whenever he came around and she was home, I let him play with her for a few minutes before they parted ways. That way, it felt better for me and I didn't need to feel bad about forcing the connection.I'd heard cases of single moms dating a man solely because they wanted a father figure for their kids and so when they found a guy, they saddled him with the forced responsibility of being a father, a role he did not ask for, and I didn't want that to be the case for me.Over here, I wanted it to be a relationship

I tried to look away and focus on the ongoing conversation but my eyes wandered again to where he sat, and this time, he looked more furious than he did the last time.Instantly, I knew something was not right with him. He had probably lost a business deal or a contract and I began to feel more uneasy. I tried to communicate with him using my eyes, but he quickly looked away from me and started adjusting the collar of his dark brown t-shirt.Despite the tension that occurred in the room, Ken was oblivious to all of it. Somehow, he seemed to enjoy the conversation even more, elongating it and introducing more topics.I was fed up but I had to find a way to round up the long talk so that I could attend to Nelson, whose face looked like it could force down rain from the clouds. “You've got a real gift, May,” he said, appreciating my crafting on the cake, even though he’d mentioned that like ten times since he walked in.“Thank you, Ken” I responded, forcing a smile, and just then his c

Three days. That’s how long it had been since I asked Nelson for space. Three days of silence. Three days of unanswered calls, unread texts, and a quiet so loud it echoed through every room of my apartment.I had needed it desperately and I was glad I asked for it. After what happened at the shop, after the shouting, the accusations, and the moment his anger turned physical, I had to step away to breathe. I had to remember who I was before the chaos and before he even walked into my life. Before Nelson, I was a gorgeous young hard-working lady who focused on her dreams and chased her goals while also raising her young daughter. I had a life before him and that was what I sought to live again.I needed to evaluate the relationship and its worthiness. I couldn't be part of a connection that wrecked me while pretending that it served me.But now, on the third night, I was curled up in my bed, wrapped in a blanket that smelled faintly of my cologne and I was missing him. This should b