Lahat ng Kabanata ng Beneath the Façade: Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 20

BENEATH THE FACADEBehind the façade of wealth and power, a web of secrets awaits.CHAPTER 12Emily's POV: I stirred awake slowly, my eyes blinking against the morning sun that slipped lazily through the curtains. For a moment everything was quiet. Serene. But as I shifted beneath the sheets and felt the emptiness beside me, reality hit me. I sat up, the events of the night replaying in my mind, the dinner, the laughter, the way his eyes held mine -like I was the only woman who existed. And then, the way I had fallen completely, yet my heart?...it felt hollow. I kept thinking of how he looked at me, how he seemed to care, how he genuinely wanted to be with me, I could tell from his eyes. But there was a part of me that couldn't fully embrace it. I slipped out of bed, wrapping the blanket around me as I padded softly into the bathroom. Turning on the tap, I splashed water on my face, as if that could wash away the memories, the feelings, the truth. “What have I done?”, I whispere

BENEATH THE FACADEBehind the façade of wealth and power, a web of secrets awaits.CHAPTER 14Ethan's POV:I sat motionless on the edge of the mahogany bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, battling the temptation to slip back into old habits—the kind that once numbed the pain of losing my only brother. His death had unhinged something in me, cracked a part of my soul I hadn’t known could break. For months, I drowned in bottles and silence.Then I met Emily. That night—God, that night—she made me feel something I hadn’t in years. I felt... whole. Like I could breathe again.But now, the air was thinning.It had been two weeks since the gala. Two weeks of unanswered calls, unread texts, and relentless silence. And the truth was, her silence hurt more than any goodbye ever could. It wasn’t rejection. It was worse. It was as if I no longer existed.I reached for the brown leather journal resting on the table, its edges worn from constant use. Flipping it open, I scanned through the words i’d p

BENEATH THE FACADEBehind the façade of wealth and power, a web of secrets awaitsCHAPTER 16Emily's POV: I woke up with a soft flutter in my chest, like something had shifted overnight. The morning air drifted in through the slightly opened window, cool and fresh, it felt different, like it carried whispers of something beautiful on the horizon. The sunlight spilling across my bed felt gentler, somehow warmer. I couldn't explain it but everything felt lighter. For the first time in a long while it felt like the start of something new. Something I hadn't dared to hope for. ***As I settled in with a plate of French toast and scrambled eggs, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee curling around me, my phone buzzed beside the cutlery. My heart leapt—Ethan? But no, it was Nyla.“Mrs. Kingston!” her voice rang out, full of teasing delight.“Good morning to you too, Nyla,” I said, a smile tugging at my lips despite myself.“I hope you had a beautiful sleep”,Nyla’s voice came through, so

BENEATH THE FACADEBehind the façade of wealth and power, a web of secret awaitsCHAPTER 18Caleb's POV: “Good afternoon, Andre,” I said, extending my hand as he approached. The firm, familiar grip of his handshake met mine with a warmth that felt more like an old friend's embrace than a formal greeting. “Thanks for making the time to come. I really appreciate it.”He gave a short chuckle, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Anything for you, my dear friend. It’s always a pleasure.” His voice carried the easy familiarity of someone who’d long since shed the stiffness of formalities.We slid into the booth at the corner of the restaurant, away from the noise and the eyes. The waiter came around, but we waved him off for a moment. We had business—quiet, off-the-record business.Andre worked directly under the chairman of Petrocorp Group, a man known for keeping things close to his chest. But Andre—sharp, observant, and deeply intuitive—had always had a way of knowing more than he was s

BENEATH THE FACADEBehind the façade of wealth and power, a web of secret awaitsCHAPTER 20Emily's POV:“Enjoy your weekend ma’am”, her voice sweet and cheerful as always. I smiled, touched by her usual cheerfulness. She always dished out a positive energy and it was contagious. “Thank you, Claire,” I replied, pulling her into a warm hug and pressing a soft kiss to her cheek. She smelled faintly of coconut oil. “You too. Endeavor to rest well, okay?”She nodded, with her arms still wrapped around me before letting go. I watched her disappear down the corridor, heels clicking softly against the marbled floor, and then I let out a deep breath, adjusted my handbag on my shoulder as I walked towards my car.Weekends had taken on a new meaning lately. I used to crave weekends for the serenity it came with. The kind where I didn't have to meet up with deadlines. The kind where I didn't have to be anything to anyone. A bubble bath, a solo date, a book I'd half-read or a movie series I'