Lahat ng Kabanata ng Love Lies and Deceit: Kabanata 51 - Kabanata 60

* Julliane *As Darren slowly conversed with Penny, Lance held my hand gently, our fingers loosely intertwined as we sat on the plush, cream-colored couch in the hospital private room. The hum of the air conditioning and the faint beeps of distant monitors filled the silences, creating a cocoon around us. I leaned into his warmth, feeling the steady, reassuring strength of his presence."You're not wearing it today, sweetheart," he murmured, his thumb tracing slow, deliberate circles on my ring finger. His touch was gentle but firm, carrying the weight of unspoken meaning."Hmm?" I blinked, momentarily lost in his touch, before following his gaze to my hand. My ring finger was bare, the soft indentation where my engagement ring usually sat suddenly obvious. I felt a small flutter of guilt and surprise, the pink diamond he had painstakingly chosen missing from its place. The ring I'd carefully tucked into my bedside drawer last night before slipping under the covers, too tired to reme

* Julliane *The search continued through the long, echoing halls of Magnolia Manor, the weight of suspicion growing heavier with each passing moment. I stayed close to Lance as the bodyguards swept through each room, their footsteps muffled against the thick Persian rugs. As we made our way to the garage, the cool, oil-scented air hit me, a stark contrast to the warmth of the main house. The rows of luxury cars gleamed under the harsh overhead lights, their polished exteriors reflecting fractured glimpses of our uneasy expressions. The air was tense, like the charged stillness before a storm.John stepped forward, his keen eyes scanning the vehicles as Robert moved to the far end of the garage, his flashlight casting sharp, shifting shadows against the concrete walls. My heart raced, each step echoing like a countdown, a ticking clock in my mind.Then, Robert's voice cut through the silence, sharp and certain."Sir, over here."Lance's grip on my hand tightened as we hurried over, o

* Julliane *The following day came with a foggy, oppressive stillness clinging to Magnolia Manor, the kind that seeps into the bones and whispers that something is amiss. My mother remained locked in her room, the door a silent sentry to her isolation. The incident with my ring had not been spoken of again, the air thick with unspoken words.I couldn't decide if she was truly unwell or merely playing a role in some intricate game of guilt and manipulation. She had called for her personal nurse again, adding another layer to the small, guarded world she had constructed around herself, despite already having her therapist, Daniel Stone, visit five days a week.Two bodyguards maintained a constant, silent vigil. Robert, a stoic presence with a sharp gaze, took responsibility for my younger sister Penny, shadowing her whenever she stepped beyond the manor's iron gates for school. John, a towering figure with watchful eyes, was assigned to me. They moved with the quiet efficiency of men a

* Julliane *Lance stirred beside me before the first light of dawn, his warmth leaving the bed as he slipped into the bathroom. The soft rustle of sheets and the distant hiss of water breaking the pre dawn silence told me it was still early five, perhaps. I stretched, feeling the coolness of the vacant space he'd left behind, the faint smell of his cologne clinging to the pillow. I closed my eyes, listening as he moved quietly around the room, his steps a careful ballet on the polished hardwood floor.I cracked one eye open just as he leaned over me, his shadow framed by the muted glow of the bedside lamp. He kissed my forehead, his lips warm, lingering just a second longer than usual, as if whispering a silent promise."I'm sorry, sweetheart. Did I wake you?" he whispered, his deep voice a gentle rumble.I smiled sleepily, reaching for his hand, my fingers brushing the crisp cuff of his shirt. "Hmm, it's alright. I can go back to sleep when you leave. Are you going to have some cof

* Julliane *The world around me felt like a thick, suffocating fog. I was floating in darkness, every breath a struggle, each heartbeat a distant echo in my chest. I couldn't open my eyes, my body too heavy, too numb, but I could hear.The steady, rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor. The soft rustle of hospital sheets. The sharp, sterile scent of antiseptic clinging to the cool air.And then, a voice deep, rough, trembling with barely contained fury."I swear to God, if anything happens to her..." Lance's voice cut through the fog, his words sharp, each one trembling with raw, unfiltered rage. "How the hell did this happen in my own home, inside the Magnolia manor?"A pause. Heavy footsteps. The sound of a chair scraping against the polished hospital floor as someone shifted beside my bed."We're doing everything we can, sir," another voice, calm but cautious. One of the police officers, I guessed, his tone respectful but firm. "We've taken Marriane into custody, but she's claimin