All Chapters of Love in lies: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Smoke was already curling into the room from the hallway. The acrid scent of burning plastic and chemicals hit me like a punch to the face.I grabbed my phone and shoved it in my pocket. "Where's the stairwell?""That way!" Mia pointed. "But people are stuck!"I followed her out of the office, the hallway thick with smoke and chaos. People pushed past us, some coughing, others crying.Then there was a deafening explosion from below. The ground trembled. Lights flickered, then died, replaced only by emergency exit signs and the glow of fire.We reached the stairwell, a few people were trying to help others down. My eyes burned, lungs tightening."Come on!" Mia pulled my wrist. But I hesitated.The guards. Where were they?I turned and looked down the hallway behind us, a shadow moved. "EMILY!"Jonathan appeared, coughing hard but pushing through the smoke. "Marco’s on his way. We need to move. Now."He grabbed me and Mia, and helped us down the stairs. But the heat was rising.By the t

I didn’t go straight home after leaving Seraphina’s. I needed to breathe. Get ahead of whatever fallout was coming.Because there would be fallout.Her father wouldn’t take this lightly. The Marchesi were power-hungry, territorial, and arrogant enough to believe they were untouchable. Cutting ties with them didn’t just end a personal affair, it meant stepping on a landmine. One I was prepared for, one I’d known I’d eventually have to face.I leaned against the hood of my car in the middle of the empty lot behind the club I owned downtown. Lit a cigarette. Watched the smoke spiral into the air as I stared at nothing.What the hell was I doing?I had built my empire with rules, no attachments, no weaknesses, no distractions. Everything was about leverage and survival. But ever since Emily walked into my world, it hadn’t been the same. She wasn’t just a contract anymore. She wasn’t just someone I’d taken to save her family or fulfill some promise. Somewhere along the line, I’d started w

The sun was warm and the morning felt unusually peaceful, a rare thing these days.The morning felt very peaceful, I woke up feeling different. Marco had gotten up before me. I suddenly felt the need to do something for himAn idea popped in my head, why don't I cook for him? It sounded simple in my head, I'll make hil a proper meal. One made with love… love? That sounded a little weird. I was beginning to really feel like a wife. I took a quick shower and threw on a pair of jeans and a loose white blouse, tied my hair up, and headed downstairs. Jonathan raised an eyebrow when I asked for one of the cars.“Good morning ma'am” he said as we approached the car. “Good morning Jonathan, I'm going to the grocery store,” I said quickly, and I smiled at him. “but It’s not safe yet,” he reminded me, like he always did.“There’ll be guards following me from a distance, right?” I added. “Just don’t smother me.”He sighed but nodded, then gave instructions to the driver and one of the taili

The next morning, I woke up with a stuffy nose, and my forehead was burning. "You’re awake," Marco said softly.He was sitting on the edge of my bed, a wet towel draped across his arm. His brows were furrowed with concern, he looked like he hadn’t slept."You really are so weak, I can't believe you caught a cold from sleeping on the floor." Marco said teasingly. I smiled at him, I felt so weak, my throat was sore, and my body ached all over. I blinked at him, touched by the care in his voice. Something had definitely changed in Marco, it wasn't like the cold, calculating Marco from before. Each time I felt a little bit uncomfortable, in a matter of seconds he'll be beside me, petting me ensuring I was okay. He stayed beside me the entire day, making sure I took my medication, adjusting the blankets, holding my hand when the fever made me shiver.He even refused to let anyone else nearme.z when Jonathan came to see how I was feeling, he dismissed him.Later in the afternoon, Jona

EMILY'S POVAfter Marco left that morning, he came back till later that night. I felt really bad, I tried talking to him several times, but he didn't pay any attention to me.The next morning I woke up early and sat in the parlor, waiting for Marco. Immediately I saw him coming from the stairs, I rushed to him and hugged him. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to lie to you.” I peeked up at him, “please Marco, I'm sorry, it hurts when you ignore me.” I blinked up at him, my eyes watering.He just looked at me, not saying anything. I pouted and tugged on his suit “please, I'm sorry.” He inhaled, giving me the frustrated look. “Don't ever do that again Emily, don't ever lie to me.” “I promise, I won't lie to you.” I said, nodding my head. “I have a meeting to attend now, I'll see you when I get back. Don't go anywhere without the guards and inform me first. Jonathan is coming with me, but the other guards will remain in the house.” I bounced my head up and down, smiling from ear to ear.