Semua Bab Behind The Mask : Bab 51 - Bab 60

Zara’s POVTime slipped by unnoticed. At some point, exhaustion pulled me under, and I drifted off on Sterling’s lap. His steady presence was the only anchor that dulled the chaos swirling in my mind. Despite everything I felt safe there, cocooned in the warmth of him.He woke me gently, fingers brushing against my arm. “Aria…” His voice was low, coaxing. I blinked awake. It was already noon.I yawned and stretched, the heaviness in my bones reminding me of how little rest I’d had.“We can join the others now,” Sterling said, his hand still lingering on mine. “After that, we’ll leave.”I stilled. “Leave? Has the culprit been found?”“No.” His jaw tightened. “But your suspicions were right. The man in black isn’t one of us. He was probably hired by one of the families.”Someone wanted me gone badly enough to bring in a professional.“What about the one who planted the camera?” I pressed.“Not found yet,” he admitted. “But they’ve promised to uncover it.”I nodded, though unease gnawed

Zara’s POVThe knock came again, soft.“Come in,” I managed to say.Mr. Everhart stepped in. I hadn’t expected him.“Good morning…” his voice trailed off as his sharp eyes scanned my face. “Why are you acting like you’ve seen a ghost?”I swallowed hard, words sticking to my throat. Finally, I whispered, “The person who planted that camera… it was Peterson. Vanderlyn’s heir.”His brows arched, the faintest flicker of surprise, or maybe calculation, crossing his face. “Are you sure?”I nodded firmly. “Yes. I can’t explain it perfectly, but I know it’s him. I’d stake everything on it.”For a moment he just studied me. Then he stepped closer, sat beside me on the bed, and let his hand stroke gently over my hair. It was a startlingly tender gesture, almost fatherly, yet there was something unnervingly strategic beneath it.“Thank you,” he murmured.“For what?” I asked cautiously.“For being sharp. For seeing what others don’t.” His gaze held mine, and then, softer but heavier, he added, “N

Zara’s POVHis lips pressed against mine, slow, as his fingers loosened the belt of my robe. He didn’t rush. Piece by piece, he slipped the fabric away until I lay bare beneath his gaze.“Do you trust me?” he whispered, lips grazing the shell of my ear, his voice low enough to make my stomach tighten.I hesitated. “Yes,” I breathed.He kissed me once more, lingering, then rose from the bed. The absence of his body sent a chill down my skin. I wasn’t sure if I should cover myself or stay exposed, until he returned, carrying a bowl filled with ice, the sound of the cubes clinking against the glass. My breath caught, questions forming, but then I saw the black silk in his hand.He didn’t ask. He simply leaned close and slid the cloth gently over my eyes, tying it snug but not cruel. Darkness wrapped around me, heightening every sound, every breath, every shift of the mattress.Something soft brushed my wrists. I gasped, instinctively pulling, but his voice came, steady and commanding. “R

Zara’s POVFor a second, I just stared at it, debating whether to pick up. When I finally answered, silence filled the line, neither of us spoke.“Hey,” he said at last, his voice low.“Hey,” I echoed, cautious.“How are you doing?” he asked, soft in a way I wasn’t used to.“Good,” I answered simply, though my chest felt tight.“When are you coming home?” He asked softly.“I don’t know yet. Is there a problem?”“No,” he said, pausing just long enough to unsettle me. “I’m just checking on my wife.”The word wife landed heavy like he wanted me to feel it.“Thank you,” I replied carefully, each word measured. “I’ll see you when I’m ready to go back.”“Okay. Take care,” he said, and then the line went dead.I sat there, dumbfounded. Why now? Why the softness, the sudden tenderness? Cassian never spoke like that. Was he trying to stir up my emotions? Or was there something more dangerous lurking beneath that calm?My mind wouldn’t settle. Instinct screamed at me, he was up to something. He

Zara’s POVThe next morning, I arrived at the office early, only to find a man already waiting in the reception area.I didn't know who he was, until he stepped forward with a practiced smile.“Good morning, Mrs. Everhart. Barrister Lawrence, at your service,” he said, extending his hand.I blinked once. Was the elite world exclusively reserved for dangerous men and devastatingly handsome faces? He was tall, well-groomed, and effortlessly magnetic.I shook his hand lightly. “Welcome.”By the time I reached my office, Jade was already at work. She slipped my blazer from my shoulders, hung it neatly on the stand, and disappeared without a word. Barrister Lawrence followed me in, taking the seat opposite my desk.“May I ask,” he began smoothly, “how Mr. Everhart came about all these shares?”I leveled my gaze at him. “Do you have the documents prepared?”His brows flicked up, but I saw the lawyer’s cunning in his eyes. His face might have belonged to a man who turned heads in ballrooms,