All Chapters of Love I tried to Hide: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Tyrra collapsed onto the bed, dazed. A wave of relief washed over her when she realized Maya and Samantha weren’t there, probably still at the playground.How did this happen? Lemar. The stranger from six years ago. The Domino. What kind of twist of fate was this? And now… what would she do? She couldn’t stay here. Not if the hotel belonged to him. What if they ran into Samantha? What if he saw the truth in a single glance? No. I won’t let that happen.Her fingers trembled as she grabbed her cellphone and dialed Maya. “Come back to the suite immediately. Bring Samantha,” she ordered, her voice sharper than she intended.Restless, she paced the suite. She wanted to call Susan, tell her she couldn’t continue the assignment, hand it off, but hesitated. Their last conversation echoed in her mind:“The management picked between you and Wes. Most leaned toward him. But I saw your diligence, your passion. I admire your drive, Tyrra. That’s why I want to give you a chance. Prove yourself a

The next morning, Claire arrived at The Domino’s Palace Hotel. The scent of polished floors and the cool air hit her nerves as she walked through the spacious lobby.“For Miss Tyrra Villamore?” she asked carefully at the reception. The receptionist nodded, made a call, and soon Claire was told she could go up.In the elevator, she gripped the strap of her handbag tightly. Six years. Six long years since she had seen Tyrra up close. Will she ever forgive me?When the suite door opened, Tyrra appeared, dressed simply but standing with quiet elegance. Surprise, and a hint of joy, flickered in her eyes.“Tyrra…” Claire’s voice wavered, and before the girl could react, she pulled her into a tight hug.“Mom…” Tyrra’s voice was soft but clear. “I can’t believe it. I thought you wouldn’t come looking for me.”Claire closed her eyes in the embrace. &l

Tyrra leaned back in the cool leather seat of the taxi, her mind spinning from the morning’s whirlwind.First, the visit to her stepmother. Then Susan’s call. And finally, the trip to Lemar’s office. Everything had happened too fast, she couldn’t catch her breath.The city blurred past the window as her fingers unconsciously stroked the edge of her cellphone. Now that she had agreed to work with Lemar and secure the interview, she needed a safe place for her and Samantha, a quiet apartment far from his reach.Every thought of Lemar, Flavier’s cousin and Samantha’s father, sent a shiver down her spine. No one could know. Not Lemar, not Flavier, not even her family.She realized she needed to call Claire. She had to make sure Samantha’s secret stayed hidden. If Claire had mentioned anything to her father or Grace, or if Flavier had caught wind, then Lemar would find out. And that was her greatest fear.Tyrra

Tyrra stared at Lemar, her heart hammering in her chest. She quickly recovered from the initial shock, clutching her bathrobe tightly, trying to cover herself.“What are you doing here? What do you want?” she demanded, her voice sharp.Lemar’s grin widened. “Can I come in?”“Of course not!” she snapped, her eyes flashing.He tilted his head, mischievous. “Or… you can let me in, or we can stand here, face-to-face in your bathrobe, and… think about our relationship.”Tyrra’s eyes darted to the corridor. Gossip, or worse, someone seeing them, was the last thing she needed. Her pulse raced. Reluctantly, she stepped aside. “Fine. Come in.”As Lemar crossed the threshold, his presence seemed to fill the entire room. Tyrra closed the door behind him, her mind spinning. He couldn’t just be here, what if Samantha came back now? She needed a plan, fast.

Tyrra arrived at Domino Corp early the next morning, her mind sharp but her heart racing. She had spent the night restless, washing up, pacing, and thinking about what lay ahead. Every small mistake could cause problems, she reminded herself.She was afraid, not just of Lemar discovering Samantha, but of what she felt every time she saw him. Memories of him, the man who had once brought her the deepest pleasure, surfaced unexpectedly, even though his face was no longer clear in her mind.Determined to keep things professional, she pushed those thoughts aside as she approached the office. With a deep breath, she knocked, following Lemar’s strict instructions that she be allowed in immediately if she arrived alone.“Come in,” Lemar’s voice called, calm, confident, but with an undercurrent of annoyance.Tyrra stepped inside. Lemar sat behind his desk, absorbed in documents. When their eyes met, he frowned slightly, then a broad, delib