All Chapters of MARKED BY DECEPTION : Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

67 Chapters

Chapter 41 – Things Left Unsaid

☆☆LILA☆☆A week passed in a blur. Still, there were no answers or explanations from Rowan.If Rowan was actually searching for my father’s killer, he was doing a very good job of keeping me completely out of it. Every day felt the same. I would eat, read books, watch television, pace around the room, and sleep. If I wasn’t actually kidnapped, this would have been a good vacation.That night, I sat on the edge of my bed, my phone resting in my palm.I stared at Kai’s name for a long time before finally pressing call.It rang once. Twice. I was about to cut the call when he picked up.“Lila?” His voice came through instantly, sharp with relief. “Are you okay?”“I’m fine,” I said quickly. “I just wanted you to know that.”There was a pause. “I know.”I frowned. “You do?”“Selene told me,” he said. “She said you’re safe. As safe as you can be, anyway.”“Oh,” I muttered, surprised. I hadn’t known she could stand him enough to tell him about me. I made a mental note to bug her about it late

Chapter 42: Quiet Understandings

☆☆LILA☆☆If there was one constant in this house, it was the food. Every day, without any delay, meals appeared on the dining table at the same hours. Always warm. Always perfectly made. I had yet to meet the chef, which was strange considering I had been here long enough to at least catch a glimpse of them.Whoever it was, they were good. Very good. I wasn’t surprised that Rowan would only employ one of the best chefs. When I eventually met them, I’d thank them properly.I stepped out of my room that evening and headed straight for the dining area, my footsteps light and practiced. I had learned how to move around the house without drawing attention to myself.I picked up my plate, turning toward the hallway when a door opened behind me.I stiffened.Rowan stepped out of his room, sleeves rolled up, his laptop in one hand, his presence filling the space almost instantly. He noticed me at once, his gaze flicking to the plate in my hands.“I was just leaving,” I said quickly, already s

Chapter 43: Lines That Shouldn’t Be Crossed

☆☆LILA☆☆I kept staring at the ringing phone. A part of me wanted to pick it up, but I had already broken the deal I made with Rowan once, and I wasn’t planning to do it again. I was about to decline the call when it was ripped out of my hand.I gasped, spinning around just in time to see Rowan end the call with a single tap, his expression unreadable as he slipped the phone into his pocket.“Are you insane?” I snapped. “Give that back—”“You were going to answer it.” he said calmly, like he hadn’t just crossed a line.“That was my phone. I can do whatever I want with it.”“And that was someone I do not trust. This could have ruined our plans,” he replied, eyes flicking to me. “I did you a favor.”I laughed humorlessly. “A favor? You don’t get to decide that.”He tilted his head slightly. “You can go meet him once all this is over.”My chest tightened. “What’s that supposed to mean?”“It means,” he said evenly, “when we’re done here, you’re free to run back to Theo and marry him like

chapter 44: The apple

☆☆LILA☆☆ The elevator doors slid open to an empty hallway. For a moment, I just stood there, my heart still pounding from the confrontation upstairs. I half-expected Rowan to drag me back upstairs and lock me in my room but he didn’t. At least not yet. I went straight to Selene’s room but her door was locked I couldn’t go back upstairs especially not with Rowan still in there. That selfish bastard. I can't go back at least not now I followed the sound of voices until I reached one of the halls below. A small group had gathered there, children were sitting on the floor, laughing softly, while an elderly woman stood in front of them, speaking gently. It was her. The same woman I’d seen Rowan helping the other day. She noticed me almost immediately. Her eyes softened. “Who are you, dear?” I opened my mouth, then closed it again. Suddenly, I felt very aware of how out of place I was. I wasn't a part of them. “No one,” I said quietly. I turned to leave. As I

Chapter 45: Healing

Immediately I woke up, my head felt heavy, as if someone had placed a brick on it. My eyes blinked against the soft light, and I immediately noticed Rowan on the sofa focusing entirely on his laptop. He didn’t even glance at me, like I wasn’t in the room at all.I let out a small, tired sigh. My throat was dry, unbearably so. I shifted slightly, trying to push myself up, only to realise just how weak I still felt.Struggling, I tried to stand up unable to bear how my throat felt rough and hoarse.“Sit down,” he said, calm and low, from where he was sitting.I didn’t respond. Instead, I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, ignoring him, and planted my feet on the floor.The moment I tried to stand, the world tipped. The room, the walls, everything blurred. My knees buckled and I felt myself falling And then a strong hand caught me.His arms wrapped firmly around my waist, steadying me against the fall. My chest slammed out of the fear that I was about to fall, our eyes locked. And

Chapter 46: New Discovery

☆☆LILA☆☆ It took me two more days to actually feel better, like really better. Rowan still hadn’t said anything about the argument we had before the incident. It was like it never happened he didn't mention anything regarding it. Not even a word. I went to the kitchen to get my food, planning to rush back to my room before I ran into him. Just as I turned, the front door opened and Rowan stepped in. His eyes landed on me briefly before he walked closer. “The detective is coming by this evening.” “Huh?” I frowned. “Your detective. I reached out to him. He’ll be here this evening.” Oh. Right. I told him I was going to reach out to Detective Ellias. I completely forgot. “Oh… okay.” He studied me for a second. “Are you sure you’re feeling better now?” “What? Yeah. I’m fine.” A small pause. “Okay.” And he left. What the hell was that? … A soft knock came from my door before it opened slightly. Selene peeked in. “Hey. The detective is here.” I didn

Chapter 47: New lead

I kept on staring at the picture I became painfully aware of Rowan beside me. He wasn’t moving or speaking. But I could feel him there. His presence was so loud. “So,” Rowan cleared his throat, “you’re saying this call is our lead.” “Yes,” Detective Ellias nodded. “If we can trace that number, we might finally know who he went to meet.” I finally tore my eyes from the photo and looked at Rowan. “You knew he got home that night?” I asked quietly. His jaw tightened slightly. “No.” “Oh” “I told you everything about that meeting,” he replied calmly. Detective Ellias cleared his throat. “To be clear, Mr Blackwood is not my primary suspect at this point.” That didn’t help. It was clear he wasn't the culprit but I did not want to accept it it was easier to have someone to blame, it was easier to blame him. I folded my hands in my lap so they wouldn’t shake. “Can you trace the number?” “I’m trying,” he said. “But it’s not that simple. The call was brief. Possibly from a secon

Chapter 48: Leaving

☆☆LILA☆☆I sat on the sofa, waiting for him to come out. A few minutes later, footsteps echoed down the hallway.Rowan stepped into the room and stopped when he saw me sitting there.“We need to talk,” I saidI needed to know what he and my father had discussed that night.He walked toward me slowly and spoke before I could gather my thoughts.“What do you want?”How did he know I wanted something? I hadn’t even said anything yet.Was it that obvious?My voice came out steadier than I expected.“For once,” I said quietly, “don’t lie to me.”His jaw tightened slightly.“Why did my father meet you that night?”“I already told you—”“That it’s none of my business.” I let out a shaky laugh. “He was at the door, Rowan. My door. Do you know what that means?”He didn’t answer.“It means I could have seen him,” my voice cracked despite my effort to keep it steady. “I could have talked to him. I could have—”I swallowed hard.“He was right there.”Rowan didn’t move. He didn’t even blink, like

Chapter 49: weighing the options

☆☆LILA☆☆I looked up.“What do you mean?”“Listen,” Kai said. “From what you and Selene told me, it sounds like you were the one benefiting the most from that situation.”“He kidnapped me,” I said flatly.“From a wedding you were forcing yourself into,” Kai replied calmly. “And now he’s helping you investigate your father’s death. Isn’t that what you wanted?”“Are you seriously supporting him right now?”“Look, I know the guy is terrible,” Kai said quickly. “And yes, I was happy when you were getting married to Theo. But you were doing it because of pressure. Some ridiculous obligation you feel toward the pack. You would have been miserable in that marriage.”He leaned forward slightly.“All I’m saying is you could have used Rowan. At least until you find out who killed your father… and until you secure your freedom.”My stomach tightened.“Because we both know,” Kai continued, “that the moment you go back to the pack house, the Elders will pressure you into getting married again.”“A

Chapter 50: Going back

☆☆LILA☆☆ “She was with Rowan the night my father died.” Kai paused for a moment, clearly thinking about it. Then his brows drew together in mild surprise. “Raya?” “She served as his alibi that night,” I added quietly. Kai leaned back in his chair, processing that. “Raya?” he repeated. “Yes.” I proceeded to tell him everything. When I finished, he ran a hand over his jaw, thinking. “Well,” he finally said, “if Raya said she was with him that night… then she was.” I frowned. “You’re that sure?” Kai nodded slowly. “Raya isn’t the type to lie about something like that. And her confronting Rowan recklessly sounds exactly like something she would do.” Something about the certainty in his tone made my stomach tighten. “But I can’t help feeling betrayed,” I admitted. Kai exhaled quietly. He leaned forward slightly. “Listen, her methods might be wrong, but she would never do anything to hurt you. She practically owes your father for saving her life.” “What?” I asked, surpri

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