All Chapters of THE CHARADE: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

DANTE’S POVI finally let go of her arm, turning on her so fast she took a step back, hitting the wall behind her. The single overhead light cast sharp shadows on her face.“Have you lost your mind?” My voice was low, but it vibrated with rage I could barely contain. “What part of ‘absolutely not’ and ‘drop it’ did you not understand?” She straightened up, the defiant fire I hated and admired flashing in her eyes. “I did drop it! I was sitting in a corner, just like a good little employee, I didn’t go to him. He sent one of his men to get me. What was I supposed to do? Cause a scene and insult your business partner?” “Yes!” I roared, stepping closer, caging her in. “That’s exactly what you were supposed to do! You know your place, and it is not flirting with scum like Silva to get information I told you I didn’t need you to get!” “I was trying to help!” She shot back, her voice rising to match mine. It was the first time she’d truly yelled at me. “I’m tired of just taking notes and

DANTE'S POVKyle waited until the door fully closed behind her before he let out a low whistle dragging my attention away from a billion thoughts ramming through my head. “Okay, dude. Spill it.” I didn’t look up at him, trying to ignore his words, he was probably about to say something stupid that would piss me off. I traced my fingers across the map trying to line a route across the coast, where we suspect Silva was keeping his gang, where they were probably planning to cause havoc. Kyle moved closer, I could still feel his eyes lingering on me trying to find a reaction I wasn’t ready to give, it was annoyingly disturbing and I knew he wouldn’t stop until he gets something. “Okay! Spill what?”“Don’t give me that, Dante. You and Sophia. I saw you last night. You looked like you were ready to rip Silva’s head off his neck with your bare hands. And it wasn’t because she disobeyed your order and you know that too.” He leaned on the desk,his voice dropping as he stared intently.” It was

AVA’S POV“I am going to resign, Ellie, I can’t do this anymore. I can’t take his anger and I don’t think I will be able to take his hatred when he finds out who I really am. He is not the same person anymore Ellie, he might even kill me for hurting him so much. Ellie I–” My breath hitched painfully, I sobbed, I couldn't breathe, it hurt so much like a nail gun was drilled into my brain constantly whenever I thought of what I was doing, when I thought of him. I wasn’t as strong as I thought, not in front of him, he was the weakness I have been so scared to explore, so afraid to acknowledge, now it was haunting me. “Ava–” Ava? What’s wrong? Your voice… you sound terrible.” Her voice was instant, sharp with concern, a lifeline thrown across continents.A broken, half-sob, half-laugh escaped me. “Terrible doesn’t even begin to cover it, Ellie. I can’t do this anymore. I really, really can’t.”“Talk to me, Ava. What happened?”The words tumbled out in a rush, a chaotic flood of pain an

AVA’S POVThe sound of the villa’s front door closing behind us for the last time was the sweetest sound I’d heard in weeks. The humid Brazilian air felt different now—like I was finally pushing my way through it, toward freedom. The black SUV slid into the driveway, ready to take us to the private airstrip. Home. Spain. My resignation, Finally.I kept my eyes forward, my posture perfect, as I walked toward the car. I could feel him, of course. Dante. A few steps behind me, his presence was a dark gravity, pulling at the edges of my awareness. Kyle was already joking with the driver, slinging his bag into the trunk. The normalcy of it all was a beautiful, fragile lie.I slid into the back of the SUV, pressing myself against the far window, creating as much space as possible. A second later, the other door opened, and Dante filled the space. The car dipped with his weight. The air inside immediately thickened, growing warm and close. He didn’t look at me. He pulled out his phone, his f

AVA’S POVThe air in the study grew thick and heavy, like the moment before a storm breaks. Dante's question hung between us, sharp and dangerous."Why don't you tell me the real reason you're so desperate to get away from me? Speak Sophia!"My mouth went dry. I could feel the weight of every lie I'd ever told him, pressing down on my tongue. The truth was a live wire in my mouth—if I touched it, it would electrocute us both."I told you," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "My uncle..."He moved so fast I flinched. One moment he was seated, the next he was standing, his hands flat on the desk, his body leaning toward me. The movement was smooth and predatory. "Stop lying to me."The quiet command was more terrifying than any shout. My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic bird trying to escape its cage. I could see the gold flecks in his dark eyes, the tight line of his mouth. He was so close I could smell the clean, sharp scent of his cologne, see the faint shadow of stubble