DEVIL IN A SILHOUETTE のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 21 - チャプター 30

Chapter 22: I have a Surprise for you ‎"Carmen," Charles snapped firmly, his tone cutting through the air like a blade. ‎"Uhmm, sorry for all the drama, Elizabeth," he muttered, clearing his throat awkwardly. "Kindly meet my daughter, Lesley, and... my ex-wife, Carmen." His voice dropped to a near whisper at the mention of her name. ‎My stomach twisted, but I forced a polite smile. "Hello, Lesley. Your dad has told me a lot about you," I said softly. ‎The little girl gave me a quick once-over, her expression sharp and unreadable. Then she turned to her father, her voice dripping with suspicion. ‎"Are you my father’s girlfriend? Because you two were holding hands." ‎The air in the room grew heavy. I could almost hear the tension crackle between us. ‎"Uh—" I began, unsure how to answer, but Charles quickly stepped in. ‎"No. Elizabeth is a very good friend of mine," he interjected quickly. ‎I tried to hide the sting that came with those words, but it was useless. A very

Chapter 24: You'd make a perfect match ‎I could hear the pounding of my heartbeat echoing in my ears, every thud a reminder to stay calm. ‎"Uhm—, I came to check up on Jessica," I swallowed hard, trying to steady my voice. Luckily, I had already hidden the syringe deep in my bag. "I know this isn’t standard procedure, but I just had to see my business partner. I was devastated when I heard the news. And—well, luckily, when I came in, she woke up. Isn’t that a miracle?" I forced a wide, fake smile across my lips. ‎Someone give me an Oscar already. ‎Richard’s brows furrowed, suspicion flickering in his eyes. I quickly changed the topic before he could linger on it. ‎"But... Richie, why are you just coming now? Where were you?" ‎He rubbed his temples, like a man fighting off a migraine. ‎"I went to meet an investor. Someone called and said Jessica was in the hospital," he muttered, barely looking at his wife—his tone cold, detached, as if he didn’t care whether she lived or

Chapter 26: The Birthday Party A Few Days Later (Aurora) A sleek black Porsche rolled to a smooth stop in front of the Williams estate. The evening air held a faint chill, carrying with it the quiet hum of luxury and old money. My chauffeur stepped out first, opening the rear door for me with practiced grace. I glanced at the mansion, this used to be my home, now these bastards have taken everything. The party decorations were… extravagant. Elegant, yes—gold-trimmed floral arches, tall crystal vases overflowing with white orchids, and an expensive string quartet playing softly near the fountain—but it all felt painfully curated. Beautiful in a way that lacked warmth. Like everything here, it wasn’t my taste. Too polished. Too soulless. Too Williams. I stepped out, the hem of my dress trailing like liquid dusk. It was a floor-length black satin gown with a low back and a slit running just high enough to whisper scandal. Simple. Sharp. Dangerous. I wasn’t here to blend in. I

Chapter 28: Are you jealous? Fortunately, Richard wasn’t close to me. If he had been pressed against me, if Jessica had walked in even a second earlier, that would have been a mess. A complete mess. "Yes, I was just leaving. Richard and I were only discussing work," I said, my voice calm, steady, like nothing was happening. I opened the rear door of my car. Jessica’s eyes lingered on me, sharp, searching, watching. She was suspicious. I could see it. But she had nothing. Not yet. "You should be on your way, Miss Alvarez. It’s getting late," she purred, her voice soft but her eyes cold. I gave a small smile, nodded, and got into the car. I didn’t even look back. I just drove. The night air outside felt like freedom. Fresh, wide, open. After that suffocating party full of fake laughs and expensive lies, breathing felt like a blessing. Red traffic light. I leaned my head against the cool glass of the window. Just resting. Just thinking. Just breathing.

Chapter 30:Cheers to poetic justice I watched the phone ring until it finally stopped. The silence that followed didn’t just sit in the room , it pressed on it. Heavy. Uncomfortable. Unspoken. Charles bent down without a word, his jaw tight as he picked his shirt from the floor. He slipped it on, buttoning each button with that same cold, controlled calm he used when he was pissed. He didn’t even look at me. "You're leaving?" I asked quietly. "The rain has stopped already. I’ll drop you home. Call your driver to pick up your car," he said flatly, like every word was being forced out of his mouth. I could tell he was angry — well, I was too. I stood slowly, fingers fumbling as I buttoned up my shirt. "Charles, I’m sorry, I— didn’t—" "Elizabeth," he cut me off sharply. "Put on your jacket. We’re heading to the car." I only nodded. My jacket was still damp from earlier, heavy and cold in my hand. We stepped outside. The rain had eased into a thin drizzle, the streetli