Kisses, Lies and Blurred Alibis 의 모든 챕터: 챕터 21 - 챕터 30

THE PRESENT.CHLOE’s POV“This is wrong…” I whispered, the sound catching somewhere between a sob and a moan. My voice trembled with need. “But I want you in me more… I need you, Tyler. My body yearns for you. I shouldn’t, but I can’t stop.”Even as the words left me, my chest felt like it was caving in. All the promises I had made to myself, to stay away, to keep the secret of my child safe, to never betray the man I had married, cracked under the weight of this one moment.Tyler smirked, that same dangerous curve of his lips that had haunted my nights for years. Hovering just above me, his palm slid down my thigh, slow and teasing, as if he could peel away my last defense. “Say it again,” he murmured, voice low and wicked. “Say you need me.”“I…” The confession burned in my throat, but before it could escape, his mouth crashed against mine, rough and demanding. The kiss stole my breath, erased my hesitation. My heart pounded wildly, my body already arching into him as though it rem

CHLOE’s POVThe morning after felt calm and cool, yet heavier. Like the house itself was tired of secrets.The smell of strong coffee floated through the air, but it didn’t help my nerves. My head was pounding, my stomach twisting. Every sound, every knock, every footstep, made me flinch.Jake had left early again, saying something about “unfinished business.” His tone was calm, but I could feel it, he was piecing things together, one suspicion at a time.I stood by the window, holding my tea cup with both hands, trying to stop them from shaking. The world outside looked peaceful, sunny even. But my life felt like a storm was coming closer with each breath.Then I heard a soft voice behind me.“Madam?”I turned. Gold stood at the door, holding a small tray. Her eyes, always gentle, looked different today, worried, knowing.“You didn’t eat breakfast,” she said carefully.“I wasn’t hungry,” I murmured.She nodded but didn’t move. For a second, we just stood there in silence. Then she p

CHLOE’s POVThe house felt too quiet that morning, quiet in that way that makes your bones restless. Quiet in a way that tells you someone is watching, even if they aren’t in the room. Quiet from the argument of yesterday, quiet from the tension between I and Ethan.I woke up before the sun, lying on my side of the enormous bed like a guest who was afraid to disturb the sheets. Jake wasn’t beside me. The imprint of his body was cold.Somewhere deep inside my chest, something twisted.He hadn’t slept here last night.I didn’t think is much though, not after what transpired between us yesterday.The thought clawed at me, but I pushed it away, trying to breathe, trying to be normal, trying to survive. My body still ached faintly from the dizzy spell yesterday, and the little flutter of panic still lived beneath my ribs like a trapped bird.I dragged myself out of bed, showered quickly, and slipped into something simple, silk blouse, soft linen skirt. I didn’t want to look like I was hidi

There are some nights when sleep doesn’t come to you, not because you’re not tired or working, but because your thoughts keep knocking on the walls of your skull, demanding to be let out.That night was one of them.Tyler’s threat still echoed in my head. What do es he even think he is? I asked, biting my lips so hard. Ethan’s worried eyes haunted me.m, even more than I expected. Jake’s suspicion felt like storm clouds rolling closer.And somewhere between all that, I needed peace, sleep, calm nwa from my crumbling world. I couldn’t breathe.I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the shifting shadows in my room, waiting for daylight, or disaster, whichever came first. The knock came just after dawn.Gentle. Soft. Careful. Nervous.“Mrs. Zoe?” Gold called from outside. “Can I come in?”My heart snapped awake.Gold? What was she doing. It wasn’t yet time for breakfast.“…yes,” I murmured, adjusting myself a little.She slipped inside, shutting the door behind her. No tray. No tea.

CHLOE’s POVThe morning came too fast. I barley closed my eyes to sleep. It never felt this heavy. The silence alone was choking me. The mansion’s halls always held secrets, but today it felt like they were whispering, soft, busy, humming with something ugly just beneath the surface.Jake didn’t speak to me when I woke. He didn’t come in. Didn’t knock. Didn’t check if I was still breathing.He just placed guards at the door.More guards.Like I was both valuable and dangerous.Like I was something breakable, or something that might break him.Breakfast was placed on my table untouched. I didn’t trust it anymore. Not the tea. Not the fruit. Not the pretty porcelain plate.Not in this house where even affection is a weapon.Gold came in, silent, her eyes scanning everything before she walked closer.“No one saw Tyler come in last night,” she said quietly.My heart stopped.But before relief could settle,“He must have bribed someone. Or threatened them. Either is possible.”I swallowe