Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Lies He Kissed Me With: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

I never believed in love at first sight. Not really. Not in the way they wrote about it in books or whispered about in movies. I thought it was a fairytale people told themselves to feel less alone. But the moment I saw Adrian, I wondered if maybe that kind of impossible feeling could exist. He was leaning casually against the balcony railing, laughing with someone whose face I couldn’t see clearly. Yet, even from a distance, the sound of his voice made my chest tighten. Sunlight caught the edge of his jawline perfectly, glinting off the sharp angle in a way that made him look untouchable — too perfect to be real. And then he turned. Our eyes met. Something inside me shivered, an electric jolt I couldn’t explain. My rational mind screamed, You don’t know him. Don’t fall for this. But my body ignored the warning. The intensity of his gaze pinned me in place. He smiled — not a polite, casual smile like strangers usually gave, but a smile that felt like a promise. Dangerous, intoxicat

The evening air was heavy, scented with the faint aroma of jasmine from the courtyard below, but it did nothing to calm the storm inside me. Every step I took toward the café where Adrian said he’d meet me felt like a decision that could change everything — my life, my heart, my sanity. And yet, there I was, unable to stop myself.I saw him immediately, leaning against the window frame as if he belonged there, the streetlights catching the sharp angles of his face. That same smirk tugged at his lips, the one that made my knees weak, the one that promised danger and desire in equal measure.“You’re late,” he said, voice low, almost teasing.“I… I got caught up,” I muttered, wishing I could sound casual.“You always get caught up,” he said, stepping closer. His hand brushed mine as he passed, deliberate or not, sending a shiver down my spine. “But you always find your way back to me.”I swallowed, trying to speak, to protest, to remind myself that this was reckless. “I… I shouldn’t be h

The night was quiet, almost unnervingly so. The city lights stretched across the horizon, painting the streets in gold and silver, but their beauty was lost on me. My mind was a storm, swirling with thoughts of Adrian. Every glance, every touch, every whispered word of his haunted me. I had tried to resist him, tried to remind myself that desire was dangerous, that he was dangerous. But resistance had become useless. The pull between us was magnetic, irresistible. I found myself outside his apartment, hesitating before knocking. My hand trembled slightly, betraying the confidence I wished I had. When he opened the door, smiling that maddening, impossible smile, I felt a shiver of anticipation run through me. “You came,” he said simply, stepping aside to let me in. “I… I thought we should talk,” I said, trying to sound firm, though my voice faltered. “Talk?” His lips curved into that teasing smirk. “About what?” I hesitated, searching for words that could capture the chaos inside

Morning came too quickly.Amara woke up to the soft hum of the air conditioner and the faint smell of coffee drifting from the kitchen. For a moment she lay still, staring at the ceiling, wondering how she had somehow settled into this new life with a man who still felt like a stranger in so many ways.The events of the previous night replayed in her mind—the almost-kiss, his hand on her waist, the way his voice dropped when he called her “mine.” She felt heat gather in her cheeks. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Arranged marriages weren’t supposed to be… confusing.She finally stood up, wrapped her scarf around her shoulders, and stepped into the hallway. She could hear quiet voices downstairs—voices that didn’t belong to her or Kassem.She froze.Visitors?At this hour?She hurried down the stairs and paused at the living room entrance.Kassem was there, fully dressed in dark slacks and a crisp shirt, leaning casually against the arm of the sofa. Across from him sat an older wom

The following morning, Amara woke with a knot in her stomach. The events of yesterday—the revelation of Clause 17, the confrontation, Kassem’s intense eyes—replayed endlessly in her mind. She had barely slept, tossing and turning in the sheets, wondering if she was making the right choices.Part of her wanted to run. Part of her wanted to stay, to see the man behind the rules, to understand why he acted the way he did.But she couldn’t ignore the fact that the contract—his control—loomed over her like a shadow she couldn’t shake.⸻The Test BeginsAt breakfast, Amara decided to test the boundaries. If Kassem truly trusted her, if he truly loved her, then he would allow her a small measure of independence. She needed to see where the line between love and control truly lay.“Good morning,” she said softly, pouring herself a cup of tea.Kassem didn’t look up from the newspaper. His brow furrowed slightly, but he didn’t comment.Amara cleared her throat. “I was thinking…maybe I could mee