All Chapters of BENEATH THE MASK : Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

POV: Akayda It was finally Friday morning and I couldn't wait to go home.I did not sleep at all throughout the night.Not even for a minute.When I got to my room last night after our little quarrel, I locked the door behind me and just stood there, looking at it. For a second, I told myself I wouldn’t cry. I told myself I was stronger than that.I wasn't going to cry because I did nothing wrong.But the tears still came anyway.I had let my back slide down against the door until I was sitting on the cold floor. I pressed my hand over my mouth so no sound would escape. I didn’t want him to hear me crying. I didn’t want him to know he had that kind of power over me. Nothing gave him the right to say those hurtful things to me and I wasn't supposed to cry because of what he had said. Yet I had sat there for what felt like hours crying.I was still sitting on the floor when I heard him leavethe suite. The door has closed shut quietly, almost gently. I didn’t move. I just sat there on

POV: VivianMy eyes have been glued to the picture in my hand for what felt like hours that the edges of it were beginning to bend slightly under the pressure of my fingers.Yet I still didn’t look awaI couldn't bring myself to take my eyes away from the picture.My room was silent except for the faint ticking of the wall clock above my dresser and the consistent hmm of the air conditioner.The Morning sun streamed through the tall windows, spilling across the marble floor and the cream colored rug beneath my feet. It was a beautiful Saturday morning.But all I could see was the picture in my hand.The picture of Damian.And Akayda.The two of them were walking side by side in the photograph. It had clearly been taken at the airport. Their luggage was next to them and Damian was leaning slightly toward her, his head tilted close to her ear as if he was whispering something.Akayda, on the other hand, was laughing.Not smiling.But full blown laughing.The kind of laugh a woman gave w

POV: Marcus The hotel room was quiet except for the soft humming of the air conditioner. The dim light from the bedside lamp glowed across the room, casting long shadows over the expensive furniture and the scattered clothes on the floor. I lay lazily on the king sized bed, one arm behind my head, my eyes looking up at the ceiling. A small smirk was on my lips. I knew she would come. Vivian Hale liked to pretend she was above things like this. She liked to play the role of the untouchable woman… the perfect fiancée of Damian Knight. But I knew her better than that. She always came. Across the room, Vivian stood by the large window that overlooked the glowing night city. Chicago was beautiful at night. Lights from cars and buildings shining like stars scattered across the earth. The white hotel sheets were wrapped around her body like a robe, leaving her shoulders bare. Her reflection looked back at her from the glass. For a moment she looked thoughtful… almost distant. I

POV: AkaydaMonday mornings usually came with a certain kind of heaviness, but today's heaviness felt a lot more different.I couldn't even explain it.Today, I woke up earlier than usual. Even before my alarm.The sky outside my window was still pale, the soft morning light just beginning to stretch across the buildings outside. For a few seconds, I simply just continued to lay there on my bed, with my eyes fixed on the ceiling while listening to the quiet hum of the city slowly waking up.Then reality settled in.I had work.Today was my first day back at the office after the business trip to Berlin.I pushed the covers away and sat up, running my fingers through my hair before letting out a slow breath.I had missed work.I had missed my desk.And most importantly…I had missed my work friends.Arabella.Camila.Arwen.Just thinking about them made a small smile appear on my face. They were one of the reasons I could go through the hectic days at the office.But it wasn’t just them

POV: DamianI walked through the lobby doors of the company, but my mind was far from the building. My mind was focused on one thing and one thing only.The HR department.The polished marble floor of the lobby reflected the bright lights above, and the quiet hum of the reception area filled the air. Employees moved around with files and tablets in their hands, talking in low voices, heading to meetings or returning to their offices.On a normal day, I noticed everything.And I also always acknowledge everyone who greeted me.But not today.“Good afternoon, Mr. Knight.”“Good afternoon, sir.”“Hello, Mr. Knight.”Voices greeted me from different directions as I walked across the lobby toward the elevators.But I didn’t answer.I didn’t even look at any of them.Right now, I didn’t care if they thought I was being rude.I didn’t care if they called me arrogant or a snob behind my back.They can say whatever they wanted to say.The only thing on my mind right now was getting to the HR