All Chapters of Love, Lies, and I Do: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The night was young; the sound of sweet laughter continued to fill the night air, with their drinks in their hands as they departed Pleasure Paradise nightclub.Denver and India took the romantic route down the boardwalk to the almost vacant beach. India wanted to pinch herself every time her eyes glanced over at Denver. "Was he real?" India asked herself at least a thousand times."No one needed this vacation/honeymoon, and a night of fun like this, more than you?" Denver states as he consumes the blue tropical drink in his glass, called Euphoria. "Why is that?" India asked, massaging his broad shoulders as they stopped walking and took a seat on the boardwalk. “My dear, you have been through so much. I was disappointed in Marcus, but you trusted him, and as much as I hate to say it, no doubt you loved him. And to have him rip out your heart the way he did. It’s a lot to recover from. See, I know a little about heartbreak.” "Thanks for understanding. But I don’t love him anymo

Denver’s hands were steady as he gripped the steering wheel, but India could see the tightness in his jaw, the way he kept glancing at her from the corner of his eye. The Atlanta skyline blurred past the windshield, a familiar comfort that now felt tinged with uncertainty. Their two-week honeymoon in the Bahamas had been a cocoon, a world apart where the past couldn’t reach them. But as Denver pulled into the driveway of the townhouse they’d left behind, reality pressed in on all sides.Their home was as they’d left it—pristine, almost sterile. India’s shoes still rested by the door, Denver’s favorite mug sat on the kitchen counter, and a dusting of afternoon light streaked across the hardwood floors. But the air felt different. Heavier. As if the house itself was holding its breath, waiting for the couple to cross the threshold of their new life.Denver unlocked the door and stepped inside, rolling the suitcases behind him. India trailed after, her fingers grazing the familiar banist

Marcus was all smiles that Monday morning, moving through the office with the ease of a man who owned the place. His suit was crisp, his hair perfectly styled, and his charming “good mornings” landed on every assistant and junior exec he passed. Only those who knew him well, who saw the hard glint in his eyes and the way his jaw ticked when Denver’s name was mentioned, would sense the storm gathering behind the practiced façade.As Marcus approached the main elevators, he pulled out his phone and sent a quick text. Vanessa, let’s meet. Project Eagle needs a ‘nudge.’He slid the phone back into his pocket and continued to the executive suite, where Gloria sat at her desk, typing up the morning’s agenda.“Gloria,” Marcus said, voice low, “did Denver get my revised Chatham projections?”She nodded. “He said he’d look over them this afternoon.”“Good. Listen, can you make sure he sees the new figures for Project Eagle, too? Put them on the top of his pile.”Gloria hesitated. “That project’

The first time Denver’s parents met India alone, the house felt too big. Sharon had insisted on hosting her for tea this time—"just the two of us, dear, so we can really get to know you." India had agreed, smiling politely, but she could see the calculation behind Sharon’s eyes. Alan hovered just inside the kitchen, pretending to read the paper, but listening to every word.India sat on the floral-print sofa, hands folded in her lap, and accepted a mug of chamomile. Sharon poured her own, then sat across from India, smoothing her skirt.“So, India,” Sharon began, her voice syrupy sweet, “what made you want to marry my son?”India blinked, pausing for a moment before answering. “I love Denver. He makes me feel understood—as I can be myself.”Sharon nodded, lips pursed. “You know, he and his father are very close. Best friends, really. It’s been hard for Alan, seeing Denver drift away.”India met her gaze. “I’d never want to come between them.”Alan coughed from behind the kitchen door,

It started with a ping, one email, then two, then a flurry of notifications that swept through the office like wildfire. Wednesday mornings at Denver’s company were usually a blur of meetings and coffee runs, but today, the hum of productivity was replaced by something sharper, more electric. Heads clustered over monitors, whispers zipped through cubicles, and for once, the company group chat was completely silent.Denver noticed the shift almost immediately. As he moved through the open-plan floor, conversations stilled. People avoided his eyes, their greetings clipped and awkward. He caught snippets,“Did you see…?” and “I can’t believe it…”—as he passed. His stomach tightened. Something was wrong.He ducked into his office, where his assistant, Sam, looked like he wanted to sink into the floor. “Morning, boss,” Sam said, too brightly.“Sam, what’s going on?”Sam hesitated, then turned his monitor toward Denver. On the screen was an email with no subject line, sent from an untraceabl