All Chapters of Lost in Thy Arms: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

62 Chapters

SHADOWS AND SECRETS

Chapter 21SHADOWS AND SECRETSFrancis moved quietly toward the corner shelf, his silhouette barely visible in the storm-lit room. Maria watched, tense and uncertain, wondering what he was doing. A moment later, the sharp click of a lighter broke the silence, followed by the soft glow of flame. He lit one candle, then another, until five flickered across the lounge, placed at strategic points that pushed back the darkness in trembling circles of light.When he returned to the couch, Maria was trembling, her hands shaking as she whispered, “Let me out, please… I’ll behave. Just let me out. I can’t see anything.” Tears brimmed at her eyes, her voice cracking under the weight of fear. Francis sat beside her, pulling her gently into his arms. He said nothing, but his jaw tightened, his thoughts dark—silently wishing death, or plotting vengeance, for whoever had planted this terror inside her. Gradually, her sobs subsided. She pulled away, embarrassed, wiping her face. “Thank you… Sir…

THE CALL

Chapter 22THE CALLShe felt his hand at the waistband of her jeans, and something inside her—some small, distant voice that had been drowned out by the heat of his touch—suddenly surged forward.Her hand closed over his, stilling him.He froze immediately, lifting his head from where it had been buried in the curve of her neck. His breathing was heavy, his lips parted, but his eyes—those eyes that had been dark with wanting just moments before—sharpened with immediate attention.She didn't know how to explain the sudden knot in her chest. It wasn't that she didn't want him—God, she did, so much it scared her. "I—" she started, then stopped. Her hands were trembling slightly, and she hated that he could probably feel it.He didn't wait for her to find the words. He saw it—the hesitation, the tension in her shoulders, the way her fingers had wrapped around his wrist like a quiet plea. And he let go.Not just her hand. He let go of everything. He sat back, creating a careful, deliberat

THE VISIT TO HIS MAISON

Chapter 23THE VISIT TO HIS MANSIONThe cab slowed to a halt before the tall iron gates of Francis’s estate. Rain drizzled lightly, misting the air, and Maria came down and paid the driver. She walked forward, clutching the file tightly against her chest. The guards approached, stern-faced, their uniforms crisp despite the damp weather. “Name?” one demanded. “Maria,” she replied, voice steady though her heart raced. “I’m here to deliver a file to Mr. Francis.” The guard exchanged a glance with his partner, then pulled out a phone. Maria stood awkwardly in the drizzle, her shoes damp, as he dialed. A brief conversation followed, clipped and efficient. Finally, the guard nodded. “You may enter. He confirmed.” The gates swung open with mechanical precision, and the she walked cautiously into the estate. Maria’s breath caught as the mansion came into view. ---It was breathtaking. Elegant fountains arched water into the air, their droplets catching the faint glow of garden lig

A DECISION SHE NEEDED TO MAKE

Chapter 24 A DECISION SHE NEEDED TO MAKE Maria woke to pale sunlight filtering through unfamiliar curtains. For a moment, panic seized her—the instinctive jolt of not knowing where she was, her limbs tangled in sheets that smelled wrong, too soft, too expensive. Her heart hammered against her ribs as fragments of the previous night rushed back: the storm, Sophia's insistence, the tea, the fire. The fire. She had fallen asleep on the sofa. She was certain of it. But she was in a bed now, cocooned in silk sheets that pooled like liquid around her legs. Her shoes had been removed and placed neatly beside the nightstand. Her coat hung on the back of a nearby chair, draped carefully, as though someone had taken care to let it dry. Someone had. Maria pushed herself upright, the sheets slipping to her waist. Morning light poured through tall windows, illuminating dust motes that drifted lazily in the air. The room was beautiful—pale walls, fresh flowers on the vanity, a painti

MOTHERLY ADVICE

Chapter 26 MOTHERLY ADVICE Sunday arrived wrapped in pale autumn sunlight, the kind that filtered through curtains and warmed floors without quite chasing away the chill. Maria woke late, lay in bed for a long while staring at the ceiling, and finally rose when the smell of cooking drifted up from downstairs.Aunt May was in the kitchen, as she always was on Sundays, her hands dusted with flour and her gray hair pulled back in a loose bun. The radio played softly from the windowsill—old jazz, the kind Maria had become used to."There she is," May said without turning around. "I was beginning to think you'd sleep the day away.""I was tired," Maria said, sliding onto a stool at the counter."More reason for you to eat something." May slid a plate across the counter—eggs, toast, a thick slice of tomato, all arranged with the careful precision she applied to everything. "Eat."Maria ate. The food was good, familiar, settling something in her stomach that she hadn't realized was unsettl

EX BOYFRIEND

Chapter 26EX BOYFRIEND Maria turned and was surprised to see Gabriel, her ex boyfriend standing before her.“What are you doing here, Maria? It's been a while.“ He said with a smug smile.“Let go of my hand.“ Maria said looking at anywhere but his face.He let go and placed his hands in his pockets.“You are a bit overdressed for this kind of place, don't you think?“ He said looking at her dress.Maria stared at her dress, it was below her knee not too long and not short.“How is that any of your business, Mr Turner.““We are being formal now, are we?““We have no reason to be otherwise and I hope we both respect our boundaries.““Fine, what do you say we sit down and chat over a couple of drinks for old times sake.““Mr Turner, I didn't come here for fun. I came here for business.““At a club? Try better Maria that lie is….““Miss Brooks,” she cut him short.“Whatever,” he shrugged “Let's go over to that free table.“ he reached out to take her hand.Then Francis came in between him

BE MY WOMAN

Chapter 27BE MY WOMAN “I can see you are busy, Miss Brooks, so I would have to go back without you.“ Francis said and started leaving.Maria tried to wriggle herself out of Gabriel's hands but he held her tighter.“Let me go, Gabe.““Why is it because of your boss.““You need to move on with your life, just like I am doing.““Well I can't I already broke up with Bella. It was a mistake and I want you back.““You can't have me back, Gabriel. Please just try to let me go.““Maria, don't…”“Please don't make it harder than it already is. I'm sorry for kissing you and giving you any silly thought that I want you back. My love for you died a long time ago.“ Maria said and used her hand to released herself from him.“We can be just friends if you want, Good night Gabe.“ She said and left.She came outside the club but Francis had already left. She flagged down a taxi, giving the driver her address, and spent the ride staring out the window at the city lights blurring past.The kiss replay

DINNER NIGHT

CHAPTER 28DINNER NIGHT The week passed in a strange, suspended quiet.Maria and Francis fell into a new rhythm—professional on the surface, but charged underneath. He no longer looked away when she caught him staring. She no longer pretended not to notice. In meetings, their eyes would meet across the table, and something unspoken would pass between them. A promise. A question. A warning.Nothing happened.But everything could.By Thursday, Maria was exhausted from the tension. She sat at her desk, staring at a spreadsheet she had read three times without comprehending a single number, when her phone buzzed.Boss: Dinner tonight. 7pm. Don't be late. Inviting someone.Maria frowned. He didn't come to the office today and now this.Then she smiled and before she could give a response another message came in.Boss: A dress would be sent to you soon. My driver would come pick you up by 6:40.That was a good sign.---The car came to a stop in front of the hotel.The driver opened the do

ALFRED DAWSON

CHAPTER 29: ALFRED DAWSON Maria stared at his eyes deeply, they looked dead of emotions but she could still see the bitterness. They held each other gazes silently. “Fine,” Maria looked away first, touching the hem of her dress.“I won't ask about him, for now. Let's just enjoy our dinner.“ She said picking up her spoon.She continued eating but still felt his eyes on her.“You know you are staring too much lately.“ She said face still down.“I am only exercising my right,”“What right?“ She laughed at his silliness.“You know.“____May was in her office going through the financial report for this month and also checking for any restock of food items.Knock!!“Come in”“Ma, someone request to speak to you.““Who's that, Tara. A regular or a first timer?““I think this is his first time, I haven't see him in the restaurant before.““So it's a man.““Yes and he hasn't ordered anything. He said that you have been expecting him for a while.“She looked up from her table.“Did he give y

MAY'S SECRET

Chapter 30: MAY'S SECRET May stood behind the curtains and stared at the couple outside and she smiled.“I'm glad she is finally giving love a second chance.“Her phone buzzed on the table.She stepped back from the windows and picked it up.It was a message from Alfred.He wanted to meet Maria tomorrow.That's too sudden.She dialed his number and he picked on the first ring.“You can't meet her tomorrow.'“Why?“ His voice giving off his unhappiness.“It's too sudden. I haven't had the time to prepare her mentally for your appearance.““You have this night to prep her all you want.““Alfred, you know the reason why I am letting you into her life, under normal circumstances I wouldn't. This girl has been through a lot and now that she is finally letting go.“ She looked through the window and the couple were still talking.“You just want to barge in like nothing happened. I won't say she hates you but then she doesn't like you. Sylvester already gave her the baddest impression of a fa

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