CHAPTER 11:A Game Of Mind

I came home to see Daniel on my veranda“Shit”I exclaimed as I made my way to the front door.“Damn it mara couldn't you pick your call you got me scared.”He already started nagging.“I'm sorry.”“What did you do?”“I didn't make it to my destination”“You should come in, I'll tell you all about it.”I gestured as I was already standing by the door.“So nonchalant”He scoffed as he swayed his way through the door.“I'm listening”“Oh please could I atleast settle down”“Sure queen settle down”he teased.I rolled my eyes dropping my keys and bag on the glass table in the middle of my sitting room as I say gently.“I was driving to the penthouse but I never made it there,I was going to confront him”Daniel was the only one who saw through my hardened act.He knew what to say,when to say it and how to say it even when it's blunt and hard for me to take in.“This case is no longer a matter of emotions.”He beganI felt bitter not because the truth was cruel, but because it was honest in a

CHAPTER 12:A Dangerous Alliance

My very own nemesis.The man I had been trying so desperately to keep out of my life.He stood there with an unreadable expression, his eyes fixed intently on me. Then, slowly, his gaze shifted past my shoulder, as though he were trying to see who had been inside with me.A slow, knowing smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.“Dee yet again?” he questioned.My stomach dropped.Of all the questions he could have asked, that was the one I least wanted to answer.I tightened my grip on the edge of the door, refusing to let him see the sudden panic flashing through me.“What are you doing here, Ethan?”His smirk widened.“I think the better question is…”He leaned slightly closer, his eyes narrowing as they remained fixed on mine.“What were you and your so-called Dee doing here together?”Three years ago, those words would have sent several streams of guilt—and perhaps even foolish butterflies—through my stomach. I would have been secretly thrilled by the thought that he cared enough to

CHAPTER 13:The Same Team

Richard just called.I sent the message to Daniel, my fingers barely leaving the screen before his reply came through.“What’s his deal?”He responded so swiftly, it was almost as though he had been waiting for me to reach out.I continued pacing slowly across the room, my arms crossed tightly over my chest.“He says it’s better off speaking face to face.”I frowned.“That’s fishy don't you think?,” I sent another text A few seconds later, Daniel replied.“Really fishy. At this point, I don’t trust the Crofts anymore.”Neither did I.Something about Richard suddenly wanting to speak face to face made my stomach twist uneasily.He hasn't really been a fan.I paced a little faster, my mind running through every possible explanation.Then, against my better judgment, I let my curiosity get the best of me.“You should go hear what he has to say.”Daniel replied.I stared at the message,a strange feeling settling in the pit of my stomach.But whatever Richard wanted to discuss, I had a fee

CHAPTER 14:The Enemy of my Friend

Richard glanced at me, his eyes lingering on my outfit for a moment longer than I would have liked.“You’ve changed your style of dressing,” he remarked. “You wear big clothes now. That’s new.”I forced a casual smile, resisting the urge to tug at the oversized fabric covering my stomach.“I just prefer this style now. It’s more comfortable.”His eyes narrowed slightly, but thankfully, he didn't press the issue.“Let’s begin with what we’re here for,” he said, immediately shifting the conversation.Relief washed over me.The last thing I needed was Richard becoming suspicious. At fourteen weeks, my belly bump had finally begun to show, and hiding it beneath loose-fitting clothes was becoming increasingly difficult.My carefully laid-out plan was slowly beginning to unravel.But I couldn't let it.Not yet.I had come too far.Faith was the only thing keeping me going.Richard continued speaking, but his words gradually faded into the background as my thoughts consumed me. I stared blan

CHAPTER 15:A Night before the Storm

My phone beeped just as I stepped out of the Uber.Distracted, I barely paid attention to where I was going, my eyes fixed on the glowing screen as I read the message.It was Richard.Richard: I’ll be hosting a private fine-dining dinner the day after tomorrow in celebration of my recovery. I’d be honoured to have you there.A small smile tugged at my lips.I quickly typed my response.Me: Yes, I’ll be there. Thank you for hosting. I’d be honoured to attend.I hit send and slipped my phone into my bag.Still distracted by the invitation, I made my way toward my apartment, barely paying attention to my surroundings.I didn't realize I'd reached my front door untilThud.My forehead bumped lightly against it.“Ouch.”I winced, rubbing my forehead as I stared at the door.For a moment, I simply stood there before letting out a quiet laugh at myself.My mind was clearly somewhere else.I reached for the doorknob, my smile still lingering.The dinner wasn't until the day after tomorrow.Fo

CHAPTER 16:The Day Before

By morning, I could hear Leila’s whistling from my bedroom.It was usually loud and irritating, and whenever the sound penetrated through my bedroom walls, I knew I had forgotten to shut the door.And I was right.“Ughhhhh!” I groaned, slamming a pillow over my ears in a desperate attempt to block out the noise. I was far too lazy to get out of bed and shut the door, hoping she would eventually stop.She didn’t.The whistling continued relentlessly.With a frustrated sigh, I finally dragged myself out of bed and made my way downstairs, fully prepared to give her a piece of my mind.“Do you realize I can hear your whistles from—”No reply.I stopped mid-sentence.My brows furrowed as I stared at her, already irritated by her apparent decision to ignore me. Then I noticed it.Headphones.She had a pair of headphones over her ears, completely oblivious to my presence.“You’ve got to be kidding me.”I turned around, marched back upstairs, grabbed another pillow from my room, and returned