All Chapters of The Love You Faked : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

By the time Alexander arrived home, the house was quiet. The car stopped in front of the house. Alexander stepped out, adjusted his tie, and walked toward the entrance. The moment the door opened, a warm smell drifted through the hall. He stopped. Butter, cinnamon, freshly baked pastry.Then came another scent beneath it, garlic, herbs, chicken. Alexander looked toward the kitchen. He had lived in this house long enough to know its usual smells. This wasn't one of them. He had never smelled anything like it here. For a moment, he thought Chef Elena had decided to prepare something different.He walked toward the kitchen. The door was open. He stopped just outside. Aria was inside. She hadn't noticed him. Her hair was tied up, a few loose strands rested around her face. She wore a simple home dress with an apron tied around her waist. A bowl sat on the counter. Beside it was a tray covered with small pieces of dough. Her hands moved quickly. She rolled one, added filling, folded it,

She held several shopping bags in one hand. Her eyes were already fixed on me. My fingers tightened around my glass.It was Lila. For several seconds, neither of us moved. Her face was completely still. And she started walking toward our table. Lila stopped a few steps from our table. For a moment, she said nothing. Her eyes moved over me. From my hair to the dress I wore, my handbag and then to the shopping bags beside my chair.I knew that look. She stared at me as if she was trying to make sure I was really the person sitting in front of her. She was taking in every detail. Then her lips parted. "Aria?"I didn't answer. Naomi set her glass down. "Can we help you?"Lila's eyes moved to her. "Naomi." Her voice sounded almost surprised.Naomi didn't smile. "What do you want?"Lila ignored the question. She looked at me again. "You look..." She paused. "Different."I leaned back in my chair. "Do I?""She's allowed to look different.” Naomi added. Her eyes moved over my outfit again. "Y

"I have nothing to wear."Naomi looked at the bags in my hands. "That's the worst excuse I've ever heard."I smiled. "I have clothes.""Then wear one." She took my arm. "And for one night, don't think about anything whatsoever.""It's fine."She squeezed my hand. "We're going to have fun."I nodded. "Alright."She smiled. "Good."Another cab pulled over. We loaded our bags into the trunk. Naomi opened the door. She climbed into the cab. I followed. As the cab pulled away. My phone vibrated. I looked down. One new message.Lex: Dinner will be late. Don't wait for me. I stared at it for a moment. Then another message appeared. Lex: And don't always go anywhere alone. My eyebrows pulled together. I read it again.Naomi leaned over. "What is it?"I locked my phone. "Nothing."She looked at me suspiciously. "That was definitely not nothing."“All is well, Naomi.”I looked out the window. "He's just being..." I stopped. I didn't even know what to call it. Is he being protective, careful or c

“No” Lila shook her head. “It wasn't that.”She remembered Aria's face. The way she spoke, the way she looked at her. There had been no fear, no pleading, no attempt to explain herself. Aria had simply stood as though she had somewhere better to be.“She looked like she didn't care anymore.”Richard scoffed. “She will care eventually.”Lila looked at him. “I'm not so sure.”Victoria leaned forward. “What did she say to you?”“She said our lives were no longer connected.”Victoria's lips parted slightly. Richard's face remained hard. “She said that?”“Yes.”“When?”“At the mall.”"After everything this family did for her?”Victoria was silent. Then she asked softly, "Did she mention Jason?”“No.”Richard's fingers tightened around the newspaper. “Did she ask about the company?”“No."Did she ask about the house?""No.”Richard nodded. “Then there is nothing to discuss.”Lila stared at him. “Father…”Victoria's expression became uneasy. "Maybe we should leave her alone."Lila looked at h

Alexander settled back in his seat. "She asked to meet you."I blinked. "She did?""Yesterday night.""And you couldn't tell me?""If I told you, you'd spend the entire night and this morning worrying about what to say."I opened my mouth. Then suddenly closed it because no word came out. He wasn't wrong. "You could have at least warned me.""You met her.""That wasn't the point."He glanced at me. "You handled it well.” I looked at him. "Was that a compliment?""If you want it to be."I raised an eyebrow. "You make everything difficult.""You're learning."I smiled. "Slowly.”It was only after a few minutes I relaxed in the car that some pieces finally came together. Ashbourne Hall. I knew that place. Everyone in London did. I'd seen its name in newspapers and on television. Important people held private meetings there. Major charity dinners were hosted there. Even some government events had taken place inside its walls. But I had never known who actually owned it. Until today. Hele