All Chapters of The Love You Faked : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

She was dressed in a long black dress, a small silver bag hanging from her shoulder. Her face carried the kind of confidence that came from knowing exactly where she belonged. "Is that really you?" she asked.Alexander looked at her. "Claire."Her smile widened. "So you do remember me.""I remember most people."Ethan coughed quietly. "That's a very generous way of putting it."Claire laughed. "You haven't changed."Alexander said nothing. She looked at Ethan. "And you must be Ethan.""I am.""I've heard quite a lot about you.""Hopefully none of it was true."She laughed again. Alexander checked his watch. Claire noticed. "Still in a hurry?""No.”Claire looked between them. "I haven't seen you in months.""That's possible.""You're terrible at keeping in touch.""I don't keep in touch.""Exactly." Ethan shook his head. "He's consistent."Claire smiled."Some things never change."Alexander glanced toward the lounge. "Are you here alone?""No. My cousin is inside.""Then go back to he

"You actually meant it?""I rarely say things I don't mean."He walked away. I looked at the clock. Then at my laptop. "Fine."Seventeen minutes later, I came downstairs with my handbag. Alexander was waiting near the entrance. His eyes moved briefly to my laptop bag. "You're bringing that?""I need to compare the new one with this.""Why?""So I don't buy something worse."He gave a small nod. "Let's go."We stepped outside. A car was waiting. His driver James was there too. This time, I didn't ask where we were going. The drive was quiet. Alexander answered two calls during the journey, each one short, no long conversations, no business discussion with me.When we stopped, I looked through the window. The building in front of us had a large glass entrance. Westbridge Digital. I turned to him. "You brought me here?""You said you wanted a laptop.""I could have bought one somewhere normal.""You could.""Then why here?""Because they have what you need."I looked at him. "You always

“Lex…”His jaw tightened. “Don’t.”But he didn’t pull away. I closed the last inch. A soft knock on the door shattered the moment. I froze.“Sir?” Mrs. Ellis’s voice came through the wood, steady and respectful, the quiet authority of a woman who had kept this household for decades. “Forgive me for disturbing you at this hour. I was securing the ground floor and noticed the light still on. I wanted to be certain everything was all right before I retired for the night.”Lex’s eyes closed for half a second. The corner of his mouth twitched, almost a smile, gone before it fully formed. “Everything is fine, Mrs. Ellis. Thank you.”“Very well, sir.” A brief pause, then her tone softened with the gentle understanding of someone who had watched over this house and its people for a very long time. “Rest well.”Her footsteps retreated down the hall, unhurried and discreet. The door stayed closed. The room stayed quiet. Lex and I were still standing far too close. His hands finally rose, settl

My hands froze. The paper slipped from my fingers. I slowly turned. My heart dropped. Lila stood a few feet away. She was dressed in an expensive cream coat, her handbag hanging from one arm. And beside her, Jason. My ex-husband.He looked just as shocked as I felt. Neither of us moved. Lila's eyes traveled from my face to the Blackwell ID card hanging around my neck. Then to the office behind me. Her lips parted. "Aria?"Jason said nothing. I stared at them. My fingers tightened around the bag in my hand. Lila looked at my ID again. Her face changed. And then she slowly turned to Jason. "Wait, is she working here?”Lila's voice carried across the hallway. A few people nearby turned their heads. I picked up the paper that had fallen from my hand. Jason still hadn't spoken. He was staring at me. Not at my face alone. At everything. My work ID, my suit, the office behind me. The fact that I was standing there like I belonged.I straightened. "Good question."Lila looked at me. "I wasn't

"No.""Never?""Not unless necessary.""That's boring.""It keeps things simple."I shook my head. "You know, normal people tell their wives things."He looked at me sharply at once but then replied. "Normal people aren't the standard I follow."I stared at him. Then I smiled. "Fair enough."The coffee arrived too and we were done with it soonest. Alexander pushed his chair back. "Ready?"I picked up my handbag. "Yes."We walked out of the restaurant together. The evening air was cool, and the street outside was still busy. Cars moved past, people were talking near the entrance, and somewhere across the road, someone was playing music loudly enough for us to hear it.Alexander stopped near the curb. “Alright get in, let's go.”I nodded. Then I noticed something. “Wait.”He looked at me. “What?”I pointed toward the other side of the street. “There.”A small dessert shop sat between two larger stores. Its windows were bright, and there were cakes lined up behind the glass. Alexander fo