All Chapters of Nothing but a Mirage: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

"As for your project, I only threw my full support behind it because Mira was interested. Now that it's wrapping up, it's time you were sensible and stepped aside."This was what Shane had meant by shaping me.He had crushed my family until the Holcrofts were the only ones the Danforths could turn to, and he still expected us to fall over ourselves with gratitude.He had supported my career, only to snatch away all the credit at the last moment just to make Mira smile.I shot up from the couch, grabbed the glass of water on the table, and threw it all over him.My voice shook violently, yet every word was full of hatred. "Shane Holcroft, you bastard!"The moment the words left my mouth, I stormed out and headed straight for the office of my advisor, Professor Rupert Bastow.When it came to digging up the Holcroft family graves, I refused to wait another second.I shoved open his office door in a rage, only to find the team leader, Duncan Stokes, and Mira inside as well."Leila

"Oh, right. Your advisor mentioned some kind of confidential project. What's that ab—"Before he could finish, I pushed my weakened body up and slapped him hard across the face."Shane, are you even human? Isn't this baby yours too? How could you just stand there and watch us die?"Shane ran his tongue along the corner of his mouth, and a flicker of guilt crossed his eyes. He was about to explain himself when the door suddenly swung open and Mira walked in."Leila, so you already know the baby isn't Shane's?""W-What did you just say?"I could hardly believe my ears, and my hand instinctively went to my stomach.If this baby was not Shane's, then whose was it?"That's partly my fault. That night, I twisted my ankle and called Shane, so he left you there drunk and came to take care of me. As for who went into your room afterward and spent the night with you, we honestly have no idea."But don't worry. Shane said he'll raise the baby as his own—""Mira!" Shane's face turned ash

Not long after I finished that drink, my whole body burned with heat and my mind went hazy.Shane told me to go rest first, then leaned in close and whispered suggestively that I should leave the door unlocked for him.When I woke the next morning and saw him sound asleep beside me, I naturally assumed he was the one I had spent that wild night with.If Mira had not let it slip, I never would have imagined that he would leave me alone over a single phone call without caring at all who came into my room!Where did that leave the man standing in front of me now?Had he been there that night? What had he seen? What had he heard?My mind went blank. I realized I was actually afraid of the truth, and I instinctively shied away from answering his question."I'm sorry, I don't know what you're talking about. My advisor needs me for something. I have to go."With that excuse, I hurried off and returned to base camp with Professor Bastow.The confidential project would take some time t

"She's timid and has never been through anything like this. She must be terrified. Tell me where she is. I'll find her first and make sure she's okay, then I'll come back to you and the baby."Shane was getting more absurd by the second, so I cut him off. "Stop. These past two years have been great. My career is going well, my daughter is a sweetheart, and my husband treats me right."As for your precious Mira, I haven't seen her, I haven't heard from her, and I have nothing to tell you."Shane scoffed. "Leila, can you drop the act? You had a baby whose father nobody knows. Who besides me would ever accept that? I don't blame you for the artifact thing, since you couldn't exactly look the other way. But from now on, stop picking on Mira!"I could not be bothered to respond, so I walked straight past him and looked around for Lachlan.Shane refused to let it go and grabbed my wrist. "I'm asking you one last time. Where is Mira?"I frowned and was about to lose my temper when my ba