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Love's Dangerous Game

Chapter 3 Webs of Deceit

Word Count: 1144    |    Released on: 06/01/2025

Maple Bean Café. It was the kind of place where sunlight filtered through large windows, casting soft patter

the light, and her bright red lipstick stood out against the muted colors

into a quick hug. "You look amazing

ilt bubbling under her skin. "You look great too,

ow I'll always make time for you." She gestured to th

s. The barista arrived with their orders-a cappuccino for Jasmine and an iced latte fo

ere's this... event I'm trying to attend, and I need to make th

ious smile tugging at her lip

galas, fundraisers, that sort of thing. I've been looking to expand my horizons, and,

ith intrigue. "Are we talking about making c

st say I'm exploring all options. But yes, there's a s

inst the edge of her glass. "You've always been ambitious, Jasmine. I like

uccino to buy time. She couldn't afford to let to

aguely. "I need to learn the ropes-how to navigate those rooms, how to

lp. There's a gala coming up next month-the Tech Horizons Benefit. It's exclusive,

of excitement. "Yo

dismissively. "But you'll need to look the part. No offense,

. "I'll take that as c

wardrobe. I know a boutique that works m

phia's words wash over her, nodding where necessary. Inside, her mind raced. The

shoved deep into the pockets of his tailored trousers. Floor-to-ceiling windows

desk, the tone as cold and authoritative as ever. "You've de

A decision about what, exactly? Selling my s

t love; it's about securing the future of this family. Do you

ir. "I'm not my grandfather, and I won't be bullied

. "If you're not willing to do what's necessary to protect

worked tirelessly to distance himself from the reckless legacy of his twin brother, Jayden, a

y. "It's about control. You want me under your th

accusation. "This is about preserving what we've built. The Russell n

h frustration. "I've built more for this company in five years tha

hat I've said. The shareholders are watching, Hayden. They

nce of his office. He stood there for a long moment,

solidify alliances and soothe the whispers of the boardroom. It w

e pressure mounting around him. If he didn't act, his

. If marriage was the only way to hold onto t

ay the role without entangli

is mind, unbidden and unwelcome. He needed someone who could match him, someon

walk away when t

her yet, but he

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1 Chapter 1 A Life Shattered2 Chapter 2 Burning Bridges3 Chapter 3 Webs of Deceit4 Chapter 4 The Masquerade Intrigue5 Chapter 5 A Forced Encounter6 Chapter 6 Family Ties and Ultimatum7 Chapter 7 The Proposal8 Chapter 8 An Agreement is Made9 Chapter 9 Meeting the Family10 Chapter 10 The Wedding11 Chapter 11 Moving In12 Chapter 12 Drawing Lines, Crossing Boundaries13 Chapter 13 Echoes of Miranda14 Chapter 14 Hayden's Vulnerability15 Chapter 15 A Family Affair16 Chapter 16 A Perfect Distraction17 Chapter 17 Beneath the Spotlight18 Chapter 18 Beneath the Mask19 Chapter 19 The Calm Before the Storm20 Chapter 20 The Unexpected Visitor21 Chapter 21 Lingering Thoughts22 Chapter 22 Nothing but an ex23 Chapter 23 Conflicted Hearts24 Chapter 24 A Web of Deception25 Chapter 25 Torn Threads of Trust26 Chapter 26 Unspoken Frustration27 Chapter 27 Unraveling Truths28 Chapter 28 Lingering Glances29 Chapter 29 Closing the door on the Past30 Chapter 30 Shared Spaces and Subtle Intrigue31 Chapter 31 The Dinner Invitation32 Chapter 32 The Dinner33 Chapter 33 Fractured Ties34 Chapter 34 Arising Suspicions35 Chapter 35 Unraveling Threads36 Chapter 36 Fractured Silence37 Chapter 37 A Day to Remember38 Chapter 38 Playing with Fire39 Chapter 39 Feeling of Guilt40 Chapter 40 The Warning41 Chapter 41 Dreams of the Past42 Chapter 42 A Visit from Lillian43 Chapter 43 A Moment of Vulnerability44 Chapter 44 Torn between two Worlds45 Chapter 45 Into the Abyss46 Chapter 46 A Narrow Escape47 Chapter 47 Secrets Beneath the Surface48 Chapter 48 Fragments of Truth49 Chapter 49 Traces of Affection50 Chapter 50 The Investigation51 Chapter 51 A Note of Distinction52 Chapter 52 Staying at the Russell Estate53 Chapter 53 Lurking Mystery54 Chapter 54 A Fragile Legacy55 Chapter 55 Unspoken Wounds56 Chapter 56 Phew! That was close57 Chapter 57 Breaking Point58 Chapter 58 You have to apologize 59 Chapter 59 The Apology60 Chapter 60 One step closer to the Truth61 Chapter 61 Pages of Reckoning62 Chapter 62 The Drunken Mistake63 Chapter 63 Panic Arises64 Chapter 64 Panic Settles65 Chapter 65 A Goodnight's Sleep66 Chapter 66 Unending Questions67 Chapter 67 Defiance68 Chapter 68 Jealous Husband69 Chapter 69 A Fire that Burns70 Chapter 70 What an eventful day!71 Chapter 71 A Truth too Heavy to bear72 Chapter 72 Lingering Questions73 Chapter 73 A Change in the Air74 Chapter 74 The Weekend with Lillian75 Chapter 75 A Night of Awkwardness76 Chapter 76 Lillian's Mischief77 Chapter 77 Pieces of the Puzzle78 Chapter 78 Heartache79 Chapter 79 The Test80 Chapter 80 A Tangled Web81 Chapter 81 The Unexpected Gift82 Chapter 82 The Unexpected Question83 Chapter 83 Unanswered Questions84 Chapter 84 Distance between Us85 Chapter 85 Breaking the Ice86 Chapter 86 The Half-Truth87 Chapter 87 A Fragile Illusion88 Chapter 88 Hidden Agendas89 Chapter 89 A Battle of Wits90 Chapter 90 Tensions Everywhere91 Chapter 91 Lines Crossed92 Chapter 92 A Stirring Heart93 Chapter 93 Confession of Feelings94 Chapter 94 A Love that Distracts95 Chapter 95 A New Dawn96 Chapter 96 A Dangerous Opportunity97 Chapter 97 Buried in Secrets98 Chapter 98 The Man behind the Shadows99 Chapter 99 Just the distraction she needed100 Chapter 100 When Paths Cross