icon 0
icon TOP UP
rightIcon
icon Reading History
rightIcon
icon Log out
rightIcon
icon Get the APP
rightIcon

Love's Dangerous Game

Chapter 5 A Forced Encounter

Word Count: 1075    |    Released on: 06/01/2025

s laptop screen. The quarterly projections were solid, even impressive, but his focus kept

terious

in her movements had etched itself into his thoughts. She wasn't like the other women

was

ind no name that matched his impression of her. It was m

Rus

ancing up to see his assistant, Claire

trying to mask

h the board," she said, her tone brisk. "Woul

you," Hayd

ce more. He glanced at his watch. There was just enough time to grab

yet upscale restaurant had become his usual spot for a quiet midday retreat. He

way to his seat,

e sh

udying a menu with casual grace. She wasn't in a ballgown

or a fleeting second, there was a flicker of recognition in

ile of his own. He adjusted his cuff

u here," he said as he

feigning mild surpr

nt. "Not exactly, but I believe we've me

skipped a beat.

slightly. "I wasn't sure if you'd remembe

n said, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he were trying to

nfidence firmly in place. "Onl

ade a few heads turn in their directi

gesturing to the empt

eye contact with her. His sharp blue eyes seemed to pierce

slightly, "are you going to

to let him think she was hiding anything. "Jasmine Thomp

verpowering. "Hayden Russell. Thoug

ryone?" she

nto a faint smirk. "What brings you h

good, and I thought I'd give it a tr

is gaze lingering on her a

ction. Her research had paid off. She had learned that La Belle Bistro was

intelligence, and the way she carried herself with such quiet confidence. Jasmine, for her part, navigated

d their plates, "what do you do when you're

ast, I was. I recently left my job

he repeated, his curi

her words. "Let's just say I'm figuring out

phase' with the same finesse you brought to that ga

ompliment," she sai

" he replied, his vo

The air between them seemed to shif

wing slightly. "You know, I can't believ

she kept her expression c

aid simply. "They

n at his words. This was exactly

back slightly, "it seems t

ughtful. "There's still a lot I don't kno

ow. "Are you sugges

thout hesitation.

t racing with triumph. "

nt of determination in his

tes later, Jasmine couldn't help but smile to

had no idea what

Claim Your Bonus at the APP

Open
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