Chain of Deceit

vy on her. The cool air of the hallway contrasted sharply with the warmth of her skin, and her body tingled from the remnants of the ni

into the world she'd created with Takeshi, as if nothing had changed. But now, as she

he glanced up from his phone. His eyes narrowed as he took in her appearance-the smudge

omething

as Takeshi's gaze locked onto hers. A tense sil

calm, but there was an underlying edge

. "I... I went out. To the club," she said, her voice faltering slig

s gaze piercing. "Clubbing? After everything that's happened? You went out and had fun?" His

needed to blow off some steam, Takeshi," she said, her voice s

of guilt in the way she held herself. It wasn't like her to be this careless, especially not after eve

oming, Miyako." He reached out and gently touched her cheek, his fingers trailing over the damp

hroat. She stepped back, her heart thudding against her chest. "

ng colder than she had ever seen before. "I've been watching you. All of you. I

o speak, but no words came out. Instead, she stood there, trapped in the gaze of the man she ha

as seeing

er. "You've changed, Miyako. I see it. The way you look at me, the way y

inking in. "I'm not slipping away," she said, her voice a mixture of

pulling her closer, his face inches from hers. "Time to breathe?" His tone was bitter now. "Or time to keep run

exposed, like he could see straight through her. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothi

I'm not the same person I used to be. But I didn't ask for this change, I di

his anger flaring. But then, just as quickly, it disappe

r," he said softly, his voice filled wi

to the couch. Miyako stood in the same spot, her heart aching,