Shadows of deceipt

house wa

xpected the usual: Helen seated on the velvet chaise with a book open in her lap, a glass of wine nearby, maybe the fain

, it wa

pressed against him like a weight. Something was off. Her coat wasn't on the rack. He

stirred behin

gh the bedroom, ch

f it w

issing garments. The absence of her favo

was

the bed, the realization sin

kn

stripped of her essence-he understood. She had seen something. Found som

control-charismatic, commanding, sharply dressed in tailored suits-Steven suddenly looked..

hone

asn'

a message saying,"are

gnor

e in years, her n

there. Him and Helen at his sisters birthday party, five years ago. She was radianting in happiness and excitement,

him like a pun

at had

is contracts when his lawyers missed fine print. The one who noticed which investors were bluffing at poker

e behind his throne-and

cold was

but his hands shook too much to lift the glass. He leaned a

fixed his tie bef

he almost lost his company two yea

ce barefoot in their old apartment, before t

ol and buried his

hat she would stay, like a lighthouse in

she wa

even Ross felt something he couldn't n

o

l of power and perfection,

d this time, it

-

awline that gives her an air of confidence. Her eyes are a deep hazel, intense and framed by thick, dark lashes that make e

unfiltered excitement. "You came," she purred, throwi

t kiss h

like a seal of guilt. Valerie didn't notice. Or maybe she did and just

, eyes gleaming. "S

r. His silence was

he wouldn't last forever. Remember when you said

ie had been clinging to him like an old perfume he couldn't wash off. He had whispered promi

s cheek. "You don'

d," Steve

l better," she said, pull

wanted her. But because the pain

r at least, she

erie was curled beside him, tracing lazy circles on his

dn't

at him like he was worth saving. And now, he had lost her. Not just physically, but spiritually. She w

red, "So, when

htly. " I dont know but not

sitting up, her tone suddenly sharp. "That we'd finally

ly. "I said no

ed. "You said

in his tired eyes. "I loved the way you

like a curtai

ng with betrayal. "So what now? You run back to you

"But I know I'm not bringing

on his clothes w

agged. "You're not just losing he

e door. "Maybe

ed.A part of him wanted Helen back but ano

-

, and quiet-the kind of pla

lass of aged bourbon she hadn't touched. She didn't

e was tryin

ore a black silk blouse tucked into tailored navy slacks, the kind of ensemble that once screamed eleg

n't want conversation. She wanted silence. She wanted sti

the insults that came from the mouth of steven.Her eyes gr

ink. It burned.That's when sh

ated in a shadowed

lack suit. Dark hair that curled slightly at the ends, careless in a way that suggested rebellion over wealth. His jaw

r a moment, neither looked away.Sebastian then suddenly stood up from his sit and moved towards where she

ere," he said, his

n eyebrow. "Ne

passed, heavy with

d finally, her voice

lmost reluctant nod. "You look like you've h

ugh-dry and humorless. "Mor

odded again, letting th

that was wh

fully. Then openly. About

said "is bourbon yo

and depressed".her face was full of serious

you depressed"

rs began to fall down do

face.His heart was full of affectionate love for her.His

into mechanical engineering,I design and manufactur car parts in my company and I earn 70 thousand dollars

he past.For three years he has been without a woman

he had little affection for Sebastian because he appears handsome and smart.Helen also saw it as a risk to

ere can begin to know each other".As she was tal

held her hands.While they were sitting down. He was telling her that she is beau

o stop," h

idn't. Sh

to the hotel ac

-

Helen stood by the window, looking down at the

y above a whisper. "We don't have to do any

teady. "I just don't want to

d honest and desperate. They shed more than clothes. They shed grief. Regret

member what it was to be human. It wasn't

listening to the unfamiliar rhythm of a man she didn't

saying nothing. His silence was the kind that

eyes fluttered shut-

e in months she d

know if i

And that something wo