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Beneath The CEO'S Mask

Chapter 5 The Art of Pretending

Word Count: 1109    |    Released on: 12/07/2025

eraphina Vale knew how t

her an expert in the art of polite deception. Smile, nod, grit

t was a whole new l

yx Kane's penthouse bedroom - their bedroom, for the sake of appeara

x's team of stylists without her input. It made her deep brown skin glow, her hair

ful. Someone who belonged a

her finger still f

-

familiar, cool voic

more than her annual income. His shirt collar was open, no tie - a calculated choice to look effortle

m head to toe - sl

er hip, the dip of her collarbone where the silk slipped off her shoulder.

passable," he

l, Kane. Compliments like th

-

k metal doors, an ocean of reporters, cameras, and gawkers waited. The engagement scandal had blown up

e to show the wor

tter v

s trembling. "So what happens if I flinch? If

u make me look like a fool twic

sed. "Charm

was close enough that his expensive cologne made her head spin. He reac

m, Seraphina.

-

ator din

f velvet ropes being strained by the hungry crowd - it was a feeding frenzy. For a second, Sera almost

He leaned down, lips brushing the shell of her ear - so

un," he

unsettling in ways she refused to admit. She f

-

he black carpet. Th

e! Eryx!

ue? Did you steal

eal or ano

hey were drunk on each other. Eryx's fingers dug into her waist,

nd posed some more -

every se

-

of the corner of her eye, she

es - Leo Armand, the rival hotel heir and, once upon a time, her b

were locked on her with a mix of confusion and something

His fingers flexed against her

yx murmured, vo

e," sh

ie to me

s, and hissed through clenched teeth. "Oh, does it both

the delicate notch at her spine. To anyone watching, it look

d, so low she almost didn't catch it.

-

n it ha

ed, "Kiss her! S

up like a chant. "

thumb brushing her lower lip - a touch so soft it made her breath hitch. For a heartbeat

his eyes - a question

e heat of his lips, smell the faint trace of whisk

s lips skimmed past hers,

xploded in a

r hands gripping the lapels of his sui

r, voice a soft blade. "

-

the perfect image of a couple jus

Sera's head

the tension. The

ared - what would happen the day "pretend" slip

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1 Chapter 1 The Perfect Night to Ruin Everything2 Chapter 2 The Price of Truth3 Chapter 3 Welcome to the Cage4 Chapter 4 Breakfast with the Beast5 Chapter 5 The Art of Pretending6 Chapter 6 Cracks in the Glass7 Chapter 7 Playing With Fire8 Chapter 8 The Closet, the Lie, and the Scar9 Chapter 9 Echoes and Eggs Benedict10 Chapter 10 The Price of Protection11 Chapter 11 One Bed, No Mercy12 Chapter 12 Lines We Don't Uncross13 Chapter 13 Shadows Between Us14 Chapter 14 The Space Between Heartbeats15 Chapter 15 A Kiss That Burns16 Chapter 16 When Shadows Speak17 Chapter 17 Into the Lion's Den18 Chapter 18 Masks and Daggers19 Chapter 19 The Knife Behind the Smile20 Chapter 20 Shadows in Silk21 Chapter 21 The Weight of a Trigger22 Chapter 22 Fractures in the Dark23 Chapter 23 Whispers in the Veins24 Chapter 24 The Edge of the Mask25 Chapter 25 Fractures in the Fire26 Chapter 26 Shadows of the Crown27 Chapter 27 The Knife Between Us28 Chapter 28 The Crown and the Cracks29 Chapter 29 The Splintered Oath30 Chapter 30 Into the Serpent's Den31 Chapter 31 The Weight of Silence32 Chapter 32 Fractures in the Crown33 Chapter 33 Shadows at the Edge of Truth34 Chapter 34 The Midnight Divide35 Chapter 35 Fractured Truths36 Chapter 36 Shattered Promises37 Chapter 37 Chains of Fire38 Chapter 38 Fractured Promises39 Chapter 39 The Knock in the Dark40 Chapter 40 The Devil at the Door41 Chapter 41 The Weight of Cracks42 Chapter 42 Fractured Vows43 Chapter 43 The Edge of Truth44 Chapter 44 A Toast to Shadows45 Chapter 45 The Shape of a Trap46 Chapter 46 The Fracture Line47 Chapter 47 The Eye in the Dark48 Chapter 48 The Trap Beneath the Crown49 Chapter 49 Into the Wolf's Den50 Chapter 50 Blood Ties, Broken Crowns51 Chapter 51 The Weight of Silence52 Chapter 52 Fractures in the Dark53 Chapter 53 Lines in the Sand54 Chapter 54 Cracks in the Glass55 Chapter 55 The Enemy in the Spotlight56 Chapter 56 Broadcast of Blood57 Chapter 57 The Weight of Ashes58 Chapter 58 The Wolves at the Table59 Chapter 59 The Summons60 Chapter 60 Shards of Glass61 Chapter 61 Veins of Betrayal62 Chapter 62 The Storm at the Door63 Chapter 63 Threads of the Web64 Chapter 64 Fractures in the Glass