All Chapters of MARKED BY DECEPTION : Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

☆☆LILA☆☆If there was one constant in this house, it was the food. Every day, without any delay, meals appeared on the dining table at the same hours. Always warm. Always perfectly made. I had yet to meet the chef, which was strange considering I had been here long enough to at least catch a glimpse of them.Whoever it was, they were good. Very good. I wasn’t surprised that Rowan would only employ one of the best chefs. When I eventually met them, I’d thank them properly.I stepped out of my room that evening and headed straight for the dining area, my footsteps light and practiced. I had learned how to move around the house without drawing attention to myself.I picked up my plate, turning toward the hallway when a door opened behind me.I stiffened.Rowan stepped out of his room, sleeves rolled up, his laptop in one hand, his presence filling the space almost instantly. He noticed me at once, his gaze flicking to the plate in my hands.“I was just leaving,” I said quickly, already s

☆☆LILA☆☆ The elevator doors slid open to an empty hallway. For a moment, I just stood there, my heart still pounding from the confrontation upstairs. I half-expected Rowan to drag me back upstairs and lock me in my room but he didn’t. At least not yet. I went straight to Selene’s room but her door was locked I couldn’t go back upstairs especially not with Rowan still in there. That selfish bastard. I can't go back at least not now I followed the sound of voices until I reached one of the halls below. A small group had gathered there, children were sitting on the floor, laughing softly, while an elderly woman stood in front of them, speaking gently. It was her. The same woman I’d seen Rowan helping the other day. She noticed me almost immediately. Her eyes softened. “Who are you, dear?” I opened my mouth, then closed it again. Suddenly, I felt very aware of how out of place I was. I wasn't a part of them. “No one,” I said quietly. I turned to leave. As I

☆☆LILA☆☆ It took me two more days to actually feel better, like really better. Rowan still hadn’t said anything about the argument we had before the incident. It was like it never happened he didn't mention anything regarding it. Not even a word. I went to the kitchen to get my food, planning to rush back to my room before I ran into him. Just as I turned, the front door opened and Rowan stepped in. His eyes landed on me briefly before he walked closer. “The detective is coming by this evening.” “Huh?” I frowned. “Your detective. I reached out to him. He’ll be here this evening.” Oh. Right. I told him I was going to reach out to Detective Ellias. I completely forgot. “Oh… okay.” He studied me for a second. “Are you sure you’re feeling better now?” “What? Yeah. I’m fine.” A small pause. “Okay.” And he left. What the hell was that? … A soft knock came from my door before it opened slightly. Selene peeked in. “Hey. The detective is here.” I didn

☆☆LILA☆☆I sat on the sofa, waiting for him to come out. A few minutes later, footsteps echoed down the hallway.Rowan stepped into the room and stopped when he saw me sitting there.“We need to talk,” I saidI needed to know what he and my father had discussed that night.He walked toward me slowly and spoke before I could gather my thoughts.“What do you want?”How did he know I wanted something? I hadn’t even said anything yet.Was it that obvious?My voice came out steadier than I expected.“For once,” I said quietly, “don’t lie to me.”His jaw tightened slightly.“Why did my father meet you that night?”“I already told you—”“That it’s none of my business.” I let out a shaky laugh. “He was at the door, Rowan. My door. Do you know what that means?”He didn’t answer.“It means I could have seen him,” my voice cracked despite my effort to keep it steady. “I could have talked to him. I could have—”I swallowed hard.“He was right there.”Rowan didn’t move. He didn’t even blink, like

☆☆LILA☆☆ “She was with Rowan the night my father died.” Kai paused for a moment, clearly thinking about it. Then his brows drew together in mild surprise. “Raya?” “She served as his alibi that night,” I added quietly. Kai leaned back in his chair, processing that. “Raya?” he repeated. “Yes.” I proceeded to tell him everything. When I finished, he ran a hand over his jaw, thinking. “Well,” he finally said, “if Raya said she was with him that night… then she was.” I frowned. “You’re that sure?” Kai nodded slowly. “Raya isn’t the type to lie about something like that. And her confronting Rowan recklessly sounds exactly like something she would do.” Something about the certainty in his tone made my stomach tighten. “But I can’t help feeling betrayed,” I admitted. Kai exhaled quietly. He leaned forward slightly. “Listen, her methods might be wrong, but she would never do anything to hurt you. She practically owes your father for saving her life.” “What?” I asked, surpri