All Chapters of When love lies : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

“Come on, Tristian… pick up your phone.”The call goes straight to voicemail again.I let out a quiet laugh, but there’s no humor in it.Of course.He always does this.“Ma’am, we’re here.”The driver’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. I blink, realizing we’ve stopped.I look up from my phone, the screen still lit with the call that just ended.“That’ll be $59.28, ma’am.”I nod and open my purse, pulling out a $100 bill.“Keep the change.”His face lights up instantly. “Thank you, ma’am.”Charlie steps out to help with my luggage, like he always does.Charlie has been my ride for months now, on days I’m too tired to drive or when my ride disappoints me.Like today.Tristian was supposed to pick me up from the airport.I waited for almost an hour before I called Charlie—long enough to feel stupid for texting him.Called. Texted. Called again.Nothing.“Have a nice day, ma’am.”“You too, Charlie.”At least someone is reliable.He drives off, leaving me standing in front of the apartme

“It’s the men’s room,” he says, pointing at the sign on the door.I freeze, staring at him. Men’s room. My brain refusing to process.“You… you are joking,” I manage.His smirk only widens, like he’s enjoying my discomfort. “Not joking, sweetheart. Looks like you got the wrong door.”I take a step back, heart thudding. Everything about him—tall, dark, sharp eyes, that infuriating smirk is unsettling, yet… I can’t look away.“Why… why are you here?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.He leans lazily against the sink, sleeves rolled, one eyebrow raised. “Why do you think?” His voice is low, smooth, velvety. A little dangerous.I glare.“Besides, I should be asking you that,” he adds.Heat rises to my cheeks, and I look away, pretending to fix my hair, though I can feel him watching me. Every instinct tells me to run—but something about him… something about this encounter… makes me want to stay.I clear my throat, finally finding words. “You should leave.”“And if I don’t?” he asks,

Monday morning, and the city outside my office feels impossibly bright, almost cruel in its cheerfulness. I sip my coffee, letting the warmth ground me, my mind still on the weekend. I have now fully moved into Emily’s apartment till I find one for myself. I went back to Tristan’s house to get my stuff. I had gone on Saturday morning, that way I made sure we didn’t have any unnecessary encounters. He always plays golf with his friends and has brunch at the other side of town on Saturday mornings.“Ma’am, the documents for today are all ready,” Felicia says, appearing at the door with her usual efficiency.“And here’s your coffee,” she adds, placing the steaming cup on my desk.“Thanks, Felicia,” I murmur, taking it. She nods and leaves, and the silence returns, broken only by the hum of the city.Alone, Anastasia sipped, letting the warmth settle her. She flips through the files in front of her.A soft knock breaks her from her flow state.“Come in”It’s her boss.“Anastasia, there’s

try to work.I really do.But the words on the screen blur together, refusing to make sense no matter how many times Iread them.I scroll back up.Read the same paragraph again.And again.Nothing.A quiet frustration builds in my chest. I’ve been on this same page for almost thirty minutes now.Focus, Anastasia.I straighten in my chair, forcing myself to concentrate. There’s too much at stake for me to bedistracted by a man.A client.A stranger.My jaw tightens.He’s a stranger.So why—“Sia.”My grip tightens on the mouse.I haven’t heard that name in years.Not since—I stop the thought before it can finish.No.I’m not doing this.I shake my head, like I can physically rid myself of the memories, and force my attention back tothe screen.Useless.“It’s your favourite.”My jaw clenches.Of course he remembers.Like he didn’t disappear without a word.Like he didn’t just… vanish.A sharp breath escapes me as I push my chair back slightly.“Ma’am?”I look up.Felicia stands a

try to work.I really do.But the words on the screen blur together, refusing to make sense no matter how many times Iread them.I scroll back up.Read the same paragraph again.And again.Nothing.A quiet frustration builds in my chest. I’ve been on this same page for almost thirty minutes now.Focus, Anastasia.I straighten in my chair, forcing myself to concentrate. There’s too much at stake for me to bedistracted by a man.A client.A stranger.My jaw tightens.He’s a stranger.So why—“Sia.”My grip tightens on the mouse.I haven’t heard that name in years.Not since—I stop the thought before it can finish.No.I’m not doing this.I shake my head, like I can physically rid myself of the memories, and force my attention back tothe screen.Useless.“It’s your favourite.”My jaw clenches.Of course he remembers.Like he didn’t disappear without a w