Love in Deception.

Chapter Three.

The next morning, the sun painted the Maldivian sky in shades of molten gold and burning orange. Liam stood shirtless on the balcony, the ocean breeze tossing his dark hair. For a fleeting heartbeat, I saw him differently—strong, almost vulnerable. A man carrying wounds too heavy for his soul to bear.

As I stepped out to join him, the wooden deck groaned beneath my weight. My foot caught slightly, and I stumbled forward. Before I could fall, his hand shot out and gripped my waist, steady and protective. For that single breath, the world stopped, and I remembered the man I once loved—the one I thought would cherish me.

But the moment shattered as quickly as it came. His hand slipped away. His jaw hardened, his eyes turning to ice.

“Be careful,” he muttered coldly. “It wouldn’t do for my bride to get hurt on her honeymoon.”

The word bride stung like venom. I searched his face for warmth, for the man who had just caught me—but there was nothing. Only a void.

By afternoon, the weight in my chest was unbearable. My hands trembled as I dialled Clara’s number.

“Hello, Clara,” I whispered the moment she answered.

“Hey, girl!” Her voice was a burst of sunshine. “How are you? Oh, wait—not a girl anymore, but Mrs. Hawthorne,” she teased.

Her joke sliced through me like glass. My throat tightened.

“How are you, dear? And how’s Liam treating you?” she asked gently.

I broke. The tears came hot and fast, choking my words. “Clara… I should have listened to you. My marriage to Liam is my biggest regret. He brought me here—to paradise—but all he can think of is revenge. Every look, every word… It’s like he’s punishing me for something I don’t even understand. And I’m already so tired.”

Clara stayed quiet as I sobbed, letting me pour my heart out. When she finally spoke, her tone was sharper than steel.

“Ana, listen to me. He made it clear you’ll never escape him. Divorce isn’t an option—not now. But that doesn’t mean you’ll let him crush you. You are not weak.”

Her words struck like fire to dry wood, sparking something inside me.

“Here’s what you’re going to do,” she continued. “Stop giving him your pain. Enjoy yourself in the Maldives—laugh, dance, breathe. And Ana…” her voice lowered, fierce and deliberate, “make yourself irresistible. Dress hotter than he can handle. Let other men’s eyes linger on you. If he still has a heart, jealousy will drag it out. If not—then remember this: the most dangerous woman is the one who learns to smile while her heart is breaking. Be that woman.” she said.

“I love you, Clara,” I whispered, my voice breaking. She had always been my anchor.

That night, I stepped outside our villa, the Maldivian air cool against my burning skin. The resort glowed with life—elderly couples swaying to soft music, groups of friends laughing over cocktails, families playing in the sand, and newlyweds wrapped in each other’s arms. A cruel reminder of what my honeymoon should have been.

I wore what Clara had urged me to: daring G-string pants and a rope bra that barely shielded me. My skin glistened under the moonlight, my body bared like a weapon. For once, I didn’t dress for him—I dressed for me.

Liam appeared from the shadows, his gaze locking on me. His eyes swept over every curve, his breath catching for the first time since our wedding. A slow, dangerous smile tugged at his lips.

“Hmm… you look amazing. Sexy. My beautiful wife,” he said softly.

I froze, stunned. My heart skipped painfully at the sound of those words, like a cruel trick of fate.

“Did you just say that?” I breathed, hardly trusting my ears.

But then his smile vanished, his gaze hardening like steel. He stepped closer, his voice dropping low enough to chill me.

“Don’t fool yourself, Ana. You should have known better. He said.

The words hit harder than a slap, knocking the air from my lungs. My arms wrapped around myself as if to hold in the pieces of my breaking heart. Clara had been right all along—I should have listened. But now it was too late.

Inside, Liam poured himself a glass of whiskey and sank into the sofa, his expression unreadable. The sight of him—so calm, so in control—ignited something inside me. Not just sorrow. Not just pain. But anger.

I turned back to the balcony, the crash of waves echoing my racing pulse. If Liam thought he could break me, he was wrong. Clara’s voice rang in my head: Reclaim your power, Ana.

That night, I made a silent vow. I would no longer give him my tears. If he wanted to play this cruel game, then I would play too. But I would play to win.

The following day, I dressed with deliberate care—flowing silk that clung to my body, a smile painted on my lips that hid my bruised heart. I walked past Liam without a word, and for the first time, his eyes followed me longer than usual.

At the resort’s beach bar, I let the sun kiss my skin and the music drown the silence that had become my prison. A few men glanced my way, their gazes lingering. Normally, I would shrink back, but today, I met their stares with quiet defiance.

And then I felt it—his presence. Liam was watching me. From the corner of my eye, I saw the glass in his hand tighten, his jaw clench.

For a fleeting moment, satisfaction burned through me. Perhaps Clara had been right after all.

But when our eyes met, his were darker than the night sea. Not just jealous but dangerous.

A shiver ran down my spine, cold and merciless. Had I awakened something in him… or unleashed a storm I wasn’t ready to face?.