Shadows of Desire I 18+

Unraveling Threads

Zane POV:
Zane walked beside Alexandrina, his fiancée, through the quiet evening streets. Her hand was looped through his arm, but he barely felt it. His mind was elsewhere, consumed by thoughts he couldn't quite shake. Alexandria was talking, probably about their engagement party, but her words faded into the background, like the distant hum of traffic.

Ever since that night with Lila, she had been on his mind constantly. He couldn't focus on anything else. He had tried, of course—tried to bury himself in work, in the countless responsibilities that came with running Horizon Pictures and managing the less public aspects of his empire. He had a reputation to maintain, and an image to uphold. But none of it mattered when Lila was occupying every corner of his thoughts.

"...and then we'll need to finalize the menu," Alexandria was saying, her voice laced with impatience, as though she had repeated herself several times already.

Zane nodded absently, barely processing her words. He should be more invested in this engagement, in the life he had chosen with Alexandria. She was beautiful, ambitious, and understood the power dynamics of the world they lived in. She was perfect for the role she played in his life—on paper, anyway.

But the truth was, he wasn't listening to her. He hadn't been, not for weeks. His thoughts kept circling back to Lila—the way she had looked at him, confused and vulnerable, when she walked away from him after turning down the job. The way he had almost kissed her under the rain, how close they had been. It had taken every ounce of his willpower to pull back, to remind himself that he couldn't afford to be weak. Not with her. Not with anyone.

"Zane!" Alexandria's sharp tone cut through his thoughts.

He blinked, turning to her. "What?"

She sighed, clearly frustrated. "You're distracted. Again. I was asking if you still planned on meeting the decorators next week. You know, for our engagement party?"

He forced a tight smile. "Of course. I'll be there."

Satisfied, Alexandria squeezed his arm. "Good. You've been so distant lately, and we need to be on the same page for this. It's important."

Zane nodded, but in truth, the importance of their engagement had faded in the shadow of everything else going on in his life. He knew he needed to regain control, to refocus. His life was built on discipline and calculated decisions—whether it was running Horizon Pictures or managing his underworld connections. But everything seemed to unravel since Lila entered his world.

They turned a corner, and Zane's breath hitched when he saw two familiar figures walking toward them. At first, he didn't recognize them—the streetlight was dim, and the mist in the air blurred their outlines—but as they got closer, his chest tightened.

Lila.

She was walking hand in hand with a man, her head tilted slightly as though she was deep in thought. The man beside her—Zane squinted, trying to place him. His heart sank when recognition hit. It was the guy he had seen outside the club, kissing another woman.

A storm of emotions crashed over him—anger, confusion, and something else he didn't want to name. Lila was with him. The guy who had been cheating on her right in front of Zane's eyes. And yet, she had no idea.

Alexandria seemed to notice Zane's sudden change in demeanor and followed his gaze. Her expression turned curious. "Do you know them?"

Zane didn't respond, his eyes fixed on Lila and the guy as they approached. When they finally met, the tension in the air was palpable. Lila's eyes widened in surprise when she saw him, her hand instinctively tightening around his. She didn't seem to know how to react, her gaze darting between Zane and the woman at his side.

Zane's jaw tightened. She didn't know about Alexandria. He could see it in her eyes—the confusion, the questions forming, but left unsaid.

"Hi," Lila said, her voice soft, unsure. Her eyes flicked nervously toward Alexandria.

Alexandria, ever the composed socialite, smiled warmly, oblivious to the undercurrent of tension. "Hello. I don't believe we've met. I'm Alexandria." She extended her hand, her smile as polished as ever.

Lila hesitated for a split second before shaking her hand. "Lila."

Alexandria then turned her attention to the guy standing next to Lila, extending her hand once more. "And you are?"

"Ryan," he said smoothly, offering a practiced smile. "Lila's boyfriend."

Zane's stomach churned at the word. Boyfriend. The label hit him like a punch to the gut. He forced himself to stay calm, but it was hard. He could still see Ryan outside the club, kissing another woman like it was nothing. And now, here he was, pretending to be the doting boyfriend. The hypocrisy made Zane's blood boil.

"And you are?" Ryan asked, his gaze settling on Zane, unaware of the storm brewing beneath the surface.

"Zane," he replied, his voice clipped. He wasn't sure if it was his anger or something else, but his usual calm exterior was starting to crack. His mind raced with thoughts—none of them good.

"Oh, Zane runs Horizon Pictures," Alexandria chimed in, clearly sensing the tension but misreading it as something competitive. "We're engaged, by the way," she added with a dazzling smile, slipping her arm tighter through Zane's.

Lila's expression faltered for just a fraction of a second, but it was enough for Zane to notice. He didn't miss the way her eyes flickered between him and Alexandria, as though trying to make sense of the situation. She didn't know. Of course, she didn't. He hadn't told her. But now the truth was out, and the look on her face sent a pang of something like guilt through him.

"Engaged?" Lila repeated softly, her voice barely audible over the rain that had started to fall again.

"Yes," she said brightly. "The engagement party is next week. You two should come."

Zane stiffened. The last thing he wanted was Lila at the engagement party— especially with Ryan by her side. But before he could interject, Ryan smiled and said, "We'd love to. Right, babe?"

Lila hesitated, her eyes locking with Zane's for a brief moment. There was something unspoken in her gaze—something conflicted and uncertain. But then she forced a smile. "Sure. We'll see."

The tension hung in the air for a moment longer before Alexandria spoke up again. "Well, we should get going. Lots of planning to do." She leaned in toward Zane, pressing a light kiss to his cheek. "Shall we?"

Zane nodded mechanically, his mind still spinning from the encounter. He barely registered the goodbye exchanges between Alexandria and the others as they started to walk away. But before they got too far, he glanced over his shoulder, watching as Lila and Ryan continued down the street.

Ryan had his arm wrapped possessively around her waist, and Lila looked... distant. Uncomfortable, even. Zane's eyes narrowed. Something wasn't right. She wasn't happy. He could see it, even if she couldn't—or wouldn't admit it.

And Ryan... Zane's jaw clenched. There was no way in hell he was letting that guy get away with deceiving her.

But for now, he had to walk away. Just like Lila had walked away from him before.

For now.

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1229 words