Kenze had always been a man of many faces. He knew how to adapt, how to tell people exactly what they wanted to hear, and how to keep secrets buried deep. His relationship with Mabel had been built on careful manipulation-words of affection whispered at just the right moments, grand gestures to keep her believing, and just enough distance to prevent her from seeing the truth.
But now, things were getting complicated.
Cecilia was beginning to warm up to him. And that meant Mabel could never know.
A Balancing Act
Kenze's phone buzzed as he sat in his car outside Cecilia's apartment.
Mabel: Hey love, are you home? I miss you.
He smirked. She was always so eager, so trusting. He quickly typed out a reply.
Kenze: Miss you too, babe. Long day. Just got home. I'll call you later.
A lie.
In reality, he had just dropped Cecilia off after another chance encounter-one he had planned carefully. Every conversation with her was a step closer to winning her trust, just as he had done with Mabel.
But the key to success? Keeping them both in the dark.
The Web of Lies Grows
Mabel had no reason to doubt him. She was in love, and love made people blind. She believed the little lies-why he couldn't always see her, why he sometimes took hours to respond, why he avoided public outings where they might be seen together.
"I'm just really busy with work," he had told her once. "I want to build something for our future."
She had smiled, touched by his supposed ambition.
If only she knew.
A Close Call
One evening, Kenze and Cecilia unexpectedly found themselves at the same café Mabel often visited.
Cecilia had invited him for coffee as a thank-you for helping her with her car, and Kenze couldn't resist another opportunity to deepen his hold on her.
They had just settled at a corner table when Kenze's body tensed-Mabel had walked in.
His mind raced. He had mere seconds to react.
"Cecilia, can you excuse me for a moment? I just saw someone I need to say hello to," he said smoothly, standing up before she could question him.
He made his way toward Mabel quickly, intercepting her before she could see Cecilia.
"Babe," he greeted her, placing a gentle hand on her back and steering her toward the exit. "I wasn't expecting to see you here."
Mabel smiled. "I was just grabbing coffee before heading home. Want to join me?"
Kenze forced a regretful sigh. "I wish I could, but I'm actually here for a quick business meeting. I'll make it up to you later, okay?"
Mabel pouted but nodded. "Okay, don't work too hard."
With a quick kiss on her forehead, he sent her on her way.
Crisis averted.
The Perfect Cover-Up
Kenze returned to Cecilia, who raised an eyebrow. "Everything okay?"
He flashed a charming smile. "Yeah. Just an old friend I had to greet."
And just like that, the web of lies continued to grow.
The Illusion of Love
Mabel believed she was Kenze's one and only.
Cecilia believed he was single and trustworthy.
Neither knew the truth.
And as long as he played his cards right, they never would.