THE LIE THAT WORE A RING - Chapter 3: Chapter 3
You are reading THE LIE THAT WORE A RING, Chapter 3: Chapter 3. Read more chapters of THE LIE THAT WORE A RING.
The morning after the gala, Alina lay in bed, her limbs stretched across silk sheets, the memory of Dominic Crane haunting her like a perfume she couldn’t quite wash off. He hadn’t kissed her. He hadn’t even touched her.
And yet, something about him had unsettled her.
He hadn’t looked at her like a possession. He’d looked at her like a puzzle.
That afternoon, while flipping through a magazine she had no intention of reading, her phone buzzed.
Unknown Number: “Lunch. One o’clock. The Azure Room. Come if you're not afraid.”
No name. No signature. But she knew.
Her fingers hovered over the reply. Alina never chased men. But this wasn’t chasing.
This was calculating.
The Azure Room was one of those restaurants where silence was part of the experience and the walls themselves whispered wealth. Tucked away in a private booth near the window sat Dominic Crane, sipping still water like it was scotch.
"You came," he said, standing as she approached.
"I don’t scare easily," she replied, sliding into the booth.
He ordered for both of them—grilled sea bass and saffron rice. No menus. No asking.
"You seem very sure I’d like fish," she said with a smirk.
"I researched you."
Alina blinked, lips parting slightly. "You did what?"
Dominic shrugged. "I don’t invite strangers into my life without a background check. Especially women who wear masks as skillfully as you do."
For a moment, the air between them froze. Then she laughed—a low, amused sound.
"Careful, Dominic. You might just figure me out."
"I already know what you’re not," he said. "You’re not just someone's mistress."
"And yet, I was," she replied evenly.
He didn’t flinch. "Past tense?"
"Let’s just say I don’t repeat mistakes."
Their food arrived, and for several minutes, they ate in silence. A strange, unspoken comfort settled between them. She noticed how he never checked his phone, how his gaze never wandered. He was present. Anchored.
Unlike the men she usually dealt with, Dominic wasn’t easily impressed—or easily manipulated.
"So why me?" she asked finally. "Why invite me to lunch?"
He set down his fork. "Because I think you're someone who’s been seen the wrong way your entire life. And I’m interested in what happens when someone finally sees you the right way."
That stopped her.
Her fingers tightened slightly around her wine glass. She’d played dozens of roles in her life—muse, mistress, mystery. But never once had a man made her feel visible without touching her.
She couldn’t decide if it thrilled her or terrified her.
He leaned forward slightly. "I have two children. A business empire. A family name with a reputation to maintain. I'm not reckless. So if I’m sitting here, it’s because I believe you have more to offer than just beauty."
Alina stared at him. "And what if I told you I’m not the woman you think I am?"
"Then I’d say I’m not the man you think I am either."
A beat passed. She smiled slowly.
"You're dangerous," she said.
"And you're intrigued," he replied.
When lunch ended, he didn’t ask for another date. He didn’t ask for her number. He just stood, walked her to the valet, and said, “We’ll talk again soon.”
As his black car pulled away, Alina remained standing on the curb, wind playing with the hem of her dress.
She had walked into that lunch ready to play.
But now she wasn’t so sure who was playing who.
And yet, something about him had unsettled her.
He hadn’t looked at her like a possession. He’d looked at her like a puzzle.
That afternoon, while flipping through a magazine she had no intention of reading, her phone buzzed.
Unknown Number: “Lunch. One o’clock. The Azure Room. Come if you're not afraid.”
No name. No signature. But she knew.
Her fingers hovered over the reply. Alina never chased men. But this wasn’t chasing.
This was calculating.
The Azure Room was one of those restaurants where silence was part of the experience and the walls themselves whispered wealth. Tucked away in a private booth near the window sat Dominic Crane, sipping still water like it was scotch.
"You came," he said, standing as she approached.
"I don’t scare easily," she replied, sliding into the booth.
He ordered for both of them—grilled sea bass and saffron rice. No menus. No asking.
"You seem very sure I’d like fish," she said with a smirk.
"I researched you."
Alina blinked, lips parting slightly. "You did what?"
Dominic shrugged. "I don’t invite strangers into my life without a background check. Especially women who wear masks as skillfully as you do."
For a moment, the air between them froze. Then she laughed—a low, amused sound.
"Careful, Dominic. You might just figure me out."
"I already know what you’re not," he said. "You’re not just someone's mistress."
"And yet, I was," she replied evenly.
He didn’t flinch. "Past tense?"
"Let’s just say I don’t repeat mistakes."
Their food arrived, and for several minutes, they ate in silence. A strange, unspoken comfort settled between them. She noticed how he never checked his phone, how his gaze never wandered. He was present. Anchored.
Unlike the men she usually dealt with, Dominic wasn’t easily impressed—or easily manipulated.
"So why me?" she asked finally. "Why invite me to lunch?"
He set down his fork. "Because I think you're someone who’s been seen the wrong way your entire life. And I’m interested in what happens when someone finally sees you the right way."
That stopped her.
Her fingers tightened slightly around her wine glass. She’d played dozens of roles in her life—muse, mistress, mystery. But never once had a man made her feel visible without touching her.
She couldn’t decide if it thrilled her or terrified her.
He leaned forward slightly. "I have two children. A business empire. A family name with a reputation to maintain. I'm not reckless. So if I’m sitting here, it’s because I believe you have more to offer than just beauty."
Alina stared at him. "And what if I told you I’m not the woman you think I am?"
"Then I’d say I’m not the man you think I am either."
A beat passed. She smiled slowly.
"You're dangerous," she said.
"And you're intrigued," he replied.
When lunch ended, he didn’t ask for another date. He didn’t ask for her number. He just stood, walked her to the valet, and said, “We’ll talk again soon.”
As his black car pulled away, Alina remained standing on the curb, wind playing with the hem of her dress.
She had walked into that lunch ready to play.
But now she wasn’t so sure who was playing who.
End of THE LIE THAT WORE A RING Chapter 3. Continue reading Chapter 4 or return to THE LIE THAT WORE A RING book page.