---- Chapter 10 Garrison woke to the feeling of skin against his. He instinctively pulled the warm body closer, burying his face in a cloud of soft hair. "Janette," he murmured, his voice thick with sleep. The name was a reflex, a habit ingrained over years of waking up next to her. Then he froze. The hair wasn't right. It was too silky, smelling of a different, cloying perfume. He opened his eyes. The woman in his arms was Keyla Dixon. He jerked back as if he'd been burned, scrambling to the other side of the bed. The room came into sharp focus: unfamiliar, opulent, littered with their discarded clothes. Keyla stirred, stretching like a contented cat. "Good morning, my love," she purred. "What... what happened?" he demanded, his head pounding. His memory of the night was a black hole. "We celebrated my birthday," she said, running a hand down his bare chest. "It was wonderful." His eyes fell on the empty glass on the nightstand. A faint, ---- powdery residue clung to the bottom. He knew. He had seen her pull this trick before, on other men, back when he found her relentless pursuit of him amusing. Now, it was disgusting. "You drugged me," he said, his voice flat and dead. She had the grace to look momentarily ashamed. "Garrison, I... | love you. | just wanted us to be close." He felt a wave of revulsion so strong it made him gag. He had tolerated her, indulged her, because she had saved his life once, years ago, after a car accident. He had felt a sense of debt, of responsibility. But he had never, not for one second, truly liked her. She was a spoiled, cruel child in a woman's body. He got out of bed, pulling on his pants, his movements sharp and angry. His mind, no longer clouded by alcohol and drugs, was suddenly flooded with images of Janette. Her smile when he brought her coffee in the morning. The way her eyes lit up when she talked about her mother. The feel of her small, calloused hand in his. She had a tiny, crescent-shaped scar on her palm from a childhood accident with a seashell. He used to trace it with his thumb, telling her it was his favorite part of her. It was real. Unlike Keyla, who was all smooth, manicured perfection. ---- The memory of their first meeting hit him like a physical blow. He'd been a junior partner at a rival firm, and she was a paralegal. He'd seen her crying in the law library over a lost case. Her tears had undone him. He'd spent the next two years trying to make her smile. He had loved her. God, he had loved her so much. What had he done? He had let this... this viper into his life. He had let her poison everything. He had tortured his own wife, the only woman he had ever truly loved, to appease this monster. "Garrison?" Keyla's voice was small and uncertain. "What's wrong?" He turned to look at her, and the loathing on his face made her flinch. "Get dressed," he said, his voice like ice. "We're done." "What are you talking about?" she cried, sitting up, clutching the sheet to her chest. "We're just getting started! She's gone, Garrison! We can finally be together!" "| was never going to leave her," he said, the words tasting like acid in his mouth. He finally admitted the truth, if only to himself. "I never wanted a divorce." "But you promised!" ---- "| lied!" he roared, his control finally snapping. "I lied to keep you happy, to pay my 'debt.' But it's done. | don't owe you anything anymore." He looked at her, truly looked at her, and saw nothing but a grasping, empty void. "| don't love you, Keyla," he said, the words clear and precise. "| never have. And | never will." He turned his back on her, grabbing his shirt, his mind racing. He had to find Janette. He had to fix this. He had to beg her to forgive him. He just hoped it wasn't too late. Title: A Tangle of Love (English-dubbed) In "A Tangle of Love," a captivating romance unfolds within a unique observation show where participants navigate intricate relationships, love triangles, and power dynamics. Set against the backdrop of modern-day complexities, this ongoing series delves into themes of reincarnation, revenge, and personal transformation. Follow the journey of diverse characters as they grapple with misunderstandings and emotional conflicts while vying for love and success. As the drama unfolds, one couple emerges from the chaos, showcasing a remarkable glow-up that defies expectations. What sets "A Tangle of Love" apart is its blend of billionaire lifestyles, contemporary romance dynamics, and the allure of second chances. Dive into this enthralling narrative available to read online at CrushReel for a compelling exploration of love's complexities in a world where power and passion collide.