Burned By His Lies
BLURB
Zara Winterborn believed that marrying Adrian Leighhton was a dream come true and the best thing that had ever happened to her broken childhood. Instead, it tied her to a man whose love hid a dark truth that burned her to ashes.
She overhears a phone call on their honeymoon that shatters her whole world. The love of her life is already married.
Feeling betrayed and desperate after learning she's pregnant, she makes some unthinkable decisions. She fakes an abortion, fakes a miscarriage, and disappears from her old life. Five years later, she returns as a renowned architect. Not as Zara but Aria Sterling with a secret daughter.
Adrian sees her at a gala and his regret transforms into obsession as he hires investigators to dig deeper. He will tear everything down, even his empire and his blood just to win her forgiveness again.
But Adrian isn't the only one who becomes obsessed with her. Even Damien, the stranger who helped her disappear to punish her, has his own plans and wants to use Zara as a weapon for revenge.
As secrets of stolen embryos, hidden mothers, children, unknown siblings, and bloodlines twisted by lies, come to light, Zara must choose. Does she stick with Damien and destroy Adrian forever or does she forgive Adrian and let him into their lives?
She vanished before. Can she disappear again when things get tough?
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Chapter: Chapter 6: Ghost In the CrowdAria(Zara’s pov)5 years laterThe doors swing open and camera flashes almost make me go blind. The attention from the crowd makes my palms sweaty. After five years of hiding and working behind the scenes, I finally returned to New York City. Straight into the lion’s den. “Breathe, breathe, breathe, Aria,” I say under my breath as I try to give them a genuine smile but my nerves are killing me. After a couple of poses, I walk through the guests dressed in designer tuxedos and gowns. People greet me and I stop to talk to some while some whisper, "That's the brain behind the glass museum project, Aria Sterling.”“She’s so young and beautiful,” another said.“Any man would be lucky to have her. Beauty plus brains is a whole package,” another man says. I smile as I make my way to my project coordinator, Murphy. We have worked together for the past two years and he's the best at what he does.I pick up a glass of champagne from a server and quickly take a sip to calm myself down. “If it
Last Updated: 2025-09-26
Chapter: Chapter 5: Her Death(Zara’s Pov)The room is pitch black and quiet. The only sound that I can hear comes from Adrian who is breathing softly and also from my heart that is beating like a drum. Blood rushes so fast to my head and my hands tremble as I struggle to leave the bed quietly without causing him to wake up. It's a difficult task since his arm is wrapped around me possessively even as he sleeps. I slowly slide out from beneath him, while holding my breath.When he moves, I freeze, praying he doesn't wake up. He finally settles and I let out a deep breath and immediately place my hand over my mouth to cover the sound.Pulling out the burner phone from under the bed, I tiptoe to the bathroom and quietly shut the door. I stare at myself in the mirror, taking in my swollen lips from his rough kisses. Without wasting any more time, I twist off my wedding ring and place it on the sink.I just ripped out my heart from my chest with that simple action but some aches are very vital to one’s healing proces
Last Updated: 2025-09-22
Chapter: Chapter 4: Preparations(Zara’s POV)I stir in my sleep as I hear Adrian talk heatedly to someone. When I open my eyes, I find him talking on the phone with his back to me. The person is riling him up too much because he throws his head back and groans.His next words are so firm that I'm sure it leaves the caller shocked but I finally understand why he's so disturbed.“No, for fucks sake, Celeste. You can't come here. Can't you be patient? I already said I would be there soon and sort things out.”He steps outside and puts the call on speaker mode not knowing I'm awake. It gives me the opportunity to grab a few words.“You have been saying that for two weeks now, Adrian. You better get back here and clean up this mess you have created. You have humiliated my family and my father is pissed. You know what you'll lose.”“I’m sure you can handle your father for a little longer. And another thing, Celeste. Don't you ever threaten me again. This marriage will be revisited when I get back.”“What are you saying? A
Last Updated: 2025-09-22
Chapter: Chapter 3: Fake Loss(Zara’s POV)Nobody likes the smell or atmosphere of clinics and I'm no exception. The disinfectant is so strong and the air is so tense and always ready to deliver bad news. One would think some good things don't happen there. Like the birth of a child. Not in my case though. I'm here to make sure my husband believes I took out our baby. That's why I showed up early at the clinic. You never know who he might know so the lesser chance of bumping into someone.I've already fulfilled all the requirements; my name is on the appointment list, I have already filled out the basic information, and the nurse has been strictly told to say I've been seen, treated, and discharged in case Adrian calls. I know he is capable of finding out where I amand what I'm doing.My baby is in good shape, safe, and alive. No one is going to touch them. So there will be no treating.Seems he finally noticed my absence because he has been blowing up my phone with calls and messages.Adrian: Where are you, Zee?
Last Updated: 2025-09-22
Chapter: Chapter 2: The Morning AfterZara’s POVI can't remember at what point I fell asleep last night but somehow I did. Waking up to the smell of coffee, I thought last night was just a dream. Not just any kind of dream, but a nightmare. But the ache in my chest, my stuffy nose, and eyes that I can just feel how swollen they are were the wake-up call I needed before the memories rush back and hit me like a freight train.It is real. The guy I just tied the knot with, the one I thought was the love of my life, belongs to someone else. The man in question is standing by the window, looking outside like he's deep in thought. He's bare-chested and the sunlight reflecting on his toned abs and chiseled face makes him look almost heavenly and peaceful.Like he could feel me staring at him, he turns and finds me standing by the door. He smiles like last night was just a scene taken out of my imagination. Like we’re just some lovey-dovey couple on their honeymoon and he wasn't leading a dual life. Like our love wasn't destro
Last Updated: 2025-09-22
Chapter: Chapter 1: Already Married(Zara’s Pov)“Yes, yes, and yes again. For goodness' sake Celeste, I already said I'll be back soon. You need to stop crying now, okay”I don't eavesdrop. I'm not the kind to stand behind doors and listen to people’s conversations without their knowledge. But when it’s your husband on the call, with a very low voice almost like a whisper, and his tone sounding very desperate, your feet stop even before your brain notices it.Not only is he hiding to make a call, but he also mentioned another woman’s name. That alone made my feet stay rooted outside our half-open bedroom door. He is pacing as he tries to convince whoever it is on the other line and nothing prepares me for the next words that come out of his mouth.“I already told you that it's nothing like that. Can't you understand?” His voice sounded short now. “If you would just give me some time, then I'll sort it out as soon as I'm back.”The woman on the other end said something that made him stop pacing and pinch his nose befor
Last Updated: 2025-09-22
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