All Chapters of His Untold Lies: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

KiannaLove is a strange, maddening thing.It is a silent trap that slips around your chest, tightening until it wraps around your soul. One moment, you feel like you can tear down the sky. The next, you are crawling through the wreckage of a heart that dared to dream too much.It always begins with a flicker. A quiet glance. An accidental touch that lingers a second too long. A laugh that feels entirely personal.But as I stood in our bedroom, looking at my reflection, a cold question clawed at my throat: Can I really fall in love again?Maybe this heat in my chest was just a symptom of being lonely for too long, dressed up as something sweet. Maybe I was simply exhausted from pretending I didn't care.But I couldn't deny it anymore. Ares was becoming much more than a signature on a piece of paper.Today was supposed to be my exit. I was going back to my family's house for the afternoon, away from the man who was making my heart misbehave. I smoothed down the fabric of my sundress, my

KiannaAt exactly 7:20 a.m., the alarm clock cut through the silence with a sharp, rhythmic beep. I dragged myself out of bed, the cold air hitting my bare shoulders as I reluctantly left the heat of the blanket. My head felt heavy, a dull ache throbbing behind my temples."Mhm... I've been feeling drained for ages now," I muttered to the empty bedroom.I stumbled into the bathroom, leaning against the sink to wash the sleep from my face. When I looked up into the mirror, my breath caught. Scattered across the base of my neck were dark, unmistakable bruises.Ares.During the day, he was the quiet gentleman who helped with the chores. But the moment the bedroom door shut last night, he had turned into someone else entirely—unpredictable, breathless, and relentless. I touched my fingertips to the marks, the skin still tender.I grabbed my concealer wand, aggressively dabbing the thick makeup over the spots until they disappeared under a layer of beige. I pulled on a high-collared knit sw

KiannaThe rain beat a steady rhythm against the concrete awning of the outdoor mall, splashing into the overflowing wishing fountain beside us. I shifted on the wet bench, adjusting my grip on the small bag of school supplies in my lap."Miaree, do you have any plans after this?" I asked, turning to her with a smile. "Ares agreed to host a few people at our place now that we’re done decorating. You've been dying to meet him, right? Tonight is the perfect time."Miaree kept her eyes glued to her phone, her thumb typing furiously. She shook her head, her jaw tight. "I can't. Something urgent came up." She slung her purse over her shoulder and stood up without looking at me. "My uncle just messaged. I have to go meet him right now. Tell your husband he owes me a rain check."Before I could even answer, she hurried off into the downpour, her sudden shift in energy leaving a strange taste in my mouth. She was always rushing off to assist her uncle lately. I knew he ran a large corporation,

KiannaThe ink pen scratched against my notepad as I mapped out the morning: vacuum, furniture polish, microfiber rags, glass cleaner, laundry basket. Since my university lectures didn't start until two in the afternoon, there was no reason to sit around rushing. The apartment needed attention, and physical labor was a good way to keep my hands busy.I started with the living room windows, misting the glass with cleaner and wiping away the smudges until the pane was clear."Hey, hon, I'm heading out for the office! See you tonight. Love you!" Ares called from the hallway, adjusting his tie before sliding his briefcase off the console. He stepped up beside me, pressing a quick, warm kiss against my forehead.As he turned toward the front door, I caught his wrist. "Wait—don't leave yet. I have something for you." I ran into the bedroom, pulled the small velvet jewelry box from my dresser drawer, and hurried back. "Here. I completely forgot to hand this to you yesterday. I hope it fits,"

KiannaMy eyes darted to the gray, round clock on the classroom wall. The black plastic hands were crawling through the final three minutes of the lecture. The echoes of this morning’s chaos in the dean’s office were still vibrating in my head, making it impossible to focus on the whiteboard. The second the professor closed his binder, I shoved my notebooks into my bag, pulled the zipper shut, and headed for the exit. Stepping outside the building, a sharp, cool breeze hit my face, cutting through the humidity under a perfectly clear blue sky.Ares had texted during the final hour to say his afternoon meetings were running over and he couldn’t bring the car around to pick me up. I walked down to the perimeter road to catch the public transit line. It felt like an eternity, standing on the curb while heat radiated off the asphalt and cars blurred past, until the familiar white and blue bus finally squealed to a halt in front of my concrete island. I hoisted my bag over my shoulder and s