Lahat ng Kabanata ng BENEATH THE LIES : Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

041I stared at him, wondering why he was suddenly asking about my past. My heart raced, my palms damp with sweat. There’s no way I could mention Ryan to him. I couldn’t. Just the thought alone made my chest tighten with anxiety. I shifted a little from him on the bed, acting like I was scared of telling him anything. Maybe he’d back off if I looked uneasy.“My past… it’s…” I began, my voice faltering. “Drake, it’s not something I like talking about. It’s really painful. I can’t.”“Hey, hey, it’s okay. It’s okay,” he said gently, moving closer. “You can trust me.”His voice was low, soft, comforting. It made my heart ache. He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his eyes full of understanding. “Tell me your past, Ash. We’ve all gone through painful things in life, but you can share them with me. I mean, I’m your boyfriend.”I stared at him, tense, my body rigid. I didn’t know what to do at this point. I couldn’t risk the truth. Not now. I let out a deep breath and gulped, forc

043 I glared at her. I didn't have time for nonsense now. The court letter crumpled in my fist, veins pulsing in my neck. My chest rose and fell rapidly with each breath I took. Without saying another word to her, I bolted out of the hallway, feet pounding against the marble tiles as I raced toward the Door. “Drake! Please wait!” I screamed, my voice cracking with desperation, once I arrived at the door. But he didn’t. He didn't even turn his head. He slammed his door shut, and the engine roared to life. My heart sank as the tires screeched against the pavement, leaving me there in regret. I froze, then slowly placed a trembling hand on my forehead. My eyes blinked back the tears that stung. The ache in my chest spread like wildfire, scorching every corner of my body. “You’re in a mess, Ash,” I whispered bitterly to myself. Dragging my feet back into the house, I closed the door behind me and sank into my bed. The silence was deafening, but my thoughts were louder. How did it a

045Turning my attention back to the beautiful scene unfolding before me, I smiled faintly. Let me put up an act, at least, so I don't look like a bad sister.I took a deep breath and walked toward them, letting my performance begin.“Doctor, what are you saying?!” I cried out suddenly, my voice cracking. “Tell me this isn’t true!”At this point, my eyes were red and glassy, shimmering with tears that hadn’t fully fallen. I turned to Mr. Collins like a frightened child.“Dad, what is he saying? Nothing is going to happen to my sister, right?”Mr. Collins pulled me into a tight embrace, his hand rubbing circles on my back.“Everything will be fine, honey,” he whispered. “Everything is going to be okay.”I clung to him, letting the hug linger just a second longer to make it feel real, burying my face in his chest. But then, without warning, my head jerked backward as fingers tangled into my hair and yanked me away from him.“What the—!”I turned quickly—only to see her. My stepmother. H

*Alora’s POV* —047I lay on my bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling. The cursor on my laptop screen blinked mockingly, a silent reminder that the words I needed just wouldn’t come. Writer’s block had wrapped its cold fingers around my mind for hours now, and the silence of my room only made it worse.I sighed and shut the laptop with a soft click, rubbing my temples in frustration. That’s when I heard a knock on the door.Groaning quietly, I stood and shuffled over, barefoot on the cold floor. I pulled the door open—and froze.Charles stood there, leaning casually against the doorframe like he owned the world. He wore black trousers and a white shirt, unbuttoned halfway down his chest, revealing a sculpted torso. His hair was styled differently today, slightly tousled in an effortlessly attractive way.“What brings you here, Charles?” I asked, keeping my voice neutral.He smirked. “Well, isn’t it obvious?”I chuckled, but there was no humor in it. “No, it’s not obvious.”“Invite me in and m

049 Clark’s POV The silence in my living room was unnatural. Too still. Even the hum of the refrigerator felt louder than it should be. I’d already packed the flash drive—my only solid evidence against Ash—and slipped it into the inside pocket of my jacket. There was no mistaking it. After that video Drake sent me, I knew she'd come for me. It was only a matter of time. I double-checked the curtains, making sure they were still drawn. The night outside was darker than usual, as though even the moon had decided to stay out of this. I took a deep breath and stepped outside. My plan was simple: head to Officer Delvin’s house—an old friend and the one person I trusted with this kind of heat. I descended the steps, gripping my car keys tightly, my fingers twitching. My SUV stood parked in the driveway, calm and unaware of the storm coming. The second my boots hit the concrete, I heard it. A low engine growl. My eyes darted to the left. A sleek, matte black van turned slowly into my