All Chapters of When Love Was A Lie: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Emmah’s POVThe last few days had been a blur of dizzying highs and lows. The highest point was the Tech Investors Gala, walking in with Declan, the defiant emerald dress, the public kiss. It was an adrenaline rush that settled deep in my bones, feeling like a final, absolute break from Damian’s chaos. Declan had been the perfect gentleman and the perfect partner, staying up late with me, his hand resting on my shoulder as we finalized our strategic defence against Richard Holdings. He was everything Damian wasn’t, stable, kind, and focused on building, not destroying. I was ready to commit my heart to him.The low point was Damian’s shattered face when I returned his grandfather’s bracelet. His raw, exposed plea, confessing that his monstrous plan just to have me back, had ripped open the old wounds, making my path forward unclear.I had convinced myself that Declan was the answer to my confusion. He was the good choice. That conviction shattered late one evening at the Williamson wa

Emmah’s POVThe private car felt cold, even though I was wrapped in a thick blanket. I was driving back to Damian, the man I was supposed to be running from, armed with the ugly truth that my so called protector, Declan, was working with the monster who started the fire, Tasha.The photo of Declan and Tasha laughing together was a constant, burning image behind my eyes. I had been a pawn. Declan’s kisses, his support, his calm strength... it was all a strategy to steal my family’s legacy. The realization was a heartbreak far deeper than Damian’s affair, because Declan had betrayed my trust in goodness itself.I arrived near the Richard headquarters just before dawn. I didn’t call. I didn’t want to give Damian time to put on his arrogant nature. I wanted the raw version of him.I found him in his home office, which was still half wrecked from his corporate war planning. He was staring out the window, looking exhausted, wearing only a pair of sweatpants. He looked less like a corporate

Emmah’s POVImmediately I walked into the Williamson office building, I slipped into the role. I was the dedicated, exhausted partner, so happy that Declan was there to help carry my family’s burden.I found Declan in his private strategy room. He looked calm and powerful, exactly the opposite of the way I had just left behind with Damian. He rushed over to me with a concerned look filling his eyes.“Emmah, where were you?” he asked, taking my hands. “Liam said you took off early this morning. I was worried after last night’s stress.”I forced a tight smile. “I went back to the mansion. I had to clear my head, and honestly, I needed some clothes. It was... hard seeing Damian again. But I’m fine now. More determined than ever.”I squeezed his hands, putting all my energy into making the lie believable. “Thank you for being here, Declan. Truly. I wouldn’t be able to face this war without you.”His expression softened, and he brought my hands to his lips for a quick kiss. “You don’t ever

Emmah’s POVI had just sent him the most important update, and now I was walking around with a piece of spy gear that could ruin everything. I needed to see what was on that drive without Declan or Liam knowing.I managed to slip away from the office early, telling Declan I had a massive headache and needed to rest. He was so focused on the AuraTech stock spike that he barely noticed me leave, which was exactly what I needed.I drove straight to a small, secure apartment building I owned, a place nobody knew about. It was old and anonymous, perfect for working in secret.I plugged the USB drive into my secure laptop. My hands were shaking so badly I almost dropped it. Before opening anything, I ran a full security scan. It came back clean, no viruses, no tracking software. The drive was purely for data.I opened the folder. There was only one file: a long, encrypted video labelled simply, “THORNE.”I frowned. Why Thorne? Julian Thorne was the cold, professional shark Damian was

Emmah’s POVThe text message felt like a punch to the gut. It was a clear photo of Damian and me in his office, my hand gripping his arm, our faces were too close, the body language clearly urgent and evident that we were conspiring. Below the photo, the words: “Thought you could lie to me, partner? The game is over before it even began. – D.”My hands froze on the steering wheel. I wasn’t just driving into a war, I was driving into a cage. Declan knew. He didn’t just suspect, he had proof. He hadn’t been focused on the AuraTech leak, he had been focused on me.I gripped the wheel, the cold rage overriding the fear. He was watching the Richard Tower, the very place he knew I would go for “chaos.” He had placed a professional surveillance team on Damian’s office building the entire time.I couldn’t go back to the Williamson office. Not yet. I needed a new plan. I quickly parked the car in an underground public garage and killed the engine. I had to alert Damian.I pulled out the s