All Chapters of The Adopted Lie: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

“What are you doing with my phone?”Sophia Turner’s voice came from behind me, trembling almost imperceptibly.I froze.In one hand, I still held the document that registered me as Noah's father.In the other was her phone, its screen still lit up.The message on it burned into my mind like a poisoned blade.‘Thanks for working so hard, babe. Once Noah is old enough, I’ll make sure Lucas leaves with nothing.'I turned to look at the woman I had shared a bed with for three years.She wore the silk pajamas I had bought her and carried a mug of warm milk. Her face still held that familiar expression, soft and delicate enough to seem almost fragile.“Who is this ‘babe’?” I asked.My own voice startled me.It was too calm.Sophia’s eyes flicked to the screen, and her pupils shrank.She slammed the mug onto the table, rushed over, and snatched the phone from my hand so roughly her nails nearly tore my skin.“Are you sick, Lucas Barner?” She locked the screen at once. Her eyes r

The next morning, I made breakfast as usual.Sophia came out of the guest room holding Noah’s hand. Her eyelids were swollen and red, as though she had spent the entire night crying.She did not look at me.She pulled out a chair for Noah, then sat beside him and began peeling an egg in silence.Slowly.Deliberately.As if she were working up to something.“Did you do anything about the cut on your hand?” she asked suddenly, her voice hoarse.I lifted my coffee and took a sip.“It’s fine. Just a scratch.”Sophia placed the peeled egg in Noah’s bowl and let out a soft sigh.“I was too emotional last night. I just never knew how to tell you about Noah’s situation.”She looked up at me, her expression so sincere it was almost flawless.“I know those messages would look bad out of context. I already deleted that contact.”Her voice softened.“Lucas, we’ve been married for three years. Don’t you know what kind of wife I’ve been to you?”But all I could hear was the recording

I was quiet for a long time.Sunlight fell across my face through the office window.It was warm.But inside, I felt as cold as ice.“Let me think about it.”When I left the law office, I sat on a bench outside for a long time.Then my phone buzzed.It was a message from Sophia.'Babe, come home early tonight. I’m making your favorite pot pie.'I stared at the screen and felt nothing but irony.When she cooked for me, was she thinking about Vic?Or the apartment?I was about to lock my phone when an unfamiliar number called.After a moment’s hesitation, I answered.“Hello?”There was silence on the other end for several seconds.Then an older voice came through.It was still strong.Still steady.“Lucas.”My entire body went rigid.Three years.I had not heard that voice in three years.“Dad,” I said, my throat suddenly tight.“Mm.”Lincoln’s voice was calm, almost formal.“I heard you started a company. Seems to be doing well.”“It’s doing okay.”“Okay?” he

The truth had finally come out.“And what if I don’t sign it?” I asked coldly.“Don’t sign?” Sophia gave a low, humorless laugh. “Then by tomorrow, everyone in the industry will know Lucas Barner is a child abuser who beats orphans. The board won’t keep a CEO with that kind of stain on his name.”I looked at her face, slightly twisted with greed.Then I smiled.“Fine. I’ll write it.”I walked over to the reception desk and took a sheet of paper and a pen.A flash of triumph lit Sophia’s eyes.Noah had stopped crying too. He peeked at me through his fingers, and I caught the faintest curl of a smile at the corner of his mouth.I wrote a few lines, signed my name, and handed the paper to Sophia.“Happy now?”She snatched it from me.The moment she read it, her face changed.“Lucas, you tricked me!”The statement read:> I, Lucas Barner, agree that if it is established that I have physically harmed Noah Turner, I will forfeit all of my assets. However, if the injury is prov

She pulled out a document and slapped it onto the coffee table.The papers slid across the surface and stopped in front of me.“Transfer all your company shares to me. And sign over this house too.”Her tone was cold.“Sign, and we can part ways peacefully. Refuse, and start getting used to the idea of prison.”I looked at the man and woman in front of me.Then at the smug child standing behind Victor.Noah tilted his face up at the man he called Dad, his eyes shining with admiration.Like he was looking at a hero.He had no idea what kind of abyss that man was going to drag him into.“Fine,” I said. “I’ll sign.”Sophia and Victor exchanged a look.Triumph flashed in both their eyes.Like hunters watching prey finally walk into the trap.I signed my name.Then pressed my thumbprint beside it.As I stepped out of the house, I looked back one last time.My mother had left this place to me.Before she died, she had said, “Son, I never had much to give you. But this house