Burden Of Truth Cast Novels & Stories

The leader spat, his eyes glinting with malice. The number and his words hung in the air like a death sentence, suffocating the tiny room with its weight. My mother’s eyes widened, hope shattering in them like glass. That amount was impossible; it was more than she could ever earn in a lifetime. The room fell silent except for my mother’s choked sobs. I felt like I was drowning, suffocating on the truth of our fate. A million dollars. The realisation that there was no way out sank into my bones like ice.

Zach begged, still shouting as they cuffed his wrists. "Don't tarnish the word 'love'," I spat. "You covered up the truth about my mom's death, and you almost took away my ability to be a mother! Zach, God will punish every wrongdoer. The divine will not forgive you, and neither will I." At last, the truth of the car accident that had caused my mother's death was revealed. Zach and Kayla were both sentenced to life imprisonment. My belly had already begun to show the smallest of bumps. I stood at my mother's grave for a long time.

"But Trent, this is a good thing, isn't it? Finally knowing the truth about what really happened?" A hollow chuckle escaped my lips as I shook my head slowly. "You'd think so, but the reality is...it's just exchanged one horror for another." Dropping her hand, I turned away, clenching my jaw as flashes of the true memory assaulted me again. Ella took my hand in hers, giving it a gentle squeeze reminding me I wasn't alone. "Hey, stop it," she said softly. "You've finally known the truth, Trent. That's all that matters now. You're free from the burden of false guilt."

"What do you mean you won't pay? Listen here, I did the job, so I want to see the money. Otherwise, I'll tell the police everything. I don't have many days left to live anyway!" "Fine! I'll give you 500 grand first. You'll get the rest after I secure my position! I've endured humiliation for seven years and gave birth to Jonathan's only child.” "Now I'm just one step away from becoming the wife of the Rivers Group CEO. You'll get your money soon enough!" Jonathan kicked open the partially closed stairwell door. When they saw him, both their faces turned deathly pale. Linda stammered and fell to her knees beside Jonathan, trying to explain, but Jonathan grabbed her throat.

I had no choice but to believe it. Just as I was about to speak, the door flew open. I turned and looked in panic, and I saw four muscular men blocking the doorway. "Dad!" Sean burst into tears and hid in my arms, terrified. "Is Jocelyn home?" one of them asked. Jocelyn's face turned pale as she ran for the bedroom, but she was too slow. One of the men grabbed her easily and dragged her back into the living room. "When are you paying back the four hundred thousand dollars you owe us?" One of the men demanded, tugging her by the hair.

“Because some truths don’t protect you. They only arm the people who want to hurt you with more to use against you.” I stared at him, at the careful, controlled man who had spent my whole life deciding what I was allowed to know about my own family. “Ethan’s sister,” I said quietly. “Sarah. Does that connect to this too?” His jaw tightened at the name, the same reaction I’d seen from Marcus, from Ethan himself. “That is not a conversation for tonight.” “It’s never a conversation for tonight.” “Lillian—” “I am done being protected by silence.” My voice shook, but I didn’t stop. “You can lock every gate in this house. You can hire every guard in the country. But you cannot keep me from the tru

She jumped down from the table, she helped Adon up and together they drunkenly walk over to Sarah's table. "You cheat". Sarah stood abruptly. "Enough, how dare you paint my name black. Paul here is my lawyer, nothing more nothing less". She faced the crowd. "They are just drunk, I'll take them home now". As Sarah and Paul dragged them out,Shirley grabbed a bottle and smashed it on Paul's head. "That's for taking credit for another person's hard work". Adon and Shirley helped themselves out while Sarah helped an almost unconscious Paul out. As they got into the car. Adon and Shirley burst into laughter.

"Jonathan Beller, insurance investigator." He showed his ID, his gaze sweeping past Mother's shoulder into the narrow, dim living room. "Please, come in." She stepped aside. I hovered above Jonathan's head. He smelled strongly of tobacco; the leather of his briefcase was worn. He wasn't new at this. Jonathan sat down on the sofa—the same spot where Mother had collapsed two days ago. He took out a voice recorder and placed it on the coffee table. "Mrs. Woodburn, your son's cause of death was listed as 'sudden cardiac death,' correct?"

This is intentional. Truth's crying stops. Absolute silence. The kind of silence that speaks volumes. "Truth?" I whisper, my voice breaking. No response. My hand reaches out again. The bassinet is warm. Empty. She was here moments ago. Now—nothing. A laugh echoes through the darkness. Not a child's laugh. Not any laugh I recognize. Cold. Calculating. Knowing. The lights flicker. Once. Twice. A single spotlight illuminates the room's center. Truth sits there. Perfectly still. Surrounded by the surveillance photographs we'd been studying moments before. Her tiny hand reaches out, touching an image—the one capturing her sleeping, moonlight dancing across her downy hair.