Novel & Cerita Live Not By Lies

Chapter Two: The Truth Hurts I sat in the dim living room, my body trembling, my chest so heavy it felt like I couldn’t breathe. Tears kept falling, no matter how hard I tried to stop them. I thought I was strong. I thought I could handle anything. But nothing had ever hurt like this. Adrian. The man I loved. The man I trusted. The man I had built my life around. Had been lying to me all along. I went to his office today to surprise him, to remind him that we were still a team. That after everything, we were still us.

He looked at my father and gave Dave a very hard look, then walked out. “What are you doing here?” “That's not how you speak to your husband, Rhea.” My father's voice was calm. I sat up straighter, ignoring the pain shooting through my ribs. “I don't know what he told you, but it's all lies. Every word…” “I know everything.” He cut me off. “The surrogate. The ex-girlfriend. The donor eggs due to your medical complications. Which part is the lie?” My mouth opened in disbelief. “You…you can't actually think this is okay.”

"Could it be that our horrible deaths were all just a dream, and your parents really do love you?" Rebecca narrowed her eyes at me. "What are you still hiding from us? Don't tell me you getting killed in a past life was just an act to get rid of us!" After all, the billion-dollar estate was in my name now. If they were willing to give me the money, why would they kill me? I gave a bitter smile. The truth was, I really had been killed. But no matter how I explained it now, they probably wouldn't believe me. All I could do was say it again.

Her final weapon. One video. One lie. One truth twisted enough to shatter everything. “Let’s see how much love survives this.”

She yelled, "Adrian, you were the one who made Liliana dance for me. You were there when I dropped her mother's urn. You let this happen. "Liliana's death, her self-immolation, was because she lost hope in you. Don't you dare pin this on me just to ease your own conscience!" As Macie was dragged away, her accusations hung in the air, a haunting refrain in Adrian's ears. Adrian knew deep down that Macie was right—he was the one to blame for Liliana's death. He had taken the life of the person he cherished most. Ever since that day, Adrian drowned his sorrows. Bottle after bottle, he lost himself in a haze of alcohol that clouded his judgment. Eventually, he made one disastrous decision after

she asked, her hand hovering near my shoulder like she wanted to touch it but was afraid to. I looked up at her, then at Conrad who was standing a few feet away, looking guilty but not sorry. “Your boyfriend tried to kill me,” I said, voice tight with pain. Phoebe turned to Conrad, eyes wide. “Conrad?” Conrad raised his hands. “It was an honest mistake. I didn’t mean to hit him that hard.” Phoebe turned back to me. She didn’t move away. Instead, she stayed right there, helping me sit up slowly, her hand gently on my good arm.

“I’ve been useless. I won’t be able to take care of you in the future.” “All I hope now is that you two live a happy life together. As long as your hearts are united, there's nothing you can’t overcome.” She cried as she spoke, and I cried with her. Jack held me tightly, swearing to protect me for a lifetime. But in the end, he broke that promise. He cheated on me with his childhood sweetheart. Seeing that I was still ignoring him, Jack suddenly knelt down with a thud. “Laura, I really know I was wrong. I love you—I can’t live without you!”

Like smoke in your lungs—delicate, but suffocating. “He did live here once,” I said, gently prying Cole’s fingers from the glass. “This is still his home.” Cole growled under his breath, his frown deepening. Lloyd didn’t even glance our way. Not once. The longer I watched them, the more I saw the differences. Subtle, but there. Lloyd’s hair was neat, trimmed with intention—just like when we were young. Cole’s remained longer on top, carelessly styled, as if always halfway to a fight. They were both beautiful, but in different, jarring ways. Like mirrored blades—each dangerous, each distinct.

Because right now, I don’t even know who I am anymore. Tears blur my vision, but I force my chin high, refusing to let them see me break. I told him I’d be fine, I lied though, The lie slices through me sharper than any blade. I’m not fine, I’m terrified. Despite all this, I don't want to die, I want to live. I want to be with Caleb, our story is just beginning, I don't want it to be cut short.

Nagkibit siya ng balikat ang nag-iwas ng tingin. I pursed my lips before I spoke. "How I wish, it didn't came this far." "This is better, Elie than to leave in lies. We all played with lies and finally, the time has come." He muttered and looked at me seriously. "It's so hard to live in lies, everyday Elie and I couldn't even tell it to you." He added and his tears fell.