The Lies We Leave Behind Novels & Stories

The twists and turns of our journey had led us here, to the revelation of a truth so devastating it threatened to tear apart everything we held dear. With a heavy heart, we left Richard behind, the weight of his secrets lingering in the air. The journey had come full circle, but the scars remained. We had unraveled the twisted threads that had bound us, and now it was time to heal, to rebuild our lives in the wake of the truth.

The Work Below When the lamps burned low, Leah arrived with a kettle of tea, her clinic coat still marked with smudges of antiseptic and dust. She placed the cup beside Lorren’s ink and said nothing for a long moment. “You can’t heal people with truth alone,” she said finally, glancing at Ethan, who was leaning against the doorway. “But lies spread like fever. At least this one—we can name, and treat.”

“You’ll marry Eleanor Pierce. That’s final.” I tried to argue. God knows I tried. “I love her.” He raised an eyebrow. “You think love pays for legacy?” That night, I punched a wall so hard I cracked my knuckles. I didn’t sleep. I couldn’t. I typed out a message to Josephine, backspaced. Typed again. Deleted. Over and over. Nothing I wrote felt like enough. Or maybe, deep down, I knew there was no right way to say, I’m leaving, but I never wanted to.

“No more lies. We tell the truth.” And for the first time in years, I wasn’t afraid. Love doesn’t erase crime, and we were finally ready to tell the truth. THE END!!!

As we settled around the table, the buzz of conversation filling the room, I began to share my journey or should I say the lies I had build in my mind just in case for the moments like these. I spoke of the cities and the sights, my words painting a picture of freedom and discovery. But I carefully chose my words, the reasons why I had really left, and the secrets that Aiden and I shared.

“Oh, so you’ve seen the papers, haven’t you?” “You said you were going to contact them to change it.” “I lied,” she answered carelessly. “You know, the same way you lied to Dylan Bass and told him my proposal was yours.” “That’s what this is about?” “What? You think I was just going to let you get away with pulling such a dirty trick? Of course, that’s what this is about? How does it feel to not be given the credit you deserve, Dominic? I bet it’s an amazing feeling.”

"And you wouldn't happen to be referring to something like what happened with the legendary Janine Hathaway, would you?" "You caught me." "I would never abandon my child." "Janine Hathaway didn't abandon her child, she left Rose in perfectly capable and safe hands." "But she made the choice to leave her child behind nonetheless. It doesn't matter how much you try to sugar coat it, Guardian Jenson. The bottom line is, Janine Hathaway left Rose behind to fend for herself through her childhood. Nothing anyone says can change that fact. It wasn't an opinion, it was a harsh fact."

The next day he was hospitalized with a bleeding ulcer from drinking too much. Afterward, he told me I could always share everything with him as a good friend, because he wasn't interested in women. And I actually believed him. Marcus's lies ended up hurting me, while Henry's lie only hurt himself. This time, I took the initiative and kissed him. That night, I pinned him to the bed and said, "Do you dare sign an agreement with me – whoever asks for a divorce has to commit suicide!" "I dare!" he replied without hesitation. Later, my father organized an incredibly luxurious wedding for us. Our happy wedding photos were displayed on digital billboards throughout downtown, playing on a loop for

In the summer, he took me to an internet café to cool off and play games. In the fall, we went to an orchard and climbed Southern Peaks, watching the rolling sea of clouds from the summit. On New Year's Eve, as fireworks blossomed in the night sky, I promised to be his girlfriend. “What’s that?” Trevor asked as he parked. I snapped out of it, stuffed the envelope into my bag, and smiled. “Just old stuff, I was thinking of throwing it away.” The past was nothing more than yesterday’s death. Trevor took me to a restaurant located in a lush estate full of flowers and trees. As soon as I stepped inside, I sensed something unusual.

"I’m going to sign the divorce papers, but he wants me to return all the money we took out. I can’t possibly come up with that much. And if I have to pay back the house and the shop, where will you live? How will I support my younger siblings?" Evan finally grasped the situation and jumped up, yelling, "You foolish girl! I don’t care what’s happening with you and Lucas. I can’t stop working. I can’t pay back the money the Brown family lent me. If I do... I swear I’ll make you regret it..."