The Lies We Leave Behind Novels & Stories

"That wasn't the deal. You told me you got rid of her. You told me she was gone." Matthew’s gaze dropped. The guilt on his face was a vivid, ugly thing, etching deep lines around his mouth. In that moment, I realized that lies are not just spoken; they are a climate. They are the fog that settles over a relationship until you can no longer see the shore. We were standing in a forest of our own making, where every tree was a half-truth and every path led back to a betrayal. "Emerald, listen—" "I am listening," I interrupted, my heart hardening into a diamond. "I am listening to the sound of you breaking another promise. Did you ever intend to send her away, or was that just another bedtime st

Because the world had just watched a man burn every escape route he ever had and choose, publicly and irrevocably, to love one woman and one unborn child until his last breath. And somewhere in the ashes floating over Manhattan, the last lie anyone would ever tell about us turned to dust. Only truth remained. Only us. Only forever.

I could see he struggled with what he had to do, but within minutes, I walked out of the station on leave on an officer involved shooting investigation. Nathan and I stuck to our story, the lie weaving itself into the fabric of our reality with every retelling. It was a dance we performed flawlessly, a tango of deception. But even as we danced, the specter of doubt hovered over us, whispering sweet nothings in our ears. What if someone found out the truth? What if the lie was discovered? Each time we were alone, we'd fall into each other's arms, our kisses desperate and full of pain. We were two lost souls, clinging to the only lifeline we had—each other.

Julian suggests, holding his glass out. “No more lies,” Nikita adds with a shrug. “I agree wholeheartedly, no more lies.” Layla moves her glass forward and they all look at me. I exhale slowly and nod, cocking a brow before I clink my glass with theirs. “No more lies!” they say in unison before we all drink. But the truth is, for the ones I love, I’ll continue to lie till the very end. THE END

His words are as raw s his emotions that I’ve known him to never wear on his sleeve. “Well, none of that matters now. Clearly, you never needed me or anyone and truly, I am relieved that you are doing well, Leslie. This time, I’ll be the one to leave first.” He says and takes me in like he’s trying to store one last memory of me before he turns away and starts to leave again. The biggest lie I told myself for three years was that I had gotten over Kian and the past that shaped me into who I am. And I don’t realize that until my legs start to move on their accord and I wrap my hands around Kian from the back to keep him from leaving.

I didn't know how to fix this, not now, not when I had so much on my plate. As I stood there, frozen in indecision, Ana turned and walked away, leaving me to wonder what the future held for us. Would she really leave me if I walked out that door? And what would happen to our marriage if I didn't tell her the truth? The questions swirled in my mind, but I knew I had to focus on the mission ahead. I took a deep breath and turned to leave, knowing that I had to make a choice, and soon.

Didn’t touch me beyond that. Just breathed me in like he was afraid I’d vanish. And maybe I would. If this kept going. If the lies piled too high. One of us wouldn’t make it. And we both knew it. But neither of us said it. Because tonight wasn’t for truth. It was for remembering why we were still bleeding.

Title: The Lie Genre: Romantic Fiction Plot Idea: Aurora "Rory" Thompson, a successful event planner, falls for her client, Julian Blackwood, a charming and wealthy businessman. As their relationship deepens, Rory discovers a shocking secret: Julian's entire identity is a fabrication. Torn between her love for him and her outrage at his deception, Rory must navigate the complex web of lies and uncover the truth about Julian's past. Chapter 1 Aurora "Rory" Thompson stared at the sleek, black business card on her desk. Julian Blackwood, CEO of Blackwood Enterprises. She had never heard of him or his company, but the hefty retainer f*e he offered to plan his charity gala was too enticing to res

Levi's hand found mine, his touch providing a comforting anchor amidst the whirlwind of emotions that engulfed me. His reassuring words washed over me like a soothing balm, offering a sense of security and unity. "Jasmine, I know this is a lot to process," he spoke, his voice tender with empathy. "But remember, we're in this together. We'll uncover the truth, no matter how difficult it may be." I took a deep breath, finding solace in his presence and the unwavering support he offered. "I know," I replied, my voice tinged with uncertainty. "But right now, it all feels like a lie to me. I don't even know where to begin."

“You’re wasting your time if you want to convince me to go back with you. I already know what you were going to do to me so don’t bother trying to lie. I won’t believe you.” “This is what I don’t understand,” he says, an edge to his voice. “What changed? Why did you leave when everything between us was perfect? I thought you were forced into leaving. Your father told me otherwise but I want to hear it from you.” I’m still not facing him. I can’t look into his face as I say these things. “I left because I realized how much of an idiot I was for believing all of your lies. I should’ve done it a long time ago. That’s my only regret.”