Romans & histoires The Truth As He Knows It

The ache in my abdomen is still there. I gazed at uncle Leo. The monitor beeped steadily. And I understood, with terrifying clarity, that knowledge was not safe. Truth did not liberate. It was demanding. And now, once I have learned the truth, there would be no going back.

You've got this on a slow lap in an empty rink. "Then I'd need to know what he knew and when and why," I said. "And I'd need him to tell me the truth." I looked at my hands. "And I think he would. I think that telling the truth is something he does even when it costs him something." "You believe that." "Yes," I said. Immediately, without the buffer of time I usually needed between deciding and acting. Bria looked at me. Something in her expression settled. "Okay," she said.

"You said you were going to my house to drop something off last time I went out, but when I came home, I found one condom missing. My wife refused to admit it and said I remembered wrong. I even started doubting myself. Tell me. Was it you?" Randy knocked the man's hand away, then looked at me viciously. "You want to convict me with one video? I wasn't the one who started it in that video. Your wife was the one who threw herself into my arms. Couldn't you see that? Or are you just too scared to admit that your wife cheated on you? Too scared to admit you lost to me?"

The page empties, and Julian sits with the blankness until it stops feeling like panic. At last, he types one sentence. “A man can tell the truth publicly and still not know how to live it.”

Richard was quiet a long moment, something working visibly behind his eyes — calculation, I realized, the particular look of a man deciding exactly how much truth he could afford to release without the whole structure collapsing around him. "That man is not who you think he is," he said finally, low and tight. "Whatever story Lily grew up believing about her father — whatever version got told at that dinner table after he left — I promise you, the truth is considerably uglier than anything you've imagined." "Then tell me the actual truth instead of hints." "I can't." "Can't, or won't?"

“These two have been meeting in barns for months. Vivian threw herself at Vince and ruined our relationship.” "Lie!" Perry looked at Kathleen in disbelief. "How dare you call my daughter a liar!" It was Judd Randall who stepped to his daughter's side. He was a retired general of the Calvary, and still carried his body straight and proud despite his permanent injuries. He knew of his daughter’s indiscretion and condition, he had supported her idea to tell Vince. After all the father had a right to know. After this, though, he would not support a forced marriage. There were other ways to go about this. His sharp yes shushed Kathleen.

I’m afraid he’ll find out the truth. He told me, he was ready to forget Lucky… that he really needs to let go of me, once he finds Lucky, happy and contented with her new life. I won’t forget that words from him. “Yes,” I briefly answered him. He immediately let go of my left hand, still looking at me. Lucky, just act normal. He is not the same Alex Kim, anymore. Can’t you see? He’s very famous, popular, respected man, rich. What should you do? Many fans will get mad when they find out… that their idol Alex Kim has a loved one.

I trailed off, his eyes boring into me. Yeah. He knows and his eyes were literally saying, ‘don’t lie to me, I can see right through you’. Fuck. “Even if I don't know, it's not my fault, I've been used to accepting it like that. So what if I don’t know?” I said, tilting my head, “Not like it matters. You’re still alive, aren’t you?” Alden hummed, the sound low and mocking as he took a slow step closer. His presence alone was enough to set off warning bells in my head, but I refused to show it.

I hope I wasn't unlucky enough to end up working for another entitled rich guy to polish his résumé. Levi stood up with ease, thanking the boss and his colleagues. Having concluded he must have a strong background, I quickly adjusted my mindset despite the bitter feeling in my chest. But to my surprise, he came looking for trouble instead. While thanking everyone, Levi suddenly shot me a glance. I instantly sensed something was off. He said, "I admit I have some shortcomings, but I will work hard to get better. Most importantly, I won't let my abilities compromise my personal morals and character.

The burning photographs extinguish, plunging us into darkness again except for the eerie glow now emanating from Truth's skin. "Detective Rodriguez," Truth says, voice lilting with amusement, "always so procedural. So by-the-book. Even when the book has been rewritten." Rodriguez stiffens. "How do you know my name?" "I know everything about all of you," Truth continues. "Victoria's jealousy. James's greed. Marcus's guilt. Catherine's secrets." Those uncanny eyes shift to me. "And Sophia's... special genetic makeup." My blood freezes in my veins. "What are you talking about?"