Truth Be Told Review Novels & Stories

You told one lie and then you couldn't stop telling more of them. But – oddly and incredibly – what Claire discovered was that telling the truth was exactly like that. Once you told one real, shining true thing, then you wanted to tell another one. Then another. Then you were tempted to just lay it all out, just go for total, hell-for-leather honesty. This was especially the case if you hadn't told the truth in a long time, the way that she hadn't. Truth was liberating, she thought as she lay next to Jack's naked body, and it was empowering, and after she'd told Jack one true thing, then she'd had a damn hard time stopping herself from telling him every single true thing that she knew.

"I thought they might have leaked it to force the land deal, but they have proof they didn't. My company had nothing to do with this." I searched his face, searching for the telltale signs of a lie. The slight tension around his eyes. The way his jaw tightened when he wasn't being truthful. But I saw nothing. Just raw honesty staring back at me, and that made the anger burn even hotter because it meant I'd been wrong about him, which meant I'd been right to trust him, which meant— "How bad?" I asked. "Really bad," he admitted. "You're trending. We need to get ahead of it before—"

They almost ruined a woman’s entire life. [I’m just saying, this is livestream moral coercion. Giving up a seat is kindness; refusing is one’s right.] [Exactly. Influencers these days just get carried away because they have a few loyal fans.] In my previous life, I had two surgery reports in total, but Felix had deliberately hidden the report diagnosing me with uterine fibroids. In this second life, the first thing I did was protect this report with all my strength. Bella panicked and looked at me, trying to argue her case, “You must have fabricated the report because you’re afraid others will find out.”

“Nah, it’s merely me stating facts. But whatever you say.” I ignore his attempt to bait me into a discussion about whether Jess wants me dead or not, and whether I’m falsely accusing her or not. I’m not going to argue with stupidity or ignorance, it’s like hitting a pillow - pointless and draining. We both know I’m right, and I’m good with him staying delusional about her intentions. The wolf has worn himself out now, so I get out of the couch and in front of him. I activate my truth power, keeping my back to the rest of the crowd.

"The way we went about all of it. The exposure, the testimony, the book." "Not for a single moment," he said immediately, without the pause that qualified hesitation. "Truth is never regretful. It is painful, sometimes. It is costly, sometimes. But it liberates in ways that nothing else can. You know that. You are sitting in the evidence of it right now."

This is insane! [Wait. The more I listen, the more it sounds like Bradley is telling the truth. That woman's been acting the whole time.] [If this is real, it's beyond disgusting. Monica isn't even gone yet, and the wife and the killer… I can't even think about it.] Sandra's face flushed bright red. "Bradley, stop slandering me! You're crazy! You've been blinded by hatred!" I didn't bother responding. I pulled out my phone and projected a heart rate monitor app onto the corner of the livestream.

Everything he had done in the dark was now exposed to the light of day. "Victoria, I know I've wronged you these past three years. I shouldn't have lied to you, but you have to trust me when I say I've long fallen for you and I love you…" he started, but I cut him off. "You think I would still believe you?" I asked, my voice trembling with contempt. "To be loved by you—it's an insult!" The mechanic's wife handed over the video, an irrefutable piece of evidence. And the transfer records further confirmed the financial exchanges between Zach and Kayla.

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?"

"Okay, she tells me it's my turn to share. So, I guess she will be telling this story in parts. But I’m fine with that. I missed the first shot too, so I decided to tell her a little about myself. “I'm actually a big momma's boy," I said. “Are you now?" she replied. “Yes, ma'am. I just thought you should know," I answered. “Well, thank you for telling me that," she said. Stella makes the next couple of shots into the hole, so I don't get to hear more of the story until we move on to the next hole. She misses her first shot again, and then she continues with the story.

I waved my hand impatiently. Seeing how casually I spoke, Keven had no choice but to go along with it. I thought I was mentally prepared for it. But when I saw my reflection on my phone, I burst into tears. I buried my face in the blanket and cried uncontrollably. Kevin was at a loss, not knowing how to comfort me. From the blanket, I asked unhappily, "Have I turned ugly and horrifying now?" Kevin replied, "No way! You're the prettiest woman in Dainsclef Village."