Mag-log inShare
The First Crack
Huling Na-update:
2025-02-18 15:26:58Chapter 3
Lena stepped out, the cold morning air brushing against her skin. The world beyond the house stretched out vast and wide, a picture of serenity-too perfect, too still. The trees on the path swayed gently, their whispering leaves the only break in the silence. Ethan kept pace with her, his hand resting lightly at the small of her back. It was a comforting touch, but to Lena, it was an anchor-a subtle reminder that she was never truly alone. "We used to love taking walks like this," Ethan said, his words smooth, practiced. Lena nodded, but the phrase had no meaning for her. She had no memory of having ever walked this path before. No memory of laughing with him as they strolled under the huge oak trees. And yet, Ethan said it with such certainty that she almost wished she could believe him. She forced herself to breathe, drawing a deep breath as they strolled along the sidewalk. The subdivision was oddly quiet, the houses tucked far back, each one a pristine replica of the last. White picket fences. Meticulously trimmed hedges. No car drove by. It felt less like a neighborhood and more like a carefully constructed set. A world where nothing happened unless Ethan allowed it to. Lena's fingers curled around the sleeve of her sweater as a chill ran through her. "You're quiet today," Ethan observed, his gaze sliding toward her. She hesitated before responding. "Just. thinking." His lips curved into a soft smile. "About?" She could feel his eyes on her, studying her. She had to be careful. "I don't know," she whispered. "Memories, I guess." Ethan's smile didn't waver. "Anything coming back?" Lena searched his face for something-a fissure in the façade. But there was nothing. Just the same patient, loving expression he always gave her. She shook her head. "Not yet." Ethan took her hand, intertwining their fingers. The touch was intimate and tender, but all Lena felt was the gentle pressure of possession. They walked in silence for a few minutes before Ethan spoke again. "I know it's frustrating, "but you're getting better every day", he said. Lena bit her lip. Am I? If anything, she was only becoming more aware of how much she didn't know. How much she wasn't remembering , and how much Ethan was keeping from her. They turned a corner, and Lena noticed something ahead-a figure, a woman, walking in their direction. For a second, relief flooded her. Someone else. Someone outside of this. The woman walked closer, and Lena felt an odd tug in her chest. There was something familiar about her-just out of reach. Dark hair and bright green eyes. The woman's gaze snapped to Lena, and for a moment, something passed between them. It was a recognition, but the moment was there and then gone. The woman's face relaxed into a polite but distant smile as she nodded in recognition. "Good morning," she said, her voice bland. Ethan's grip on Lena's hand tightened-firm, but discreet. "Morning," he replied easily. Lena's mouth opened, question asked, but the woman had already passed them by. She turned, following as the stranger disappeared around the corner. Who was she? Why had she looked at Lena that way? A whisper of something brushed the edges of her mind-an emotion, a spark of something forgotten. Not recognition. Maybe Familiarity. Lena's heart accelerated. She had seen that woman before. She was sure of it, but she couldn't place where she had seen her A hand on her shoulder made her jump. Ethan's. He was staring at her, his eyes unreadable. "You okay?" he asked. Lena pretended a smile. "Yeah. Just. Lost in thought." He scrutinized her face for a moment before nodding. "Let's go back." Lena didn't argue. But as they approached the house, her head reeled. That woman. That look. It was the first crack in the universe Ethan had built for her. And she was not going to let it close.
Kaugnay na kabanata
The Perfect Lie The First Lie
Chapter 4Lena sat on the edge of the bed, her gaze locked on the woman who looked back at her in the mirror. She was a stranger-wide-eyed, uncertain, lost.Her fingers traced the edge of the wooden top, icy and smooth against her fingertips. The memory of the woman on the street lingered with her like a promise on the edge of her tongue. That flash of recognition, the curl of her gut in response, was significant.Who was she?The thought bothered her. The way the woman had looked at her wasn't mere politeness. It was something more, something more profound. She had seemed cautious.She had felt the subtle rise in his tension, the shift of his body toward her as if shielding her.From what?Lena swallowed, tearing her gaze from the mirror. There were more questions than answers, and the only person who could help her fill in those answers was the one she was finding herself trusting less and less.The approaching footsteps made her tighten up.A heartbeat after that, Ethan appeared at
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-18The Perfect Lie The Vanishing Past
Chapter 5Lena woke before dawn, her body still tense from the night. The journal was concealed beneath her dresser drawer, but it weighed on her chest like a rock. She had slept little, replaying Ethan's reaction in her mind, the way he'd stood in the doorway, watching her.Couldn't sleep?Those words had been offhand, so simple. But his smile-it had been calculated.She turned her head to glance at him. Ethan lay next to her, his breathing slow and even, one arm flung across his chest, lying Peacefully.She crept silently out of bed, her feet barely making a sound on the hardwood floor. She breathed shallowly, her ears tuned for the merest variation in Ethan's breathing.Nothing.He was still asleep.Swallowing, Lena crossed the room, her heart pounding as she knelt in front of the dresser. Her fingers found the false panel, pressing softly until it sprang open. The notebook was still there, just where she'd left it.She hesitated, glancing back at Ethan one last time.Then she turn
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-18The Perfect Lie The Name in the Dark
Chapter 6Lena's mind was reeling as she absorbed the name: Noah Graves. That Ethan was not who he claimed to be had shattered the delicate reality she had been clinging to. She had to find Noah, but she could not be reckless. Ethan was cunning, and one mistake could provoke him to take notice of her growing awareness.Ethan's weekend adventure hung in the background, and to Lena, it was a challenge and a possibility. She wanted all the facts before they set out. As Ethan had to work, she had some hours to herself.She booted up the laptop in Ethan's office, praying that he hadn't put any sort of monitoring on it. The desktop contained no personal files, only standard applications and an empty background. She opened the browser and typed "Noah Graves" into the search box.There were thousands of hits that covered the screen. She filtered her search to her location, hoping to get more specificity. A few of the entries jumped out at her:Noah Graves – Local Business Owner: Owner of Grav
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-18The Perfect Lie The Picture
Chapter 7Lena clutched the picture in her trembling hands, her heart beating so fiercely she was certain the walls of the cabin could hear it. Noah Graves. The name she had scribbled in her diary before her memory had been erased. The name that had lingered in the back of her subconscious mind like a whisper she couldn't quite hear.And here he was now, staring back at her from the old photo-standing beside her, close enough that there was no doubt they were together.The ramifications sent a shivery chill down her spine. If she had known Noah before if they had meant anything to each other, then why would Ethan have gone and erased all trace of him?Her heart was racing with a terrifying realization. Ethan hadn't just kept Noah from her-he had destroyed him.Lena quickly tucked the photo into the pocket of her hoodie. She wasn't sure how much time she had before Ethan returned from gathering firewood, but she needed to hurry.Her eyes darted back to the bookcase, hunting for anythin
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-11The Perfect Lie The Return
Chapter 8 Lena sat in the passenger seat, her hands crossed tightly in her lap, her back stiff despite the heater blasting warm air through the car. Ethan drove in silence, his hands wrapped around the steering wheel with practiced familiarity, his gaze on the road ahead. The winter trees flashed by the window, long bare limbs stretched out over the bottomless white. The drive home from the city was supposed to be a homecoming, a move toward freedom. It was a creeping advance toward something terrible. Lena had practiced all morning words, every glance, every breath so carefully under control. She couldn't afford one misstep. She was acting the part of the ideal wife, the loving mate with no doubts, no covert plans of flight. But her mind was racing inside. She knew Ethan was observing. He always was. "Happy to be going back?" His tone cut through the silence, smooth as always, but Lena saw through it. There was something under it. Something in waiting. She smiled at him, maki
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-12The Perfect Lie The Trap
Chapter 9There was silence between them, thick and uncomfortable.Lena's hand tightened around her phone as her heart pounded against her ribs. Ethan's stare was intense, holding her there, trapped, her breath caught in her throat.He took a step closer, the second phone-a burner she'd hidden weeks ago-dangling loosely from his hand. The air in the room shrunk, compressing around her as his eyes blackened to an immeasurable depth."Lena," he repeated, his voice lower now, more controlled. "Who are you calling?"Lena's mind reeled, scouring her brain for an excuse, a lie, anything to diffuse the situation before it got entirely out of control.But she was trapped.He had her cornered and there was no turning back.She faked a shaky smile, raising her phone slightly. "I was just checking my voicemail. I haven't had my phone all weekend."Ethan made a sound, his eyes never leaving her face. "And this?" He raised the burner, his face unreadable. "You've been carrying a second phone?"Len
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-12The Perfect Lie The Paper Trail
Chapter 10The door slammed shut with a click, the sound echoing through the stillness of the house like a gunshot.Lena's heart pounded against the inside of her head as she gripped the creased, folded square of paper in her hand. Her fingers, slippery with sweat, were curled hard around it, the thin sheet of paper folding at the least pressure.Motionless behind her stood Ethan, a looming presence like a shadow."Wrong address, huh?"Lena forced herself to turn around, her face carefully serene. "Yeah," she murmured, stuffing the note into her sweater pocket. "He was confused."Ethan didn't react. Didn't move.But she felt that small tension in his jaw, the tightening of his fingers at his side.Lena knew him too well. She knew he didn't believe her."You should've let me reply," Ethan finally said, voice smooth, trained. "Strangers on our porch this late at night. It's not safe."The threat was there, woven into the worry.Lena gulped. "I didn't think it mattered."Ethan studied he
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-12The Perfect Lie The Investigatir
Chapter 11: The Investigator.The doorbell rang again, sharp and insistent.Lena stood frozen in the doorway, her hand trembling near the doorknob. Her back was slippery with cold sweat.She wasn't ready, but she had no choice.Taking a deep breath, she cajoled her face into one of easy interest before unlocking the door and flinging it open.A man stood at the doorstep, a tall and sharply dressed man, his crisp black suit pushed back against the morning light. He was not tall for his age, but there was something that unsettled her about him-something about the way he didn't shift, like a predator waiting for just the right moment to strike.His eyes, dark and unreadable-roved over her, drinking in every detail."Mrs. Calloway?"Lena's heart skipped a beat."Yes," she said, keeping her voice steady.The man held out a hand. "Malcolm Pierce. Ethan hired me to conduct a routine security survey."Lena paused before taking his hand. His was a firm but fleeting, professional handshake."I
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-13
Pinakabagong kabanata
The Perfect Lie The Price of War
Chapter 54 The air was thick with the smell of burned paper and gasoline. Lena sat at the table, her gaze on the stolen documents. The room was still, except for the occasional groan of a chair as Michael shifted."We hit him hard," Noah said, pushing his hair behind his ear. His knuckles were bruised from the fight. "But Romano will not let this go."Marco leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms. "He'll retaliate. Hard and fast."Lena snapped a finger against the table. "We need to strike before him."Michael frowned. "We just got out of that club alive. We don't even know his motive."Lena's lips puckered into a line. "We know what he'll do. He'll strike at our supporters. He'll try to cut us off."She gestured towards the papers."These files don't just expose his crimes. They expose his weaknesses. The men he relies on. Take them away first, and he'll be alone."Marco nodded uncertainly. "You're talking about dismantling his entire operation."Lena's gaze was glacial. "Ye
The Perfect Lie Fire in the Dark
Chapter 53The shelter house stank of gunpowder and sweat. Noah wrapped the gushing area on the kitchen table. Michael leaned against the wall, his jaw clenched in thought.Lena sat across from them, holding the burner phone. Marco's last words recurred in her mind. He's afraid.Romano was not used to being fearful. He was used to mastering. That they had gotten into his head was a sign that one thing—they would strike back worse.Lena exhaled. "We need to get going."Michael's gaze went slanted to hers. "Where?""Right to the heart of his operations," she replied. "We don't let him gather steam."Noah smiled and yelped as he pulled tight the final knot. "I like the thought."Michael frowned. "We barely made it out last time."Lena met his eye. "That was in self-defense. Now we attack."Michael sighed but nodded. "What is the target?"She glanced at Marco, seated mutely in the corner. He had heard and watched. He was a man who understood how and when to voice an opinion.Now, he did.
The Perfect Lie The Breaking Point
Chapter 52 The night crawled after Lena had left the club. Every second tested their patience, wondering if Marco Benedetti would betray Romano or them.Lena slept at the kitchen table of the safe house, drumming her fingers on the wood. The air was thick with the smell of burnt coffee and gunpowder. Michael leaned against the counter, arms crossed, while Noah cleaned his gun beside her."We give him 24 hours," Michael said. "If he doesn't call, we assume he's being faithful."Lena nodded. "And if he is faithful, we cut him down."Noah smiled. "I like this side of you."Lena didn't smile. She wasn't in the mood.Then, the burner phone rang.The three of them froze.Lena picked up. "Speak."A deep breath. Then Marco's voice. "Meet me at the old train station. One hour."The phone line went dead.Michael frowned. "It could be a setup."Lena stood up, her fingers around her gun. "Then we put it straight back again."The vacant station was on the edge of town, left to the ravages of time
The Perfect Lie The Cost of War
Chapter 51 The city felt different outside of the docks. The air was heavy, the streets quiet. It was as if the night had engulfed the gunfire and only tension remained. Lena sat in the backseat of the vehicle, staring out at the black horizon.Michael drove in silence, his jaw set. Noah rode beside him, his arms crossed. No words were spoken, but the tension of what had just happened weighed on them. Romano had lived again.Lena exhaled slowly, forcing the anger down. He won't keep escaping.They pulled up at the safe house, a battered building in a barren part of town. The three of them entered quickly, locking the doors behind.The air inside reeked of gunpowder and aged wood. There was one table in the middle of the room, maps and papers strewn about.Noah threw his gun on the table. "We misjudged him."Michael stroked his hair. "We should have expected it."Lena planted herself on the chair, her elbows on the table. "Romano expected us to utilize Leo. He played us."Noah let out
The Perfect Lie Into the Wolf's Den
Chapter 50 The night was cold, the air thick with the promise of violence. Lena stood in the alley behind an abandoned factory, shrouded in the darkness. Her breath came evenly, her hands loose at her sides, but inside she was a storm.Leo had taken the bait. All they had to do now was track him.Michael crouched beside her, his eyes scouring the street. "He's not slowing down."Lena nodded. "He's scared. He thinks he was lucky to escape."Noah adjusted the earpiece in his ear. "Or he knows it's a trap and is attempting to lead us into one."Lena's lips curled into a cold smile. "Either way, we win."Across the street, Leo ducked into a black sedan that had been waiting for him. The car pulled away, disappearing into the city.Michael tapped his radio. “We follow from a distance. No risks.”Lena exhaled, watching the taillights fade. Romano, I’m coming for you.Their own car slid into traffic, smooth and silent. Michael drove, his focus sharp. Noah kept his eyes on the tracker they h
The Perfect Lie The Ghost from the Past
Chapter 49 The car hurtled through the empty streets, the lights of the city blurring in a streak. The air inside was tense, thick with unspoken words.Lena sat in the back seat, her mind racing. Silvio Romano. A name she hadn't spoken in years. A name she never wanted to hear again.Mara sat beside her, arms crossed, eyes blazing. Michael drove fast, one hand on the wheel, the other holding his gun.Noah, who was riding shotgun, broke the silence. "Who the heck was that?"Lena's voice was cold. "A dead man."Michael's eyes met hers through the mirror. "He didn't look dead."Lena's fists tightened. He should have been.Mara sat up straight. "Romano." She spat the name. "I figured he disappeared."Lena kept her gaze. "Me too."Silvio Romano was a monster in their world. Not just a killer—a plotter, a manipulator, a ghost that could never be caught. Years ago, he had disappeared after his empire had collapsed. Most figured him dead.But now he was back. And he had just tried to kill th
The Perfect Lie Shadows on the Docks
Chapter 48 The gale blew over the empty dock. The night air was sharp with salt and rust odors. Midnight crept in, and Lena poised on the fringe of the docks, her pulse steady, her mind sharp.Michael and Noah stood there, out of view. Vincent had offered to bring his team, but Lena refused. This meeting needed to appear to be an act of trust—even if it was not.Headlights cut through the darkness. A black SUV pulled up, tires crunching gravel. The back door opened, and Mara Varela stepped out, heels clicking on wooden planks.Behind her, three men stood watch. Armed, but controlled.Lena smirked. “Three guards? I’m flattered.”Mara tilted her head. “You kidnapped my brother. I’m being polite.”Leo was still in their custody, tied to a chair in a warehouse across the city. He was unharmed—for now.Mara took a slow step forward. “Let’s talk.”Lena nodded. “Let’s.”They faced each other under the glow of a flickering streetlight.Mara crossed her arms. "You've made your point. But if y
The Perfect Lie Blood in the Water
Chapter 47 Lena froze for an instant, Vincent's words suspended in the chill of night."One of your friends is already dead."Michael was the first to respond. "Who?"Vincent reached into his overcoat, pressed his finger across the screen of the phone that came out with it, and handed it to Lena. A picture. A body. Blood on broken sidewalk.Lena's stomach twisted. She knew the man. Carlos Rivera. Loyal. Intelligent. One of the few she had trusted.Noah cursed low in his throat. Michael rubbed his face.Vincent pushed the phone away. "That is Varela's recording. She is watching. Waiting for you to respond."Lena balled her fists. "Then let's give her one."Vincent's smile was icy. "Good response."Inside the hideout, the atmosphere was tense. On the table, a map of the city indicated territories and loyalties delineated.Lena touched a red-marked section. "Varela has been intruding here. That's where Carlos was discovered."Michael crossed his arms. "She's making a point. She believes
The Perfect Lie The First Move
Chapter 46Lena sat in the darkened room, her fingers drumming against the table. Stale coffee and gun oil scented the air. Vincent's words pressed upon her. Take control or someone worse will.She knew he was right. The underworld didn't wait on indecision. It filled openings with monsters.Michael entered, slamming a file in front of her. "We have names."Lena opened it. There were photos, reports, and handwritten notes. Three names stood out.1. Victor Alessi – Intelligent, brutal, and unpredictable. He had stayed out of Mercer's way but had a reputation for taking what he wanted.2. Nico Vasquez – Mercer's former partner, now looking to take his empire. He had muscle but no finesse.3. Mara Varela – The wild card. No one knew her full reach, but whispers told of her amassing something powerful.Noah leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "They won't wait long. One of them will make the first move."Lena read over the files again. "Then we make the first move."The warehouse smelle
