All Chapters of BENEATH THE LIES : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

011 Candy’s eyes darted wildly between Stanley and Charles as the laptop screen flickered, casting a pale glow across the room. The tension in the air was suffocating, thick with anticipation. I could hear the maids shifting uneasily, their whispers now reduced to shallow breaths as they waited for the inevitable truth to be revealed. Candy, however, wasn’t going down without a fight. "Wait!" she suddenly blurted, stepping forward and forcing a nervous laugh. "Mr. Stanley, there’s no need for this. It’s just a misunderstanding! Why rely on some footage when we all saw her go into your room?" Her voice trembled slightly, betraying the confidence she tried so hard to maintain. Stanley didn’t even spare her a glance. His attention remained on Charles, who was already maneuvering through the footage. The cursor hovered over a folder labeled Security—Room 306, and with one click, the file opened. Candy’s panic grew. "You don’t need to see it!" she insisted, voice rising. "I me

013A heavy silence hung in the air, thick and suffocating. The weight of Ryan’s voice had sent shockwaves through the room, shattering the heated haze that had consumed Lucas and Ash just moments ago.Lucas scrambled first, the shock jerking him into motion. He pushed Ash off him, hastily reaching for his trousers, his fingers fumbling with the fabric as he struggled to pull them back on. His breaths were short and uneven, panic setting in.Ash wasn’t far behind. She grabbed her dress from the floor, hastily slipping it over her shoulders. Her hands trembled as she zipped it up, eyes darting toward Ryan, whose expression remained unreadable—stunned, frozen in place, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.The groceries lay scattered on the floor, cans rolling across the polished tiles, their echoes cutting through the tension like a knife. Ryan hadn’t moved, hadn’t spoken another word. He simply stood there, staring at them as though his mind refused to process

015The house was quiet—too quiet.I stepped inside and flicked on the lights, watching as the warm glow illuminated the dark stain on the floor. Blood. Lucas’s blood.What a shame.I walked forward, my heels clicking against the wood as I neared the dried remnants of his life. Crouching down, I reached out and ran my fingertips over it, feeling the slight stickiness still left behind. I brought my fingers to my nose, inhaling deeply.“Smells like victory.”A slow smile stretched across my lips as I straightened. I made my way to the bar, pulling out a bottle of red wine. The cork popped easily, and I poured myself a generous glass before sinking into the sofa.“You were strong that night, Lucas,” I mused, swirling the wine. “And now look at you. Dead. What a waste. But the best part? Your dear brother is the one taking the fall for it.” I took a slow sip, savoring the moment. “Maybe he’ll get life in prison. Or better yet, a death sentence.”I laughed under my breath. Everything had

017 The door clicked shut behind Candy, and I let out a slow breath. Finally. I pinched the bridge of my nose, exhaustion creeping into my bones. This entire night had been nothing but one headache after another. First, the accusation against Alora. Then, dealing with Candy. And now— My phone vibrated in my pocket. I frowned, pulling it out. The moment I saw the caller ID, my stomach twisted. Mom. I answered immediately. “Mom?” Silence. Then, a shaky breath came through the line, barely audible. “Stanley…” My heart lurched. Her voice was wrong—fragile, breathless, like she was struggling just to get the words out. A sharp, rattling cough tore through the speaker, loud and violent. The sound of it made my entire body go rigid. “Mom? Mom! What’s wrong? Talk to me!” Another cough. Then another. Each one worse than the last. It sounded like her lungs were trying to tear themselves apart. My pulse hammered in my ears, panic clawing up my throat. I gripped the p

018BACK AT RYAN'S HOME.The living room was quiet. Too quiet.I sat on the couch, my fingers drumming against my knee. The weight of my own thoughts pressed down on me, but I refused to let it show.This wasn’t over yet.Ryan was in custody, just as planned. But the problem? The cops weren’t fools. They’d come back for me, I knew they would, it's even part of my plan.And when they did, I’d be ready.A knock at the door.Right on time.I smirked, schooling my features before standing. Walking to the door, I called out, “Who is it?”“This is the feds,” a firm voice replied. “Mrs. Ash, we need you to step outside immediately.”I took a breath, painting my face with just the right amount of concern. Then, I pulled the door open.Two officers stood before me. Their expressions were blank, unreadable.Perfect.“How may I help you, officers?” I asked, my voice soft, unsure. “Am I in some sort of trouble? Am I… safe?”“You’re absolutely safe, Mrs. Ash,” the taller one said. “But we need yo