FREEDOM WAS THE LIE

CHAPTER 5: SECRETS

Lilith stood in the middle of the living room, her chest rising and falling faster than before. The silence from earlier was gone—replaced with something tense, something that felt like it was about to break.

Her brothers were there now. Both of them.

And the moment she saw them, everything she had been holding in… snapped.

“You think I’m stupid?” Lilith’s voice came out sharper than she expected.

Her brother frowned. “Lilith, calm down—”

“Don’t tell me to calm down!” she cut in immediately, stepping forward. “I asked you a simple question and all I get is lies and half answers!”

The room stayed silent for a few seconds after Lilith’s outburst.

Her chest was still rising and falling, her anger slowly mixing with confusion. No one spoke at first. It felt like even the air was waiting.Then Luke stepped forward.

“Lilith… calm down,” he said quietly.

She let out a bitter laugh. “Calm down? After everything? After all the lies?”

Luke shook his head. “It’s not a lie. It’s just… things got out of control.”

Lilith frowned. “What are you talking about?” Luke hesitated, then spoke more seriously.

“Everything that’s happening… is bigger than us now. We don’t control it anymore.”

Lilith’s expression changed slightly. “What do you mean ‘bigger than us’?”

Luke looked at her for a moment before saying it.

“Xavier Blackwood is coming for us.”

Silence hit the room instantly.

Lilith blinked. “Coming for you? For what?”

Luke took a breath. “For everything tied to our family. The debts… the past deals… all of it.”

Her heart dropped a little, but she still didn’t fully understand.

“You owe him, how is any of this concerned with me?” she asked slowly. “I don’t even know him. Xavier Blackwood.”

Luke’s voice dropped. “Because of the alliance.”

That word landed heavily in the room.

Lilith was dazed in shock. “Alliance?”

Before Luke could continue, their mother stepped forward suddenly.

“No,” she said quickly, her voice shaking. “No, Luke… don’t say that.”

But it was too late. Luke looked at Lilith again.

“You were always part of the agreement,” he said. “You just didn’t know it.”

Lilith’s breath caught. “What stupid agreement?”

Her mother shook her head in panic now. “Stop this. Please stop this.”

But Luke didn’t.

“An old deal,” he continued. “To settle everything… the family’s debt, for protection… stability.”

Lilith stared at him, slowly losing her words.

“What's wrong with you?” she whispered.

Luke met her eyes.

“You were meant to be part of the arrangement… with him.”

The room went completely still.

Lilith’s mind stopped for a second.

Her mother looked like she might break down. Her sister covered her mouth in shock.

But Lilith…

She couldn’t speak. Not a single word.

Because suddenly…

everything made sense in the worst way possible.

And nothing felt real anymore.

Lilith’s voice broke as she finally spoke, her anger and pain spilling out at once.

“You sold me because of your stupid choices,” she said, shaking her head.

“I warned you years ago… and you still went ahead.”

Her breath trembled. “You made decisions that left me in the dark for years… and now I’m the one paying for it.”

Silence hit the room.

No one stopped her. No one could.

Her mother looked like she wanted to speak, but nothing came out. Luke stood frozen, his expression heavy with guilt.

Lilith took a step back, her chest tight, her eyes filled with everything she couldn’t hold in anymore.

Then she turned.

Without another word, she walked out of the house. The door shut behind her with a sharp so hard.

She didn’t stop. She didn’t look back. She got into her car, hands shaking slightly as she started the engine.

And then she drove.

Back to her apartment.

Away from everything she had just learned… and everything she no longer recognized.