the art of being decived

CHAPTER 3

Chapter 3: The Lie

Vero Reyes Point of View

I sit in my car outside Papa's hospital. The big ring on my finger feels heavy. Like it weighs a million pounds.

How am I going to tell Papa I'm getting married? How am I going to lie to him?

I look at myself in the car mirror. My lips still feel funny from kissing Daniel. It was just a quick kiss, but something happened. Something I don't want to think about.

I shake my head. This is business. Nothing more.

I walk into the hospital. Papa is in his bed, looking small and tired. But when he sees me, his face lights up.

"Vero, mija. You look different today."

"Different how?"

"Happy. Excited. Like you have good news."

I sit on the chair next to his bed. "I do have good news, Papa."

"Tell me."

"The doctors called. Your surgery is scheduled for next week."

Papa's eyes get wide. "But how? We don't have the money."

"That's the other good news." I hold up my hand so he can see the ring.

"Dios mio! What is that?"

"I'm engaged, Papa."

He tries to sit up in bed. "Engaged? To who?"

"His name is Daniel Blackwood. He's my boss."

"Your boss? But you just started working for him."

"Sometimes things happen fast when they're meant to be."

Papa looks confused. "This is very sudden, Vero."

"I know. But Papa, he's wonderful. He's paying for your surgery. He's taking care of everything."

"I don't understand. Why would he do that?"

Because he wants to hurt you, I think. But I can't say that.

"Because he loves me," I lie. "And he knows how much you mean to me."

Papa reaches for my hand. "Are you sure about this, vero?"

"Very sure." The lie tastes bitter in my mouth.

"I want to meet him."

My heart jumps. "Meet him?"

"Of course. I need to make sure he's good enough for my daughter."

"Papa, you're in the hospital. You need to rest."

"I'm not too sick to meet the man who wants to marry my daughter."

I squeeze his hand. "Okay. I'll bring him tomorrow."

"Good. And Vero?"

"Yes?"

"I'm happy for you. You deserve to be loved."

I want to cry. But I smile instead. "Thank you, Papa."

That night, I called Daniel. He answers on the first ring.

"Hello, Vero."

"My father wants to meet you."

"Of course he does."

"Tomorrow. At the hospital."

"Fine. What time?"

"Two o'clock."

"I'll be there."

"Daniel?"

"Yes?"

"He thinks we're in love. Really in love."

"Then we better make him believe it."

"How?"

"Leave that to me."

He hangs up. I stare at my phone. What is he planning?

The next day, I get to the hospital early. I want to prepare Papa. But when I walk into his room, Daniel is already there.

He sits in the chair next to Papa's bed. They're talking and laughing like old friends.

"Vero!" Papa calls out. "Come meet your fiancé."

Daniel stands up and walks to me. He puts his arm around my waist and pulls me close.

"Hello, beautiful," he says. Then he kisses my cheek.

My skin gets hot where he touches me. I try to pull away, but his arm is strong.

"How long have you been here?" I ask.

"About an hour. Your father and I have been getting to know each other."

Papa smiles. "He's a good man, Vero. He really loves you."

"How can you tell?"

"The way he talks about you. The way his eyes light up when he says your name."

I look at Daniel. He's staring at me with soft eyes. Like he really does love me. But I know it's all fake.

"Tell her what you told me," Papa says.

"What?" I ask.

Daniel takes my hand. "I told your father that I fell in love with you the moment I saw you. I told him that you make me want to be a better man."

The words sound so real. So honest. For a second, I almost believe them.

"He also told me about the art gallery," Papa says.

"What art gallery?"

Daniel smiles. "The one I'm going to buy for you. So you can show your paintings to the world."

My mouth falls open. "You're buying me a gallery?"

"Only the best for my future wife."

Papa claps his hands. "You see? He really loves you."

I feel dizzy. This is all happening too fast. Too much.

"I need some air," I say.

I walk out of the room. Daniel follows me.

"What are you doing?" I ask when we're alone in the hallway.

"I'm being a good fiancé."

"You're lying to him."

"We're both lying to him."

"But an art gallery? You can't promise things like that."

"Why not? I have the money."

"Because it's not real. None of this is real."

Daniel steps closer. "It could be real."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean maybe this doesn't have to be fake."

I back away from him. "Don't say things like that."

"Why not?"

"Because I know why you're really doing this. Because of what happened to your family."

His face changes. The soft look goes away. Now he looks cold again.

"You don't know anything," he says.

"I know you blame my father for your parents' death."

"Your father stole from my family."

"You don't know that."

"I know exactly what he did."

"Then why don't you just have him arrested? Why are you doing this to me?"

Daniel doesn't answer. He just stares at me with those cold gray eyes.

"Because hurting me hurts him more," I say. "That's what this is about."

"You're very smart, Vero."

"So what happens after we get married? What happens when you get bored of hurting me?"

"I guess we'll find out."

I feel sick. "You're a monster."

"Maybe. But I'm the monster who's saving your father's life."

He's right. I hate him, but he's right.

"I should go back to Papa," I say.

"Yes. And remember to look happy. We're in love, remember?"

We walk back into Papa's room. I try to smile, but it's hard.

"There you are," Papa says. "I was telling Daniel about when you were little. How you used to paint pictures of our family."

"What family?" I ask.

"You, me, and your mother. Even though she died when you were two, you always painted her with us."

I remember those paintings. I painted them because I wanted to know what it felt like to have a complete family.

"Your father showed me pictures," Daniel says. "You were a beautiful child."

"She looked just like her mother," Papa says sadly.

"What happened to her?" Daniel asks.

"Cancer. She was very young. Only twenty-five."

"The same age Vero is now," Daniel says quietly.

"Yes. Life is short. That's why I'm so happy Vero found you. Everyone deserves to be loved."

Daniel looks at me. Something flickers in his eyes. Something that looks almost like guilt.

"Yes," he says. "Everyone deserves to be loved."

A nurse comes in. "Mr. Reyes, it's time for your tests."

"Already?" Papa says.

"I'm afraid so. The surgery is tomorrow, so we need to make sure you're ready."

My heart jumps. "Tomorrow?"

"Didn't they tell you? We moved it up. Mr. Blackwood asked us to do it as soon as possible."

I look at Daniel. "You did that?"

"I wanted to make sure your father got the best care."

The nurse starts preparing Papa for his tests. "You'll need to leave now. Come back tonight if you want to see him before surgery."

Daniel and I walk out together. In the elevator, neither of us talks.

When we get to the parking garage, I stop.

"Why did you move up the surgery?" I ask.

"Because your father is very sick. He needs help now."

"That's not why."

"Then why?"

"Because you want to make sure I can't back out. Once Papa has the surgery, I'll owe you everything."

Daniel doesn't deny it. "You're learning."

"I hate you."

"I know."

"But I'm still going to marry you."

"I know that too."

I get in my car. Daniel knocks on the window. I roll it down.

"What?"

"The wedding is this Saturday."

"This Saturday? But that's only four days away."

"I told you I don't like to wait."

"Where?"

"City Hall. Just us and two witnesses."

"What about a dress?"

"I'll have something sent to your apartment."

"What about."

"Everything is taken care of, Vero. All you have to do is show up."

I start my car. "What if I don't?"

"Then your father dies on the operating table tomorrow."

"You wouldn't."

"Try me."

I drive away without another word. But in my rearview mirror, I see Daniel watching me go. The look on his face is strange. Like he's sad about something.

When I get home, there's a box on my doorstep. Inside is the most beautiful wedding dress I've ever seen. White silk with tiny pearls. It's perfect.

There's a note inside: "For my beautiful bride.

I hold the dress up to my body and look in the mirror. I look like a real bride. A happy bride.

But I'm not happy. I'm trapped.

I put the dress away and sit on my couch. In four days, I'll be married to a man who hates me. A man who wants to hurt me.

My phone rings. It's an unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Is this Vero Reyes?"

"Yes."

"This is Mrs. Hartwell. I used to work for the Blackwood family."

My heart stops. "What?"

"I need to talk to you. About Daniel. About your father. About what really happened fifteen years ago."

"I don't understand."

"Meet me tomorrow. Before you marry him. There are things you need to know."

"What things?"

"Things that will change everything."

The line goes dead. I stare at my phone.

What does she know? What didn't happen the way Daniel thinks it did?

And why do I suddenly feel like I'm about to walk into something much bigger than I thought?