LIES WE LOVED

LIES WE LOVED 34 - 37

CHAPTER 34 — THE INVITATION

The next morning, a sealed envelope arrived at the safe house — delivered by courier, handwritten, addressed to Mia.

Inside: “I know where you are. Come to my office at midnight. Alone. If you bring anyone — or if you tell anyone — the truth about Adrian dies with me. But if you come… I’ll tell you everything.”

Mia’s blood ran cold. Roberto wanted her — alone.

“No,” Lucas said immediately. “Absolutely not. It’s a trap.”

“I know it is,” Mia said quietly. “But if he’s offering the truth about Adrian… I have to go. We need to know. And I need to see his face when I ask him why.”

“Then I’m coming. Hidden. Watching. If anything goes wrong —”

“Nothing will go wrong,” she said, though her hands trembled. “We’ll be careful. We’ll be smart. And we’ll finally end this.”

CHAPTER 35 — THE MEETING

Midnight. The city was quiet, the streets dark. Mia walked into Roberto’s skyscraper — the building that bore her family’s name, that her father had helped build. The lobby was empty. The elevator ride up felt like descending into a grave.

The doors opened to the top floor — his office, dimly lit, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the sleeping city. Roberto stood with his back to her, looking out at the lights.

“You came,” he said, turning slowly. He looked older than she remembered — tired, but still sharp. “I knew you would. You’re just like your father — stubborn. And just like him, you care too much about the truth.”

“Where is Adrian?” Mia demanded, skipping all pleasantries. “Is he alive? Did you kill him?”

Roberto sighed, a heavy, weary sound. “I didn’t want any of this. But your father… and Lucas’s father… they were weak. They let emotions cloud their judgment. I had to protect everything we built.”

“Answer me!”

“He’s alive,” Roberto said quietly. “I didn’t shoot him. I shot into the air. I wanted to scare him — not kill him. But he didn’t surrender. He ran. And I haven’t seen him since.”

CHAPTER 36 — THE REVELATION

Mia froze. “He’s alive?”

“He escaped. But he’s hurt — and he’s alone. If anyone can find him, it’s you. But listen to me — there’s more than just me involved. I have partners. People far more dangerous than I am. If you keep digging — if you expose everything — they won’t hesitate to kill you, Lucas, anyone you love.”

“Then tell me who they are,” Mia said, stepping closer. “Tell me the full truth, and maybe we can protect you too.”

Roberto hesitated, then walked to his desk and pulled a thick, sealed folder from the drawer. “Everything’s in here. Names, dates, accounts — the whole network. But if I give this to you… I’m signing my own death warrant.”

“Then help us stop them. Before they stop all of us.”

He handed her the folder — heavy, final. “Be careful, Mia. The enemy isn’t just one man. It’s a system. And systems defend themselves with everything they have.”

CHAPTER 37 — THE BETRAYAL

Mia walked out of the building trembling — but alive, and carrying the truth. Lucas stepped from the shadows, rushing to her. “You’re okay. What happened? Did he hurt you?”

“He gave it to me,” she whispered, clutching the folder. “Everything. Names, evidence, everything we need. And Adrian — he’s alive, Lucas. He escaped.”

Lucas exhaled, a shaky, relieved breath. “Thank God. We’ll find him. We’ll bring him home.”

But as they walked to the car, Mia’s phone buzzed — a text from Elena. Sent ten minutes earlier, while she was inside: Run. They know. I’m sorry — they had my family. I had no choice.

Mia stopped cold. “Lucas — Elena —”

Before she could finish, headlights blazed to life all around them. Multiple vehicles. Blocking every exit. And from the shadows — Elena stepped forward, flanked by two men in dark suits. She looked at Mia, her eyes filled with tears.

“I’m so sorry,” she said, her voice breaking. “They threatened my sister. I had no choice.”

---to be continue---