The Lie
742 Words
Chapter 7 — The Lie
Priya’s hands shook so violently that her phone nearly slipped from her fingers.
“No…”
Her lips trembled.
“No, no, no…”
Adrian rose from his seat instantly.
His sharp eyes locked onto her pale face.
“What happened?”
Priya could barely breathe.
She forced the words out.
“My mother…”
Tears flooded her eyes.
“She stopped breathing.”
Adrian’s expression darkened.
“Who told you?”
Priya stared at the message again.
Her vision blurred with panic.
“My sister.”
Her voice broke.
“Vanessa texted me.”
Without another word, Priya grabbed her bag.
“I need to go.”
She turned, but Adrian caught her wrist.
The contact sent a jolt through her.
“Priya.”
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
Grounding.
“Look at me.”
She shook her head frantically.
“I have to go!”
“Priya.”
This time his tone was firmer.
Commanding.
She froze.
Slowly, tears streaming down her face, she looked at him.
Adrian’s gaze remained steady.
“Call the hospital.”
Priya blinked.
“What?”
“Now.”
Her brows knitted.
“I already know what happened—”
“No.”
His eyes sharpened.
“You know what your sister told you.”
The words hit her.
Hard.
Priya stared.
Adrian continued.
“You’re panicking.”
His voice lowered.
“And panicked people stop thinking.”
Priya’s breathing hitched.
He was right.
She hated that he was right.
Her fingers trembled as she dialed the hospital.
One ring.
Two.
Three.
A nurse answered.
“Westbridge General Hospital, how may I help you?”
Priya’s voice shook.
“This is Priya Sharma. My mother—Mrs. Meera Sharma—”
Her throat tightened.
“Is she okay?”
Typing sounds filled the silence.
Seconds felt endless.
Then—
“Yes, Miss Sharma. Your mother is stable.”
Priya stopped breathing.
Stable?
Her lips parted.
“What?”
“She is resting.”
The nurse sounded confused.
“There’s no emergency.”
Priya’s knees weakened.
Her phone nearly fell.
No emergency.
Her mother was fine.
Then—
The message.
Vanessa lied.
Why?
“Miss Sharma?”
Priya ended the call.
Silence.
Heavy silence.
Adrian watched her closely.
“Well?”
Priya slowly lowered the phone.
“She’s okay.”
Relief hit first.
Warm and overwhelming.
Then confusion followed.
Then something colder.
Fear.
“She lied…”
Priya whispered.
Adrian narrowed his eyes.
“Your sister lied to get you away from here.”
The truth settled like ice in Priya’s chest.
Vanessa.
Why would Vanessa do that?
Unless—
Her eyes widened.
“No…”
Adrian noticed instantly.
“What?”
Priya’s breathing quickened again.
“She knows I’m here.”
Her voice trembled.
“She knows I’m with you.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
The air around him changed.
Dangerously.
His business instincts had clearly awakened.
“Tell me everything.”
Priya swallowed hard.
“I told her about you.”
Regret washed over her.
“She knew about the dinner.”
Adrian’s face became unreadable.
“What exactly did you tell her?”
“Everything.”
Priya’s voice softened.
“She seemed supportive…”
Adrian gave a humorless laugh.
“Supportive?”
Priya stiffened.
“You think she did this because she cares?”
The bluntness stung.
“No…”
Adrian stepped closer.
“What do you know about your sister?”
Priya frowned.
The question felt wrong.
Uncomfortable.
Vanessa was difficult.
Sharp-tongued.
Sometimes cruel.
But—
“She’s still my sister.”
Adrian studied her.
Then spoke carefully.
“No.”
His voice was cold now.
“She’s someone willing to fake your mother’s death.”
Priya froze.
The words sliced through her denial.
Because he was right.
Nobody did that casually.
Nobody sane weaponized a mother’s death.
Unless—
They wanted something badly.
A horrifying thought crawled into Priya’s mind.
“What if…”
Her lips trembled.
“What if she comes here?”
Adrian’s eyes darkened.
“She won’t.”
His certainty startled her.
“How do you know?”
Adrian reached into his pocket.
He calmly adjusted his cuff.
Then he said words that made Priya’s heart stop.
“Because she’s already here.”
Priya’s blood ran cold.
Slowly—
Very slowly—
She turned toward the restaurant entrance.
A woman stood there.
Elegant.
Beautiful.
Smiling.
Vanessa.
And she was walking straight toward Adrian.
- Writer
