The Lie Hidden In White

Chapter 3

SUSPICION

The next day at the office, I was a ghost of myself.

I hadn’t slept, hadn’t eaten. I was quiet in a way I’d never been before.

My fingers tapped across my keyboard without rhythm. My eyes barely focusing on the screen in front of me. I responded to emails on autopilot, nodded absently during meetings, and avoided any unnecessary conversation. My coffee went cold beside me, untouched, just like last night's dinner.

It didn’t take long for my coworkers to notice. Especially the ones closest to me, the ones who knew how unusual my silence was.

“Autumn?” Ryzi’s voice pierced through the fog in my head. She peeked at me from the other side of the cubicle, her brows knitting with concern. “You okay?”

I managed a weak smile. “Just tired.”

But she didn’t buy it. “You didn’t eat your snack. You didn’t even join me and Al for lunch. And this might be the first day you didn’t tease me about anything. Yeah, something’s definitely wrong.”

I forced a chuckle, but it fell flat.

From a few desks away, I caught Alastair watching us. He stood slowly, his expression unreadable as he walked toward us.

“Is everything okay?” he asked, his voice low, calm. I quickly averted my eyes.

“Yeah,” I lied again. “I’m fine. Just didn’t sleep well.”

When I glanced back, his gaze lingered on me longer than necessary. For a moment, I thought he would press further but instead, he gave a single nod and returned to his desk. Ryzi, too, held her tongue, though I could feel her curiosity gnawing at her.

Neither of them believed me.

I let out a heavy sigh.

By the time the afternoon break came, Ryzi cornered me in the pantry. I was caught off guard. She rarely confronted me this way.

Her stare was sharp, unyielding.

“Autumn, spill it,” she demanded, arms crossed. “You’re pale. You barely spoke in the meeting, and Al keeps looking at you like he’s one second away from dragging you into HR for emotional support.”

I gave a tight laugh. “He’s being dramatic.”

“No,” she snapped, more serious now. “You are. You’re acting like you’re trying not to fall apart in public. And I know you, Autumn. You only go quiet when something is seriously wrong.”

And just like that, she got me.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should even ask her about the thing that had been haunting me since last night. But curiosity got the better of me, and before I could stop myself, the words were already slipping out.

Gently, I pushed her away just a little and met her eyes.

“Ry, may I ask you something?” My voice trembled with nerves, and I didn’t even know why.

She nodded. “Yes, sure.”

“Your handkerchiefs are all custom-made, right? Can I see them again?”

“Here.” She pulled one from her pocket and handed it to me. My hands shook as I took it.

I studied the fabric closely, a slight frown forming on my face.

And I was right. It was identical to the handkerchief I’d seen in Dexter’s coat last night. My strength seemed to drain out of me in an instant.

“Is something wrong?” she asked, worry lacing her tone.

I quickly shook my head. “Nothing.” I returned it to her and wiped my palms against my skirt. “Y-you still have the complete set of these, right?” I asked hesitantly.

“Not anymore. I’m missing one. I gave it away,” she admitted, her cheeks tinged with a shy excitement.

“A-ah… I see.”

“Why? Do you want one too?”

“No,” I refused too quickly. A wave of nausea rose in my chest, and before I lost composure, I excused myself, saying I had to get back to the office.

I couldn’t bring myself to eat after that. Even drinking water slipped my mind as my thoughts churned restlessly, impossible to drown out.

That was when I realized someone had approached my desk.

“Ms. Contreras, the supervisor wants to see you in her office,” Ajean said as she tapped lightly on my table. I gave her a polite smile before heading upstairs to the fifth floor.

When I arrived, I knocked on the door before twisting the knob and stepping inside.

“Ma’am?” I called softly. She froze when she saw me, as though my presence had startled her.

“You okay, Ms. Contreras?” Her voice carried a gentle concern.

Was it really that obvious that I wasn’t myself today?

I forced a polite smile and nodded. “Yes, Ma’am.”

She sighed then, and I couldn’t explain why but something in that sigh felt different. Heavy. As if it carried an unspoken meaning.

“Sorry to interrupt your work, but I need you to deliver these plates to the site. Alastair will accompany you.” She handed me the architectural plates. Her fingers brushing over their smooth edges. Her expression was calm, steady and unreadable.

I accepted them, returning her gaze with a confident smile.

“Noted, Ma’am.”

I excused myself and stepped out of her office. Instead of returning to my desk, I went straight downstairs. I was about to text Alastair about the errand our supervisor had given us, but I stopped short when I saw him already standing by the entrance as if he had been waiting for me all along.

He gave me a small signal to follow, and I did.

We headed to the parking area and climbed into his car. From what I knew, these plates were meant for his cousin, who was having their house renovated in the only exclusive subdivision within Chen Global City.

We hadn’t even driven that far when his voice broke the silence.

“Let’s eat first,” he said, eyes fixed on the road.

I frowned.

“What?” My tone was sharper than I intended. “We need to deliver these to the site.” My grip tightened on the plates, but he remained calm.

“Marjo can get that,” he answered, nodding toward what I held.

Marjo is one of his cousins. The rich one, if my memory served me right.

Still, I didn’t yield. “But this was our supervisor’s order.”

He glanced at me, his expression softening.

“It was just an excuse I made.” His voice was low, almost careful, and it made me turn to look at him. Confusion must have shown on my face.

“What? What do you mean?”

This time, his words carried a quiet sincerity.

“I asked her. I told her if there were any errands to be done outside, maybe she could send you. Just so you could get out for a bit, breathe, and hopefully rest, even if just for a while. I also told her you needed it. So now, we’re eating first. You still haven’t eaten. And I’m starving again, too.”

I couldn’t answer.

I had no idea he was the reason behind my supervisor sending me out of the office. For a moment, my chest felt heavy, caught between guilt, gratitude, and something else I couldn’t name.

There was nothing left to argue. I knew him too well. Once Al set his mind on something—especially if it was for me—there was no winning against him.

So I let him drive wherever he wanted. I no longer had the strength to oppose him anyway. Within minutes, he pulled into the nearest restaurant—Kenny Rogers.

He didn’t even bother to ask what I wanted. He ordered for both of us. Then, in silence, we sat together and waited. No words. No stolen glances. Just silence stretching between us like an invisible wall.

When the food finally arrived, we began eating, each lost in our own thoughts. It felt nothing like two friends sharing a meal. Instead, it was as though we were strangers who just happened to sit at the same table. No stories, no questions, not even a single look exchanged.

I ate in silence, forcing each bite down though nothing carried any taste. I hadn’t said a word, but perhaps Al already felt the heaviness I carried. Maybe he couldn’t stand it anymore, because at last, he was the one who broke the quiet.

“Spill it, Autumn. I know you.” His tone was gentle but firm. My fork froze halfway to my mouth. I looked at him, but still, I said nothing. “I can tell something’s weighing on you,” he added.

Slowly, I set the spoon down and glanced around the restaurant. Only a few people lingered in the room. No one was paying attention, no one cared. Yet inside me, the words I held back felt like something too heavy, too dangerous to just release.

I stayed quiet for a while, summoning the courage I needed. Fear gnawed at me, but the silence was worse... it was swallowing me whole. And when I finally found the strength, I faced him.

“I found something,” I whispered. The words landed with weight, as if too loud a voice might shatter them.

Al’s expression softened instantly. His eyes gentled, and he leaned a little closer across the table.

“Dexter?” he asked.

I nodded.

He let out a long breath. “What happened?”

My eyes dropped to my hands. I hesitated, unsure how to string together what I’d seen.

“A… perfume that isn’t mine. A handkerchief with initials that aren’t his.” My voice was fragile, nearly trembling. “I found them tucked inside his jacket. Hidden.”

“And who do you think it belongs to?”

“Ryzi,” I admitted, the word tasting like betrayal. “The handkerchief had the initials R.Y.”

Silence fell. Of course. He was caught in the middle between me and Ryzi, his friends. If anyone would feel torn, it was Al.

After a pause, he spoke. His tone steady, measured.

“It’s easy to drown in what-ifs, Autumn. But until something’s proven, it’s just noise. Don’t let it steal your peace.”

“I know…” My voice wavered. “But I can’t help it. My mind just keeps going there.”

He studied me with quiet understanding. “Sometimes, the mind grows loud when the heart begins to doubt. But that doesn’t make it true.” He held my gaze, firm but kind. “You owe it to yourself to wait for the truth not suffer from your imagination.”

“I just don’t want to look stupid for trusting too much,” I murmured, eyes sinking back to the table.

“And you won’t.” His reply was immediate, resolute. “Trusting someone you love isn’t stupidity, it’s strength. But if something feels wrong, you have every right to seek the truth. Just… don’t torture yourself with shadows. Ask. Confront. You might be surprised by what honesty can heal.”

A shaky breath escaped me. “I don’t have the courage yet, Al. I’m terrified of the truth… terrified of whatever answer he might give. Like the moment his mouth opens, I won’t be able to bear hearing it.”

“There’s no rush, Autumn,” he said softly. “It’s your life, your heart. Which means the choice is yours, no one else’s. Take your time. Do what feels right. You don’t owe anyone an explanation for moving at your own pace.” He paused, voice deepening with quiet conviction. “You’re old enough to stand by your choices. Make sure they’re yours. Not born from fear, or guilt, or pressure.”

And in those words, even though he never said it outright, I felt it. I had an ally. Someone choosing to stand beside me, not against me.

“So I can investigate, right? I mean… I have that right?”

Al leaned back, still holding my gaze. “I’ll say it again, it’s your call.” His face remained serious, but sincerity rang louder than any smile. “Do what you need to do. Take your time figuring it out.”

For the first time that day, a small smile tugged at me, fragile but real. It felt like I had finally heard the words I’d been aching for.

“But I won’t interfere with your life, or try to control what happens,” he added, unwavering. “This is your path, Autumn. I’ll walk beside you… not ahead of you.”

“Thanks, Al.” My voice was sincere. With a half-laugh, I lifted my fist between us.

He didn’t hesitate. His fist met mine, and somehow, that simple gesture carried more weight than any promise ever could.

That night, sleep was the farthest thing from my mind. I didn’t bother calling Dexter. I didn’t even wait for the familiar jingle of his keys at the door, announcing his return. I let the silence swallow the condo whole.

I opened my laptop. For a moment, my hands hovered over the keyboard, frozen. I knew what I was about to do wasn’t right, but the need to know the truth outweighed the guilt I kept trying to smother. I needed clarity. I needed to understand everything before I could face him.

Time slipped by unnoticed as I combed through Dexter’s project files, cross-checking site names I’d heard Ryzi mention, reconstructing timelines in my head. The glow of the screen blurred until suddenly, my phone vibrated against the table.

I flinched.

My heart thudded in my chest as I snatched it up, only to exhale in relief when I saw who it was.

Alastair.

From Alastair:

You forgot your charger.

Also… did you get home yet?

Just let me know you’re safe.

I typed quickly, my fingers trembling.

Me:

Thank you. Yes, I’m home. Just… still have a lot on my mind.

The typing bubble appeared. Vanished. Reappeared. Like he was weighing each word before sending it.

From Alastair:

I’m here if you need to talk.

No pressure.

Just… don’t carry it all alone.

I stared at his message, clutching the phone until my knuckles whitened. My hands trembled. Not from fear, but from the weight of everything I’d been holding inside.

I took a long breath and typed back.

Me:

Can we meet again tomorrow? It’s just that… our conversation earlier… it wasn’t enough.

His reply came almost instantly.

From Alastair:

Of course. Any time.

I tapped the like on his message but didn’t reply.

The truth was, I didn’t know what I was walking into. I didn’t know how long the lie had been growing, how deep the betrayal went, or how much of my life it had quietly reshaped without my knowing.

But one thing I did know—without question—was that I couldn’t stay silent anymore.

And tomorrow, I was going to start asking the questions no one ever wants to hear.

Even if I wasn’t ready for the answers.