The Bitter Truth
1579 Words
Seated stiffly in the back seat of the sleek black car was Evelyn, gazing out the window occasionally in silence, her fingers unconsciously gripping the fabric of her dress. Beside her, Liam was equally quiet, his mind a battlefield of regret and fear.
The chauffeur, sent by Ethan’s family, had picked them up from the airport as soon as they landed. Now, they were on their way to meet Ethan's parents—the very people who would soon become Evelyn’s in-laws.
The drive was quiet, filled only with the occasional hum of the engine. While Liam wrestled with how to confess the truth before they arrived, Evelyn was lost in thoughts, contemplating how to impress her in-laws and, more importantly, how to make sure she doesn't run into anyone from her past.
As the car took a left turn and continued down, Evelyn looked out the window, admiring the breathtaking estate that loomed in the distance. But then, something unsettling tugged at her memory.
It was eerily similar to Caleb’s parents' mansion—the same towering gates, the same pristine gardens lining the driveway. Even the road leading to it seemed identical. She has just noticed it too.
‘No… It can’t be.’
Panic stirred in her chest, but she pushed it down.
‘Maybe it’s just a coincidence.’
Evelyn had only been to Caleb’s family home once after they got married, but she could still vividly recall the breathtaking beauty of the place.
And yet, the closer they got, the harder it became to ignore the nagging feeling in her gut.
Then she saw it.
Etched into the stone pillar beside the gate was a name she could never forget:
*THE REEDS.*
Evelyn’s heart plummeted.
It was the last name of her ex-husband.
Caleb’s surname.
Evelyn’s fingers tightened around her dress as she struggled to keep her emotions in check.
‘Maybe… just maybe Liam wasn’t directly related to them.’
But the final blow came when the security guard knocked on the window. The chauffeur rolled it down, and the moment the guard saw who was inside, his stern expression melted into joy.
“Elder Master! You’ve returned! We’ve missed you dearly.”
Evelyn’s breath caught in her throat.
Liam forced a small smile. “Yeah, I’ve missed you all too. Now that you know it’s me, can we go in?”
“Of course, sir.” The guard quickly opened the gates, his excitement evident.
The car rolled forward, but Evelyn was frozen in place, her mind spinning.
‘Elder Master?’
‘As in like the eldest son of the Reeds’ family?’
Her entire body went numb.
She had spent two years loving a man who had been lying to her all along.
When the car finally came to a stop in front of the grand house, she could barely contain the storm of emotions raging inside her.
Forcing herself to remain composed, she turned to the chauffeur with a polite smile. “Would you mind taking our bags inside? I need a moment alone with my fiancé.”
The chauffeur nodded. “Of course, madam.”
As he exited the car, Evelyn remained still, her hands clenched into fists on her lap. The air inside the vehicle had grown thick, suffocating with the weight of unspoken words.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Then, Evelyn finally broke the silence.
“You lied to me.” Her voice was quiet, but trembling with restrained fury.
Liam exhaled, guilt written all over his face. “I never meant to, Evelyn. I wanted to tell you the truth—”
She let out a bitter laugh, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Don’t. Just don’t.” She shook her head. “Do you have any idea how foolish I feel right now?”
“Evelyn, I swear, I tried—but I just couldn’t find the right moment to—”
“Two years, Liam!” she snapped, her voice rising. “Two years! And you expect me to believe you never found the right time? What kind of bullshit excuse is that?”
Liam reached for her hands, but she pulled away sharply. “Evelyn, I know I messed up. There’s no excuse for what I did. But please, please forgive me.”
Silence stretched between them as Evelyn tried to collect her thoughts.
Finally, she spoke, her voice trembling.
“Since when did you know? When did you realize I was your brother’s ex-wife?”
Liam hesitated. “…That night. At the Eiffel Tower.”
A sharp breath escaped Evelyn's lips. “So all this time, you’ve known. And you still let me pour my heart out to you about my past—about your brother—and you said nothing? You must've seen me as a joke and then you decided to play me, hurt me and break me just like your brother did.”
“God, I must've been so stupid. How did I not see this coming? Everything was going too well.”
“I never saw you as a joke, Evelyn,” Liam said desperately. “I never wanted to play or hurt you.”
“Then why did you keep lying?” she demanded. You've lied to me for two years about your whole identity. How do I even know if anything you told me was real? For all I know, Liam might not even be your real name.”
Liam swallowed hard. “It’s not.”
Evelyn froze. “What?”
“My real name… is Ethan Reeds.”
A sharp, bitter scoff escaped her lips. “So you even lied about that.”
“I had to, Evelyn,” Ethan said, his voice pleading. “I didn't want anything connecting me to my brother or family. I wanted you to love me for who I really am and now that I've realized it, I know that what I did was terribly wrong. I shouldn't have lied to you in the first place. So, please forgive me.”
Evelyn exhaled shakily, her gaze dropping to the diamond-encrusted engagement ring on her finger. A thousand thoughts raced through her mind.
Then, with quiet finality, she said, “I’ve made a decision, Ethan. A painful one.”
His heart pounded. “Evelyn—”
“I can’t marry you.”
The words hit him like a physical blow.
“No, no, no, Evelyn, please don’t do this,” he pleaded, his voice breaking. “I need you. I love you. Please, don’t call off the wedding. You can punish me in every other way but please, don't do this. I can't lose you.”
Evelyn’s voice cracked. “Love? How can I believe in your love when our entire relationship was built on lies? How do I know your love wasn’t just another lie?”
Desperation flashed across Ethan’s face. “I know I broke your trust, but what we have—what we built—that was real. Please, Evelyn.”
She met his gaze with unwavering determination. “If the situation were reversed, If I had lied to you for two years, would you be able to forgive me?”
Ethan opened his mouth to respond, but no words came.
Because the truth was—he wouldn’t have been able to.
Seeing the realization dawn on his face, Evelyn let out a shaky breath. “Exactly.”
Ethan dropped his gaze, defeated.
After a long silence, he finally spoke. “I understand. If you want to leave… I won’t stop you. I know no amount of sorry can fix my mistake.”
Evelyn’s eyes widened slightly, not expecting him to give up so easily.
“But,” Ethan continued, “please, at least meet my parents first. They’re expecting you. If you leave now, I won’t know how to explain it to them.”
Evelyn hesitated.
Then, after a long pause, she sighed. “...Fine. I’ll meet them. But after that, I’m done.”
Relief washed over Ethan’s face. “Thank you.”
Evelyn turned away. “I need a minute. I don’t want to go in there looking like I just had my heart shattered.”
“Take all the time you need.”
Ethan stepped out of the car and disappeared into the house.
The moment he was gone, Evelyn shattered.
Tears spilled down her cheeks as she clutched her chest, trying to breathe through the overwhelming pain.
‘How could he do this to me?’
‘I had trusted him.’
She continued crying and after what felt like an eternity, she wiped her tears, took a deep breath, and adjusted her dress.
She refused to meet Ethan’s parents looking like a broken woman.
Adjusting her posture, she stepped out of the car and walked toward the grand mahogany doors.
She rang the doorbell.
A few moments later, the door swung open.
And standing on the other side was the last person she ever expected to see.
*TESSA*
Evelyn’s blood ran cold.
The woman who had ruined her life. The woman who had walked away unscathed while Evelyn had suffered.
But Tessa wasn’t the same girl who had run away three years ago. She looked even more radiant now—her blonde hair shorter, her skin glowing, her clothes exuding wealth and power.
A slow smirk curled on Tessa’s lips as she crossed her arms.
“Well, well, well… look what the wind dragged in.”
- Writer
