The Silent Lie
Chapter One: The Beautiful Lie
The leather chair in Leo’s office creaked as he leaned back, the city lights of the skyline reflecting off the glass desk like cold diamonds. At twenty-eight, Leo had everything—wealth, a burgeoning empire, and a reputation for being untouchable. But as his phone vibrated with a caller ID he couldn’t ignore, he felt like a trapped animal.
"Mother," he answered, his voice a smooth, practiced neutral.
"Leo, don't you 'Mother' me," the woman on the other end snapped. "Your father and I have reached our limit. The daughter of the Chen family is back from London. She is educated, beautiful, and comes from a lineage that matches ours. We have set a dinner for Friday. You will be there."
Leo closed his eyes, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I’m busy, Mother. The merger is—"
"The merger can wait. Your bloodline cannot," she interrupted. "If you don't show up, your father will begin the process of freezing the offshore accounts. We are tired of your excuses, Leo. Every girl we suggest, you find a flaw. Is it because you have no heart, or are you simply being difficult?"
"I'm not being difficult," Leo said, his voice dropping an octave. "I’m just... preoccupied."
"Preoccupied with work? Or with that ghost from your teenage years? Lily is gone, Leo. She’s been gone for years. It’s time to be an adult."
The mention of Lily sent a sharp, familiar pang through his chest. He didn't answer. He couldn't.
"Friday night. Seven o'clock. Don't be late," his mother commanded before hanging up.
Leo tossed the phone onto the desk. He needed time. He needed a way to make them stop without actually committing to a girl he didn't care about. He wasn't interested in the Chens, or the Parks, or any of the socialite daughters his parents paraded in front of him.
He stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. His gaze drifted down to the street level, then across to the neighboring estate—the property where his distant relatives lived.
The next morning, the air was crisp as Leo stepped out of his penthouse to head to his car. That’s when he saw him.
Mark.
Mark was younger, a college student in his early twenties, carrying a stack of textbooks toward a waiting taxi. He looked focused, his brow furrowed in that serious way he always had. They were cousins—distant enough that their families barely interacted outside of formal holidays, but close enough that the names were familiar.
Leo stopped in his tracks, his eyes narrowing. Mark was an adult now. He was handsome in a quiet, unassuming way—the kind of look that parents trusted. More importantly, Mark was "safe." He was family, yet a stranger. He was a goal-oriented student who clearly didn't have time for drama.
A reckless, brilliant, and utterly selfish idea took root in Leo’s mind.
He pulled out his phone and hit the redial button for his mother.
"Leo? Have you changed your mind about the suit for Friday?"
"Cancel the dinner, Mother," Leo said, his voice steady as he watched Mark climb into the taxi.
"I told you, Leo, we aren't negotiating—"
"I’m dating someone," Leo lied. The words felt oily on his tongue, but he pushed forward. "I didn't want to say anything because he's family-adjacent, and I knew you’d react this way. But I’m in love. I’ve been seeing him for a while."
There was a deafening silence on the other end of the line.
"He?" his mother whispered, her voice trembling with shock. "Leo... what are you saying? And who... who is 'he'?"
Leo watched the taxi pull away, carrying an oblivious Mark toward the university.
"It’s Mark," Leo said firmly. "Mark from the neighboring estate. We’ve kept it quiet to respect the family, but if you’re going to force me into a marriage, I’d rather you know the truth. I love him. I’m not marrying a girl when my heart is already taken."
"Mark? Your... your cousin?" His mother sounded like she was gasping for air. "Leo, this is—this is a scandal! Does his mother know? Does he know you're telling me this?"
"He’s a bit shy about it," Leo lied effortlessly, walking toward his own black sedan. "He wanted to wait until he finished his semester to tell you. But I couldn't keep it in anymore. So, no more girls, Mother. I have my partner."
"I... I have to call your father," she stammered. "This changes everything. We need to talk to Mark’s parents. Oh my god, Leo... are you two serious? Are you... dating?"
"Deeply," Leo said, a cold smirk touching his lips as he climbed into the back of his car. "We’re very happy. Give us some space to figure out how to tell the rest of the world, okay?"
He hung up before she could protest.
Leo leaned his head back against the leather headrest and exhaled. He had bought himself at least six months of peace. His parents would be too busy reeling from the "gay" revelation and the "cousin" scandal to suggest any more brides.
He didn't feel guilty. In his mind, he was doing Mark a favor—Mark was just a name, a placeholder. He’d find a way to pay the kid off later if it ever got out.
But as his car drove past the university gates, Leo didn't see the storm he had just conjured. He didn't see Mark sitting in a lecture hall, his phone suddenly exploding with frantic texts from his own mother.
Leo thought he had bought time. Instead, he had just signed a contract with a ghost he couldn't control.
