The Truth Between Us
434 Words
Chapter 13:
Lena didn’t sleep.
The threat of her past hung over her like a storm cloud, ready to burst.
She sat on the edge of Damien’s bed, watching the skyline flicker through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The penthouse felt colder than usual, like it knew a truth was about to be unleashed inside its walls.
Damien stirred behind her. “You okay?”
She turned slowly. “No. And I need to tell you why.”
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He sat up, alert now. His usual calm gave way to something more vulnerable. “What happened?”
“I haven’t been honest with you.”
Damien frowned. “You’re not the only one. I forced you into this arrangement—”
“No. This is different.” Her voice cracked. “There’s something I never told you. About… who I was. Before.”
He waited, expression unreadable.
“I wasn’t just poor, Damien. I was a con artist. I ran scams. Small ones. Petty theft, fake IDs, credit card jobs. I didn’t hurt people. But I did lie. I was scared. Young. And stupid. And there was someone—Noah—who pulled me into it and never let go.”
She stood now, pacing. “I left it all behind. Changed my name. Took care of my sister. I became someone new. Someone real.”
She turned back to him. “But Noah’s back. And he’s threatening to expose me.”
Silence stretched between them.
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Finally, Damien spoke.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“Because I didn’t want to lose this—whatever this is between us. And I thought if I buried the truth deep enough, it would stay there.”
His jaw tightened. “So the engagement is built on two lies. Yours and mine.”
Lena’s stomach dropped.
“You’re angry.”
“I’m… processing.”
But then—he stood, closed the distance, and looked her in the eyes. “You should’ve told me. But I understand why you didn’t.”
She blinked. “You… do?”
“I’ve spent my whole life hiding what I feel. Controlling everything. I know what fear of losing control looks like.”
His hand brushed her cheek.
“I don’t care about who you were, Lena. I care about you—now. And I won’t let this bastard ruin you.”
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Lena exhaled like she hadn’t in days. For the first time, the truth didn’t feel like a death sentence.
It felt like freedom.
And Damien—despite everything—was still standing there, beside her.
to be continued.............
- Writer
