Chapter 3 Three**** tangled lies

Three**** tangled lies

Lily spent the entire night in her small apartment, staring at the walls. The black envelope, Damien's words, the contract-it was all beginning to feel like a trap she couldn't escape. The more she thought about it, the more her chest tightened. He had planned this all along. It wasn't just a matter of debt; it was something bigger, something that made her feel like a pawn in a game she didn't understand.

She couldn't let him win, not without a fight.

But the more she thought about her options, the more confused she became. She knew she needed answers, and that meant facing Damien again.

---

Damien's office was colder than usual. The familiar hum of air conditioning and the quiet bustle of staff couldn't mask the tension in the air. Lily marched into his office once again, her heels clicking against the polished floor, every step echoing her resolve.

Damien looked up from his desk, his eyes scanning her face. "Back for round two, huh?"

Lily didn't waste time with pleasantries. "You're playing some sick game with me, Damien. And I'm done pretending I don't see it."

He leaned back in his chair, his smirk never fading. "Game? I'm simply offering you a solution to a problem that's not of your making. You're free to walk away, but your father's debts won't disappear."

"I don't care about the money," she shot back, "I want to know why you're doing this. Why me?"

Damien stood, crossing the room to her. "Because you're the key to everything I need." His voice dropped lower, almost as if he was revealing something intimate. "Your father wasn't just in debt. He was involved in something much bigger. I've been waiting for the right moment, and now, I have you."

Lily recoiled, her heart racing. "You're sick. This has nothing to do with me."

"It has everything to do with you," he said, his voice smooth as silk. "Whether you like it or not, you're part of this. I'm not giving you a choice."

---

Back at her apartment, the pieces of the puzzle were slowly coming together. Lily couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched, that every move she made was being anticipated. And then Mia called.

"I'm coming over," Mia said with a strange urgency in her voice. "We need to talk."

Lily dropped her phone onto the couch, her mind racing. Mia was the only one who knew everything about her situation. The one person who had always been her sounding board. But now, something in Mia's voice unsettled her.

When Mia arrived, she wasn't alone. Two men in dark suits followed her in, their expressions unreadable. Lily's stomach dropped.

"What's going on?" Lily asked, her voice trembling.

Mia's eyes shifted nervously. "Lily, there's something you need to know. Damien's not the only one with a plan. I... I didn't want you to find out this way, but it's time you knew the truth."

---

As Mia's words hung in the air, the men in suits stepped forward, their eyes cold and calculating. Lily's mind was spinning. What is the truth?

Before Mia could say anything more, one of the men handed Lily a sealed envelope. It was familiar, the same sleek black paper that had marked Damien's message. But this time, the words on the envelope were different.

For your eyes only.

Her pulse raced as she tore open the envelope, quickly scanning the contents. Her breath hitched as the words blurred before her eyes, her heart sinking with every line she read.

Her father's name stood out in bold letters-followed by a list of debts, schemes, and names she had once thought were safe. But one name froze her in place.

Mia.

Lily's hand shook as she stared at the paper, the weight of the words crashing over her. Mia's name wasn't just on the list-it was tied to everything that had been happening. Everything Lily had failed to see. A betrayal she never saw coming.

Her gaze lifted slowly, meeting Mia's eyes. For a fleeting moment, she wondered just how much of the woman she called her best friend was a lie.

"Mia," Lily said quietly, her voice trembling with raw emotion. "How long were you going to keep this from me? How long were you going to let me walk around thinking you were my friend, my ally? How could you?"

Mia took a step forward, her hands shaking as she opened her mouth to speak. "Lily, please, I can explain... It's not what you think. I never wanted you to-"

"No," Lily cut her off, her voice steady despite the storm inside her. "I can't... I can't hear this right now. I can't process all of this. Not from you, Mia. I need some time to think. I need space."

Mia's eyes welled up with tears, her face crumpling as she reached out toward Lily. "Please... I never wanted this. I swear, I didn't mean for any of it to happen. Please, just let me explain."

But Lily took a step back, her eyes hardening. "No. I don't want to hear it right now. Just... go."

Mia's face fell, her shoulders trembling as the tears spilled down her cheeks. "I'm sorry, Lily. I'm so, so sorry."

Lily turned away, her chest heavy with the weight of the words she had just uttered. She couldn't bear to see her best friend, her confidante, reduced to a sobbing mess. But there was no place for Mia's tears in her heart anymore.

Mia left, her footsteps echoing in the silence, but Lily didn't feel the relief she thought she would. Instead, the weight of betrayal settled deeper inside her, gnawing at her until she was almost suffocated by it.

She collapsed onto the couch, the letter still clutched tightly in her hand. She stared at the list of names, her mind racing. What did Mia know about me? How much had she been playing me all along? The questions swirled, but no answers came. The betrayal cut deeper than anything she had ever imagined.

Tears welled in Lily's eyes as she thought about the years of friendship, the trust, and the moments they had shared. Was it all just a facade? How could Mia have lied to her like this?

Lily wiped her tears, feeling both numb and heartbroken. She couldn't even look at the letter anymore. The world felt too heavy, too dark.

She needed answers. But the one thing she didn't know was how far Damien's web had reached... and how deeply Mia was entangled in it.