obk_Writter

Evelyn Hart, a talented but emotionally scarred architect, has spent years building a new life under a borrowed identity. After the tragic death of her best friend, Sophia, Evelyn assumed Sophia’s name to escape her own troubled past. Now, she’s hired to restore a crumbling 19th-century mansion, where she meets Liam Carter, a charming historian with a mysterious air.  

As they work together, their connection deepens, and Evelyn begins to let her guard down. But Liam has secrets of his own. Unbeknownst to Evelyn, he’s not a historian but a journalist investigating Sophia’s disappearance—a case that has haunted him for years.  

Just as Evelyn considers confessing her true identity, a shocking discovery in the mansion’s walls turns everything upside down. A hidden letter suggests Sophia’s death was no accident, and Evelyn may have been involved. To make matters worse, Liam reveals he’s known the truth about Evelyn all along. He fell in love with *her*, not the persona she was pretending to be, but their relationship is now tangled in a web of lies, betrayal, and danger.  

Can love survive when it’s built on a foundation of lies? And what happens when the truth threatens to destroy everything they’ve built?

THE LIES WE KEEP FOR LOVE

Have you ever told a lie to protect yourself, only to realize it might hurt the person you care about most? That's where Evelyn found herself as she tried to navigate the growing web of secrets surrounding her and Liam.

Evelyn returned to Blackthorn Manor early the next morning, hoping to avoid Liam until she had time to process everything. But fate had other plans. As she stepped inside, she nearly collided with him in the hallway.

"Morning," he said cheerfully, though his eyes scanned her face for any sign of distress. "You look… tired."

"I didn't sleep well," she replied quickly, forcing a smile. "Just had some restless dreams."

His brow furrowed slightly. "About what?"

She hesitated, searching for an answer that wouldn't raise suspicion. "Nothing important. Just… work stuff."

He nodded slowly, though she could tell he wasn't fully convinced. "Okay. Well, let me know if you want to talk about it."

Her heart sank. He was being so kind, so understanding—and yet here she was, already keeping things from him.

Throughout the day, they worked side by side, their usual easy banter replaced by an unspoken tension. Every time Liam glanced her way, Evelyn felt a pang of guilt. She wanted to trust him, to share the burden she'd carried for so long—but fear held her back.

At lunch, they sat together on the porch, watching the waves crash against the shore. The silence between them stretched longer than usual.

"You've been distant lately," Liam said finally, breaking the quiet. "Is everything okay?"

Evelyn froze, caught off guard by his directness. "Yeah, I'm fine," she lied again, avoiding his gaze. "Just… adjusting to everything."

To her relief, he seemed to accept the explanation—at least for now. But the weight of her deception settled heavier on her shoulders with each passing moment.

Plot Twist: A Question Too Close to Home

As they resumed work in the afternoon, Liam mentioned something that sent her heart racing. "Hey, I was looking through some old records yesterday," he said casually. "Did you know there used to be another woman named Sophia Monroe who lived here? She disappeared years ago."

Evelyn stiffened, her breath catching. How did he know about her fake identity? Was this part of his investigation into her past?

"What happened to her?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

"No one knows," he replied, shrugging. "Some say she ran away, others think something worse happened. Either way, it's strange how similar your name is to hers."

Her mind raced. Coincidence—or clue? And why did Liam seem so interested in this particular detail?

Before she could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed through the mansion. Startled, they both looked up, but no one appeared.

That evening, as they packed up for the day, Liam surprised her with another question. "You ever feel like the walls are talking to you?" he asked, half-joking.

Evelyn laughed nervously, unsure whether he suspected more than he let on. "Not really. Why do you ask?"

He grinned, shaking his head. "Just thinking out loud. This place has a way of making you paranoid."

But his words lingered in her mind long after he left. Were the walls truly whispering secrets—or was it her own guilt speaking?

What does Liam know about Sophia Monroe—and how does it connect to Evelyn's past? Can their relationship survive if she continues hiding the truth? And will uncovering the mansion's secrets bring them closer—or tear them apart?

You wouldn't ignore these questions, would you? Neither can Evelyn. As the lines between love and deception blur, she begins to realize that sometimes, the hardest truths are the ones we've been hiding from ourselves.

Chapter 17: The First Lie – Evelyn Tells Liam a Small Lie to Cover Her Tracks