The Hidden Truths

Chapter 17

Tina's POV

It had been nearly a few months since Joe proposed, and we started dating. We agreed to keep it quiet, to avoid labels or expectations. I wanted to take things slow and really understand him. I have been betrayed before and it was a fear I'd carried for a long time. Joe hadn't said those three heavy words when he proposed, and honestly, I wasn't ready to hear them. We were just getting to know each other; why rush?

I hadn't even told Trisha and Veronica about the proposal. All they knew was that Joe and I had started seeing each other. I was waiting to be sure, to feel secure in the idea that this wasn't just some fling.

It was early June, and the air was thick with the warmth of the season. Joe was waiting at the gate, leaning against his car, looking effortlessly handsome in a short-sleeved dusty blue shirt and black pants. He smiled when he saw me, planting a light kiss on my lips before opening the door. Always the gentleman.

The twenty minute drive was filled with easy chatter, but my stomach fluttered with nerves. We finally pulled up to Edam's place, a sprawling estate that exuded wealth. As we made our way inside, Trisha spotted us and hurried over. Her excitement was infectious, but I sensed Joe's tension.

Trisha was thrilled when she invited us to Edam's housewarming party. She had moved quickly with him, faster than I'd ever seen, and here she was, introducing us to Edam as if it were destiny. Edam's family had bought him the house for his birthday, so naturally, his "closest friends" were invited to celebrate. The crowd was intimidating: young, wealthy, and polished.

"Edam, meet Tina, my best friend, and her boyfriend, Joe. And this is Edam, my boyfriend," Trisha said, beaming.

Edam took my hand, shaking it gently. "It's great to finally meet you, Tina. Trisha's told me so much about you," he said warmly. I appreciated his friendliness, but a glance at Joe's expression told me he wasn't as charmed. There was a tension in his jaw when Edam extended his hand to him.

"Joe, right? I think I know you," Edam said thoughtfully. "Your dad owns Love and Latte, right?"

My heart skipped. Love and Latte? We'd been there a dozen times. It was practically our go-to spot. Joe never mentioned it belonged to his family. Why hadn't he told me? I felt a twinge of unease, wondering what else he hadn't shared.

Joe cleared his throat. "Yeah, that's me," he replied, his voice steady but guarded.

Trisha must have sensed the tension because she quickly whisked Edam away, flashing me an apologetic look over her shoulder. I stayed close to Joe, who was avoiding my eyes, probably sensing I was upset.

"So... Love and Latte?" I said as casually as I could.

He glanced at me, guilt shadowing his face. He reached for my hand, squeezing it gently, but I held back, keeping my expression neutral.

I looked around, taking in the extravagance of Edam's party. Waiters floated by with trays of cocktails and canapés. Every guest looked like they belonged on the cover of a magazine. Joe greeted a few people, his tone polite but distant. Apparently, he knew most of them, which wasn't surprising. They all moved in the same wealthy circles. I should have known. But the realization only made me feel more out of place, and I wondered if Joe ever felt this way.

Veronica had texted, saying she couldn't make it. Her family had come into town last minute, and she had to attend a family dinner. Perfect, I thought, already feeling like the odd one out.

Joe must have noticed the shift in my mood. "What's with the long face?" he asked, his tone gentle.

"Veronica's not coming," I muttered, more to myself.

"It's okay. I'm here for you," he said, giving me that charming smile of his, the one that was always meant to make me feel better.

But it didn't work this time.

I couldn't hold back anymore. "You knew I was upset back there," I said quietly. "I mean, Love and Latte, Joe? Why wouldn't you tell me about that?"

He hesitated, a shadow crossing his face. Finally, he murmured, "I wanted you to like me for who I am, not for... any of that."

A chill ran down my spine. It was like hearing my own thoughts, except in reverse. Had he been as guarded with me as I had been with him?

I felt a strange sense of betrayal. Like he'd hidden something important, a part of himself that he didn't trust me with. The same feeling I'd been trying to avoid.

I leaned back on the sofa, looking at him thoughtfully. "We need to be honest with each other, Joe. This whole thing where we pretend we're just here for the moment and don't care about each other's pasts? It's not working."

He looked at me for a long time, then nodded. "Maybe you're right," he murmured. Then, with a small smile, he added, "Well, I already know you're Tina Underwood, daughter of Richard and Petra Underwood. I know you have a brother in med school."

I rolled my eyes, letting out a short laugh. "Alright, fine. I told you all that. But what about you? Really, what's your whole story?"

He chuckled. "I'm Jonathan Carlton. My dad's Jason Carlton. He and my mom, Jasmine, run the family business together. I also have a little sister, Jia."

"That's better," I said, managing a small smile. But inside, my thoughts were spinning.

Edam's words hung in my mind. I had thought Joe was just another regular guy. Maybe I'd wanted that. Now, I couldn't shake the feeling that he was hiding more than just his family's café business. And if he was keeping this from me, what else?

We stayed at the party, but my heart wasn't in it. I tried to smile and laugh when people greeted us, tried to ignore the tension simmering beneath the surface. But my thoughts kept drifting back to Joe's words.

We were both hiding, both afraid of what we'd find if we looked too closely. And if we couldn't be real with each other, then what was the point?

I glanced over at Joe, watching as he chatted with a few people I barely recognized. I wanted to believe in us, but the doubts kept creeping in. What if this was all just a game to him? A distraction? I'd been used for my family's wealth before. I couldn't let myself go through that again, not with Joe.

His eyes met mine from across the room, softening when he saw the worry on my face. He crossed over to me, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me close.

"Hey," he whispered, brushing his lips against my ear. "I'm here, Tina."

I wanted to believe him. But as he held me, I couldn't shake the feeling that maybe we weren't so different both of us hiding, both of us guarded, afraid of being seen for who we really were.

The night dragged on, and I wondered if there would ever come a time when Joe and I could be open with each other.

Joe's POV

As I drove Tina home, my mind was running in overdrive. She was so quiet the entire ride, looking out the window, her face thoughtful and distant. I tried to make conversation, but she brushed me off, saying she felt a little tipsy. Sure, she'd had a couple of drinks, but nothing that would hit her this hard. Maybe I was reading too much into it, but something was definitely off.

When we finally reached her apartment, I offered to walk her in, just to keep the night going a little longer, but she turned me down with a soft smile, saying she just wanted to rest. I watched her go, feeling like I'd just missed something big.

All I wanted was to keep a low profile, avoid the drama. And yet here I was, caught up in it. It felt like I'd been blindsided by my own choices. If only I could rewind this whole night and erase the moment she found out about my family's business, Love & Latte.

The first time I saw Edam with Trisha at the café, I knew he looked familiar. But I was so focused on getting Tina's number that I didn't give it much thought. Today, though, when he mentioned the café, it finally clicked. I realized why he looked so familiar.

By the time I got home, I was in a funk. Jia was lounging on the couch, clicking through movie channels with an expression that said she'd been at it for a while.

"Hey, you're home!" she said brightly, eyes lighting up as she tossed the remote at me. "Find a movie before I die of boredom."

I took the remote, grateful for the distraction, and nudged her. "Alright, but you're getting the popcorn." She rolled her eyes, but within minutes, she was back with a giant bowl, and we settled in to watch. I tried to focus, but my brain wouldn't stop tossing ideas around like it was trying out for a football team.

Finally, Jia must've noticed how distracted I was because she pinched my arm.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"Hello? Earth to Joe! I asked if you wanted something to drink like, five times," she said, giving me a pointed look. "You're spacing out. What's going on?"

I sighed, pausing the movie and turning to her. "Remember Tina?"

Her eyebrow quirked up. "The girl you're practically smitten with? Yeah, I remember." She grinned, nudging me again.

"Yeah, well... tonight she found out that we own Love & Latte."

Jia's face scrunched up. "So?"

I rubbed my hands together, trying to piece the words. "I hadn't exactly told her about it yet. You know, what happened after Dad's accident. I wanted things to be real and uncomplicated."

She nodded, her expression softening. "Makes sense. But... how did she find out?"

"Long story short, I ended up at Mr. Harrison's mansion tonight."

Her eyes widened like saucers. "Wait, Mr. Harrison? The guy who owns Global Hub?"

I nodded, cringing. "Yeah, that Mr. Harrison. Turns out, his son is dating one of Tina's friends, and she invited Tina... who dragged me along without knowing who lived there."

Jia looked at me with a mix of sympathy and amusement. "Well, that's just unlucky. So, Tina's mad at you?"

"I don't know, Jia. She was quiet on the way home, kind of distant. I can't tell if she's upset that I didn't tell her sooner, or if... if she thinks I was hiding it because I'm just some privileged jerk."

Jia snorted, giving me a look. "Joe, you're one of the most down-to-earth people I know. If she doesn't see that, she's missing out."

I smirked, grateful for her confidence in me, even if I wasn't quite convinced myself. "You know, I think I'm falling for her. But what if she doesn't feel the same? What if she's already having second thoughts?"

Jia squeezed my hand, giving me that supportive sibling look I knew so well. "Look, you'll never know unless you tell her how you feel. If she's worth it, she'll understand why you kept things low-key. But Joe, you've got to be upfront now. No more secrets."

I leaned back, mulling over her advice. She was right. If I was ever going to have a shot with Tina, I needed to come clean and tell her how much she meant to me, even if it meant risking rejection. But I didn't just want to tell her..I wanted it to be special. Something memorable.

An idea started to form, and I glanced over at Jia, who was focused on the movie again.

"Hey, Jia, how do you feel about helping me plan a surprise?"

She paused the movie and gave me a slow, mischievous grin. "Oh, I'm in but only if it's romantic enough to make her melt."

I grinned back, feeling a flicker of excitement. "Deal. But no sappy love poems, okay?"

She laughed. "No promises."

By the end of the night, we'd outlined a plan: I'd surprise Tina with a candlelit dinner at her favorite spot overlooking the lake, the place where she'd once told me she went to clear her mind. Jia was buzzing with ideas. Flowers, soft music, her favorite food. But as the details came together, so did my nerves. What if she thought it was too much? What if she thought I was trying too hard to make up for not telling her sooner?

"Doubt won't help you, Joe," Jia said as she patted my shoulder, seeing the hesitation on my face. "Just go all in. She deserves to see the real you. The good, the bad, the dork who avoids saying 'I love you' out loud."

"Hey!" I tossed a pillow at her, laughing. "It's called 'being smooth,' Jia. Look it up."

But inside, I couldn't deny the panic simmering beneath the surface. I'd always tried to keep my life simple and drama-free, and now it was all tangled up in one girl who had no idea how much she mattered to me.

I glanced at Jia, who'd dozed off with her head on my shoulder, still holding the popcorn bowl. Her support had kept me going more times than I could count, and now I'd use it to show Tina how I felt.

As I gently eased Jia's head off my shoulder, I whispered, "Thanks, sis." Then, I headed to my room to plan the final details, my mind racing with the possibilities and the thrill and fear of putting it all out there.

Trisha's POV

I could feel the weight of the air pressing down on me as I drifted into sleep, my mind too restless to settle. And then, like it always does when I'm too tired to fight it, the nightmare begins. It started innocently enough, a quiet evening, the faint glow of streetlights flickering through a half-open window. But then, his voice. Nikhil's voice cuts through the stillness, sharp and accusatory.

"You thought I wouldn't find out, didn't you?" The words slithered into my mind like poison, curling tighter around my chest with each syllable until I couldn't breathe. I wanted to answer, to explain, but the words caught in my throat. He was there, standing just inches away, his eyes narrowed in rage, his presence suffocating. The room felt smaller, as if the walls were closing in, pushing me toward him, trapping me in his shadow.

No. Not this again.

I tried to move, to break free, but my legs felt cemented to the ground. I could feel it. The betrayal I thought I could bury, the connection I thought I could hide. And then he stepped closer, his face twisted in disgust. His anger was like a force field, pulling me in and holding me hostage. His voice dropped to a whisper, cold and biting, as he grabbed my wrist.

"Why, Trisha?" His fingers pressed into my skin, the pain sharp and real.

"Let go!" I wanted to scream, but my voice wouldn't obey, strangled by my fear. I struggled against his grip, my heart pounding so loud it felt like it would explode, but the harder I fought, the stronger he held on, a relentless cycle of guilt and dread.

And then, just as the walls closed in completely, I woke up. My body jerked upright, drenched in sweat, my breath shallow, my heart still racing in the lingering haze of the nightmare. It took me a moment to realize I was safe, that it was only a dream. But the fear clung to me, a shadow refusing to fade, whispering that it wasn't over. Not yet.

I reached for my water bottle, only to find it empty. My throat was parched, dry as sand. I didn't want to leave my bed, didn't want to risk the silence of the house pressing in on me, but I knew I had to.

Swinging my legs off the bed, I took a shaky breath, forcing myself to stand. Each step felt heavy as I walked toward the kitchen, still trembling, the nightmare lingering like smoke in the air. The kitchen was eerily quiet, the only sound my footsteps on the cold tile. I flipped on the light, filling my bottle at the sink, my fingers fumbling with the tap.

Calm down. It was just a dream. Just a stupid dream.

As I turned back to the counter, something caught my eye. A necklace lying there, delicate and glittering in the light. Nikhil's necklace. I'd left it there before going to Edam's place, needing to feel free, to just be myself, even if only for a little while.

I picked it up, letting the chain slip through my fingers. Maybe the nightmare was reminding me that I'd forgotten to put it back on. Or maybe it was a warning. I clenched the necklace in my fist, its weight somehow both comforting and suffocating. Nikhil had given it to me, to remember him by, to feel like he was still there, even if he couldn't be.

He'd always made it clear I had to wear it. His constant video calls, checking in on me. Always making sure I had the necklace on. I was his investment, after all.

I pushed down the wave of nausea that rose in my throat at the thought. I shouldn't have agreed to this. I should've said no to their deal. But what other choice did I have? I needed the money, needed the support to get through school. My family depended on me. When the chance came, I took it, not knowing how much of myself I'd have to give in return.

I walked back to my room, gripping the necklace tightly, and flopped onto my bed, the weight of it pressing against my chest. The room seemed darker now, shadows creeping into every corner, my heart still racing. I wiped a tear that escaped down my cheek, barely feeling it.

How did I let it get this far? How did I let myself become a stranger to the people I love? I thought of Tina and Veronica. My best friends, my sisters in everything but blood. They had no idea what I was hiding. They thought I was strong, independent, and in control. They had no idea about the price I was paying, the debt I owed.

And then there was Edam. Sweet, kind Edam. He didn't know, either. No one knew. And every day, it felt like I was playing a dangerous game, building a house of cards on lies. I had told him, when we first met, that I didn't want anything serious, that I wasn't ready for any strings attached. But how could I say that when I was the one tangled in strings. Caught in a web I'd woven myself?

I rolled over, clutching my pillow. I didn't mean to fall for him. I didn't mean to let my guard down. But I was lonely, so damn lonely. Tina and Veronica had their own lives, their own worries, and I didn't want to burden them with mine. So when Edam came into my life, I took the chance to escape, even if it was only temporary.

But now, here I am, breaking my own rules, breaking my own heart.

Maybe I should tell him. Maybe I should just let him in, let him see the mess I really am. But no...no, I couldn't. He wouldn't understand. No one would understand.

I closed my eyes, trying to force the thoughts away, but they lingered, taunting me with every heartbeat. My mom always said that crying would lighten the burden, but I didn't know what I was crying for anymore. My life, my lies, or the fear that I was running out of time to make things right. I didn't know how long I could keep this secret hidden, how long I could pretend that everything was okay.

I swallowed, feeling the ache in my throat as tears slipped silently down my cheeks, the weight of the necklace still in my hand. The nightmare might've been over, but the real nightmare. The one I lived every day. Wasn't going anywhere.

One day, I promised myself, one day I'll tell the truth. I'll tell them all. I'll show them who I really am. But until then...

I curled up, clutching the necklace against my chest as if it could protect me from the truth. The tears kept coming, my silent confession in the dark, my only witness the empty room around me.

_______________________________

"Sometimes, the hardest part of love isn't the falling, but the letting go of the walls you've built to protect yourself."