Chapter 16: Lies We Live By
It was all lies.
Everything.
From the moment he was born, Julian had been fed a steady diet of false promises, illusions, and distorted truths. And now, it felt like he was living inside one big lie.
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The school buzzed with whispers.
Students crowded around their phones. Max Kade's face splashed across the trending newsfeed.
"Max Kade Exposed: Sex Tapes, Corruption, and Mafia Ties."
But as the shockwaves hit the school, a silence crept in Julian's heart. He should've felt victory, but all he felt was emptiness.
Eva tapped him on the shoulder.
"Why do you look like that?" she asked, her voice low, laced with concern.
He didn't answer immediately.
Max was broken. His empire crumbled. Yet, Julian knew...
This wasn't the end.
It was only the beginning.
---
As Julian sat at his desk, a familiar voice cut through his thoughts.
"Julian Rivers. You're a hard man to find."
He turned to see Professor Mikhail standing in the doorway. Mikhail, 42, with graying hair and dark circles under his eyes, exuded an air of mystery. He was the kind of teacher that only spoke when necessary, but when he did, it felt like he was talking to your very soul.
"I think you've been looking for me, Professor," Julian replied coolly, his eyes locking with the older man's.
"You could say that," Mikhail said with a half-smile, walking toward him. "I have a proposition for you."
Julian raised an eyebrow, intrigued but cautious.
"Go on."
"There's a place," Mikhail continued, lowering his voice. "A place that holds answers to your father's disappearance. But it's not something anyone should want to find. If you're looking for closure… you might not like what you uncover."
Julian's pulse quickened, but he remained composed.
"Why do you think I'm interested?"
Mikhail hesitated, then leaned closer, his voice almost a whisper. "Because you're already involved. You just don't know it yet."
Before Julian could respond, Mikhail walked out, leaving him with more questions than answers.
---
Julian wasn't ready to be back.
But the underground world had a way of calling to him, pulling him in even when he tried to escape. The Vault was a toxic blend of temptation, destruction, and raw power.
Tonight, it was worse.
Felix Kade stood in the middle of the room, his grin sinister, eyes blazing with malice.
"I've been told you've been causing problems for my family," Felix spat, his voice dripping with venom.
Julian remained unfazed, leaning against the wall. "Your family's problems are your own. Don't drag me into them."
"You think this is just about Max?" Felix chuckled darkly. "This is bigger than you think, Rivers. You're part of something much more dangerous."
"Maybe I don't care," Julian muttered.
But deep down, he knew Felix was right. This wasn't just about Max. It was never just about Max.
Felix stepped closer, a malicious glint in his eyes. "I'll make you care. Soon enough."
Julian didn't flinch. He knew exactly what this was.
A warning.
But a warning for what?
---
Julian stood in the center of his apartment, staring at the glowing watch. The last few hours had felt like a fever dream. Every piece of the puzzle felt scattered, and he was no closer to putting it all together.
[Task Update: Uncover the Secret Behind The Vault. Reward: Unlock New Skill – Subterfuge.]
Julian's finger hovered over the accept button.
"Subterfuge…" he muttered, letting the word roll off his tongue.
What was this watch turning him into?
---
Eva sat on the couch, flipping through a magazine. When Julian walked in, she didn't immediately look up. But he could feel the shift in the air—the tension, the change.
"Where have you been?" she asked softly.
Julian walked over and sat next to her, but his mind was a million miles away.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," Eva added, turning to face him.
He ran a hand through his hair. "I'm just trying to figure things out."
"Are you sure it's not all just… too much?" she asked, her voice low, a hint of concern hiding beneath it.
Julian's eyes met hers. There was so much he wanted to say. So much he wanted to admit. But the words wouldn't come.
"I don't know how much longer I can keep doing this."
Eva reached out, her fingers brushing his. "Then don't. Come back to me, Julian. We'll figure it out together."
But Julian's mind raced with the task at hand. The watch, the dark web, Max Kade's empire, Felix Kade's threats—everything was weighing on him.
"Maybe," he whispered, "but not right now."
---
Julian stood at the edge, looking down at the glowing lights of Crestmont city below. He felt like a stranger in his own life, surrounded by false friends, corrupted power, and fractured promises.
The watch pulsed again, like it knew he needed more.
[New Task: Destroy Max Kade's Family Empire. Reward: The Ultimate Power to Rewrite Your Past.]
Julian closed his eyes.
He had no choice.
The truth was he was already too far in.
And he didn't know if he was willing to turn back.
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