One Lie,Too Many

Bella stood in the middle of Monroe's ruined apartment, holding the shattered picture frame with its edges tearing into her palm.

Mason and Monroe. Together. Years ago. Smiling like they were brothers.

Her throat felt tight. She was in shock.

"You are going to explain," she whispered, "or should I keep finding out the rest of this story on my own?" She asked him.

Monroe didn't look at her. He slumped onto the couch behind him, wincing from the gunshot wound in his shoulder. "It's not what you think." He said.

"Then make me believe it. Explain this." She said loudly.

He sighed heavily. "We both worked together in military security. Mason was black cops, I was ground support. We did some dirty jobs back then. We got paid well and got out when it got too dark." He explained.

Bella crossed her arms. "And Emily? You both 'got out' before or after she died?" She further asked.

Monroe's jaw tensed. "I don't know Emily. I do not know who she is. I swear on that. I didn't know she was involved until I saw her name pop up on the internal watchlist months after her death. That's when I started digging."

"And Mason?" She asked.

Monroe looked up. "He got burned, used and thrown under. When the operation fell apart, they needed a scapegoat. Lang made him take the fall for the medical trials. He disappeared for two years. That's when I lost contact."

Bella wanted to scream. "You should've told me. From day one. Why did you keep it away from me "

"I didn't know if I could trust you," Monroe snapped. "I didn't know if you were like her. I mean if you're bold, reckless and ready to die for the truth. Emily got in too deep. I figured… maybe you'd survive longer if I let you hate him."

---

That night, Bella didn't go back to Mason.

She didn't answer his messages. Didn't respond to his calls.

But she did go to his house.

She went alone.

She let herself in using the spare key he had previously shown her.

The place was spotless. Too spotless.

Bella moved straight to his study room.

She found a locked drawer. She didn't hesitate, she took a hairpin from her purse and forced the drawer open.

Inside the drawer, there was a flash drive, an unmarked folder and a photograph of Emily.

The photo was creased, clearly kept too long in someone's pocket.

Emily was smiling.

And beside her, There was Mason.

Bella sank into the chai beside the drawer, staring at the photograph in her hand.

So he had known her more than he claimed.

More than just in passing.More than he told her.

The flash drive was warm in her palm.

She plugged it into her laptop and opened the only file on it.

A video.

---

She heard Mason's voice.

From behind the camera.

"Emily, you have to stop this. You're going to get yourself killed."

Emily's voice was shaky. "They're hurting people, Mason. Kids and young girls. You saw the reports?"

"I know," he said. "But we have to be very careful. You're not bulletproof."

Emily laughed bitterly. "You think this is about me? You think this is about what they did to me?"

There was silence.

Then Mason whispered, "Tell me, what did they do to you?" He asked Emily.

Emily hesitated.

"They took something from me. And I'll never get it back."

Bella felt tears fully in her eyes.

Mason's words were barely audible: "I'll protect you." His voice was soothing and calming.

---

Then the screen went blank.

Bella shut down the laptop.

Mason had loved her sister wholeheartedly.

He truly loved her.

And maybe… maybe he had tried to save and protect her.

So why did he lie?

Why keep it all from Bella?

Why hide the past from her?

---

A door creaked behind her.

She turned back sharply.

Mason stood there in front of her , rain dripping from his coat, eyes heavy with something she couldn't read.

"You broke in," he said quietly.

"I had to." She replied.

"You found the drive?" He asked.

She nodded.

He stepped closer, cautiously. "Bella, I didn't want you to carry this weight."

"That wasn't your choice."

He breathed, shakily. "I wanted to protect what remained of her. And then I saw you and I didn't know where she ended and you began."

Bella's heart was broken .

"I'm not her," she said.

"I know you are not her." He reached out. "But I'm still trying to figure out how to love you without hurting you."

Bella stepped back.

"You don't get to decide if I'm ready for the truth. You either trust me or you don't. You either love me or you're still holding on to a ghost."

Mason froze.

Then, finally, he said: "Lang's hosting a gala next week. A fundraiser. It's where everything started for Emily."

"What about it?" She asked.

"I think it's where it's all going to end."