Chapter 5: The Lie That Protected Me
“They were warning me that you were in danger.””
Ryan’s words stayed in my mind long after the call ended.
I stood frozen in Claire’s apartment, the phone pressed against my ear, unable to understand what I had just heard.
Not using him.
Not stealing from him.
Not lying to him.
Danger.
“What do you mean?”” I whispered.
Ryan didn’t answer immediately.
I could hear movement on his side of the phone.
A drawer opening.
Papers shifting.
Like he was searching for something while talking to me.
“Emily, I found an old folder in Mom’s office.””
My heart started beating faster.
“Why were you in her office?””
“Because after you left, I went back to look at the camera.””
I closed my eyes.
The camera.
The thing Linda thought would save me.
The thing she thought she had destroyed.
“What did you find?””
“I checked the footage.””
My breath caught.
“Ryan…”
“I saw everything.””
The words hit me.
Not because I didn’t want him to know.
Because I had waited months for someone to see.
“I saw Mom grab your hair.””
His voice cracked slightly.
“I saw her push your head into that bucket.””
I looked down.
My hands started shaking.
“And?””
“And I saw you fight back.””
I swallowed.
“Ryan, I didn’t—”
“I know.””
The way he said it stopped me.
Not angry.
Not accusing.
Just broken.
“I know, Emily.””
For the first time in a long time, I heard my husband believe me.
But then he continued.
“There’s something else.””
I looked toward Claire.
She was watching me carefully.
“What?””
“Mom had printed screenshots.””
“Of what?””
“Messages.””
“From who?””
Ryan was silent.
Then:
“From you.””
My heart dropped.
“What?””
“She had messages from an unknown number. They looked like they were from your phone.””
I felt cold.
“Ryan…”
“I know.””
His voice became urgent.
“But I checked the dates.””
“What dates?””
“They were sent before you even had that phone.””
I stopped.
“What?””
“That’s why I’m calling you.””
My mind raced.
Someone had used my identity.
Someone had created fake messages.
Someone had built a story about me.
A story Linda had spent years making Ryan believe.
“Ryan, where are you?””
“At home.””
“Are you alone?””
Another pause.
“No.””
My chest tightened.
“Who’s there?””
“My mother.””
I looked at Claire.
“Why?””
“Because she came back.””
My stomach turned.
“What do you mean?””
“She said she wanted to talk.””
“And you let her?””
“I needed answers.””
I heard something in his voice.
Something I had never heard before.
Doubt.
Not about me.
About her.
“What did she say?””
“She said you were dangerous.””
I closed my eyes.
Of course.
Even now.
Even after everything.
Linda was still trying.
“She said you manipulated me into marrying you.””
I almost laughed.
“Ryan…”
“I know.””
He interrupted.
“I know how it sounds.””
“No.””
My voice softened.
“You don’t know.””
A silence followed.
Then I said the words I had been afraid to say for years.
“You never saw me.””
Ryan didn’t respond.
“You saw what your mother wanted you to see.””
The silence became heavier.
“I’m sorry.””
That apology almost hurt more.
Because I had waited for it.
And now that it came, I realized it couldn’t erase everything.
“Ryan…”
“I should have listened.””
“Yes.””
The honesty surprised him.
But I continued.
“I needed you to listen when I was scared. Not after you saw proof.””
“I know.””
“No, you don’t.””
My voice broke.
“You don’t know what it feels like to beg someone you love to believe you.””
I heard him breathe out.
“I know I hurt you.””
“Yes.””
“I don’t know how to fix this.””
I looked at Claire.
At the sister who had helped create the storm around me.
“I don’t know either.””
After the call ended, Claire remained silent.
For once, she didn’t try to explain.
She didn’t defend herself.
She just sat there.
“You knew about the messages.””
Her eyes lowered.
“Yes.””
“How much?””
“Enough.””
“Enough for what?””
“To know Linda was lying.””
I stared at her.
“But you still helped her.””
Claire wiped her face.
“I didn’t know what she was planning.””
“You keep saying that.””
“Because it’s true.””
“Then why are you scared?””
That question made her freeze.
I stepped closer.
“You’re not scared because Ryan found out.””
She looked at me.
“You’re scared because Linda is losing control.””
Claire didn’t deny it.
“Emily…”
“No.””
I shook my head.
“I need the truth.””
She looked exhausted.
“I was supposed to destroy the messages.””
My eyes widened.
“What?””
Claire looked away.
“She asked me to delete them after Ryan saw them.””
My stomach twisted.
“You helped her erase evidence?””
“I thought they were fake.””
“And now?””
She closed her eyes.
“Now I know they were fake.””
“Because?””
“Because I helped create them.””
The room went silent.
I stared at her.
“What did you say?””
Claire started crying.
“I didn’t write them.””
“But?””
“I gave Linda information.””
My blood ran cold.
“What information?””
“Things only you and I knew.””
I took a step back.
“You told her my private conversations.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“I was angry.””
“That’s your excuse?””
“No.””
She looked at me.
“It’s my reason.””
I hated that part of me understood.
Not forgave.
Never forgave.
But understood.
People didn’t always become cruel because they hated someone.
Sometimes they became cruel because they were carrying something ugly inside themselves.
And Claire had let hers destroy us both.
“What exactly did you tell her?””
Claire hesitated.
Then she said:
“I told her about your old relationship.””
My face changed.
“What old relationship?””
She looked at me.
“The one before Ryan.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“I dated one person before Ryan.””
“I know.””
“Everyone knows.””
“But Linda used it.””
“How?””
Claire swallowed.
“She made it look like you had been hiding him.””
“That’s insane.””
“Yes.””
“What did she tell Ryan?””
Claire looked terrified.
“She told him you were still seeing him.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“She sent him fake messages pretending to be from you.””
I felt dizzy.
“And Ryan believed that?””
“At first.””
“Then why did he marry me?””
“Because he found out the truth.””
I frowned.
“What truth?””
Claire looked at me.
“He found out the messages were fake.””
My chest tightened.
“Then why didn’t he tell me?””
“Because Linda convinced him someone else was trying to sabotage the wedding.””
I stared.
“She protected me?””
Claire nodded.
The world shifted.
“Wait.””
I sat down slowly.
“You’re telling me Linda created fake messages to make him doubt me…”
“Yes.””
“But then she told him they were fake?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Claire’s face became serious.
“Because she needed Ryan to believe only she could protect him.””
A chill moved through me.
“She wanted to make herself necessary.””
“Yes.””
The pieces started connecting.
Linda didn’t want Ryan to hate me.
Not completely.
She wanted something worse.
She wanted him dependent on her.
She wanted to be the person he trusted more than anyone.
She wanted to be the voice in his head.
My phone buzzed.
A message.
From Ryan.
I opened it.
A photo appeared.
A document.
At the top was a name.
Mine.
Under it were several pages.
I zoomed in.
My heart stopped.
It was a medical report.
A police statement.
And a handwritten note.
From Linda.
*“This is the reason Emily cannot be trusted.””*
I looked at Claire.
“What is this?””
Claire’s face went pale.
“I don’t know.””
“Yes, you do.””
“No.””
She shook her head.
“I swear.””
My phone buzzed again.
Another message from Ryan.
This time, only a sentence.
*Emily, I found the original file.*
Then another message appeared.
*The date on it is impossible.*
I stared at the screen.
“What does that mean?””
Claire slowly stood up.
Her expression changed.
Because she understood before I did.
“What?””
She whispered:
“Emily…”
“What?””
“She didn’t just fake the messages.””
My stomach tightened.
“What else did she fake?””
Claire looked at the document in my hand.
Then at me.
“She created a whole version of your life.””
My phone rang again.
Ryan.
I answered.
His voice was shaking.
“Emily.””
“Yes?””
“I know who helped my mother create the lie.””
I held my breath.
“Who?””
A long pause.
Then Ryan said:
“It wasn’t Claire.””
I looked at my sister.
Confusion spread across my face.
“Then who?””
Ryan’s voice dropped.
“The person who gave my mother your private information…”
He stopped.
“Was someone from my family.””
I frowned.
“Ryan, what are you saying?””
Another pause.
Then:
“My father wasn’t dead when we got married.””
My blood went cold.
“What?””
“Emily…”
May you like
His voice broke.
“My mother lied about him too.””
