Chapter 7: The Truth Behind the Lies
Hours dragged by. It was nearly late evening, but Valentina still sent Megan on an errand. Valentina ordered Megan to bring documents and gifts to Ava Blackwood’s place. She was asking for another favor from Ava, and wanted to impress her with gifts to win more favor. More than that, she wanted to keep their alliance strong so Ava would never reveal the secrets she knew about what Valentina had done to Megan years before.
Valentina could have sent the parcel during the day, but she chose night on purpose to make the journey hard for Megan. Ava’s home lay far from the city center where they lived. She made Megan take public transport instead of sending her with the Hartmann family driver.
After an hour on the bus, Megan had to walk several miles to reach the estate, as no other vehicles passed that way. When she finally arrived, the guard let her through and she knocked on the glass door. A woman who looked like a personal bodyguard opened it and smiled.
“Good evening. I am Ms. Ava’s personal assistant. How may I help you?”
“I have documents and gifts for your employer. Ma’am Valentina Cross sent me.”
“Very well. Please come in. She is having tea with her nephew and is waiting for them. Follow me to the living room.”
“Thank you.”
“You are welcome.”
The assistant led the way, walking ahead to announce her arrival. Ava was not alone. As Megan stepped into the room, she saw a man sitting opposite her. He was tall, dark, and powerfully built. Megan felt a flicker of recognition. She paused, trying to place where she had seen him before.
Hatred rose in her chest as she remembered. It was Daylan. Caspian’s family had pulled her out of college because of him.
Daylan had lied to the Hartmanns, claiming he and Megan were in a relationship. She had been only a teenager then, and Theodor Hartmann had been furious. He believed his money was being wasted on a girl who cared more about romance than her studies. He had felt betrayed and disappointed in her.
Questions raced through Megan’s mind as she stared at him. Had Valentina planned all of this? Had she bribed him in the past to tell those lies against me, just to ruin my chance to finish college? Was that why he had made up those accusations out of nowhere years ago?
She wanted to scream at him, but she held back. If they realized she had figured out the truth, she knew Valentina would make her suffer again. She forced herself to calm down, straightened her posture, and stepped forward to hand over what she carried.
Megan gave a faint smile and greeted Ava, but she ignored Daylan completely. Every part of her wanted to strike him with the folder in her hands.
“Good evening, Madam.” She held out the items.
“Good evening. Thank you. You may leave now. I know it will be a long journey back,” Ava said with a soft laugh. “Valentina always knows exactly how to make things difficult for you.” She began reading the papers, paying no more attention to Megan.
Megan turned to go, but before she could step out of the room Daylan stood up and walked toward her with a sweet smile.
“Megan? Is that really you? You look even more beautiful than I remember. Do you recognize me?”
Megan said nothing. She walked faster toward the door, her anger rising until it felt hard to breathe. His presence was suffocating.
Daylan followed her anyway.
“I will tell Valentina I want to invite you to dinner this weekend. I am sure she will give you time off work,” he said.
So Valentina and he were still in contact. Megan looked at him with a blank face, though inside she burned with irritation. She never wanted to see him again.
“Why are you doing this?”
He smirked slightly. “Let us just say I have grown quite interested in you. I would like to be your friend. Or perhaps something more?”
Megan stayed silent. She was furious that he would act so casually after ruining her life. She would never be his friend.
When she did not answer, he spoke again.
“I know I hurt you. I regret what I did. Please let me explain why I lied.”
“It does not matter anymore,” Megan said firmly. “I do not need your explanation. The damage is already done.”
“Even so, I need to say it. I want to apologize. I want to make things right. Please give me a chance to fix what I broke.” Daylan stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
“Why did you tell those lies to the Hartmann family?” Her voice was calm, but her eyes burned with anger.
“My mother needed Aunt Ava’s help to save our company from bankruptcy. In exchange for her help, Aunt Ava ordered me to lie to help Valentina carry out her plan against you. I had no choice. My mother and Aunt Ava left me no way out,” Daylan said, and genuine regret crossed his face. He sighed deeply.
“So your mother got what she wanted at my expense.” Megan could barely believe how easily they had used her.
“I have wanted to apologize ever since I saw what my lies did to you.”
“If you truly meant it, you would have done it years ago.”
“My mother stopped me. She sent me abroad to finish my studies right after. When I graduated, I refused to come back and take her place in the company. I worked overseas for years to show her I disagreed with what they had done. I wanted to tell Theodor Hartmann the truth, but she would not let me. She was terrified Aunt Ava would turn against her. I only came back last month because my mother fell ill, and my father begged me to return and take over.”
“If you are finished, please let me go. I must get back before Ma’am Valentina becomes angry at how long I have been gone.”
“Megan, please forgive me.”
“It is too late. I do not want to talk about it.”
“I will not stop asking until you do. I will come to the mansion to see you.”
“No! Do not. Stay away. It will only make my life there worse.”
“Worse? Why?” Daylan looked confused. “To be honest, Aunt Ava was the one who suggested I reach out to you. They would not let me near you before, but now they say it is fine.”
“If you truly want to make amends, do not do what they tell you.”
“Why?”
“Because I am afraid they are planning something else. They did it once, and I fear they will do it again.”
Daylan paused. “You may be right. I will be more careful this time. I will not let them use me again.”
“Then do not come to the mansion.”
“Very well. I will respect your wish.” He looked at her earnestly. “But I hope one day you will be able to forgive me, Megan.”
“I will try.”
“Thank you.”
“I must go now.”
“Go safely.”
Megan hurried out of the villa as soon as she could. She wanted to be far away from him. No apology could give her back the future they had stolen.
As she walked past the gate, she glanced back to see if he had followed. She could not shake the feeling that Ava had sent him to spy on her, not to make peace. She felt paranoid, but she knew she had to be careful. It felt exactly like Valentina was setting another trap for her.
When she looked back, Daylan was gone…but something else caught her eye. A man stood in the doorway of the private gym. Could that be Morgan? Her heart hammered against her ribs. No, I must be imagining things. She stared for a long moment, and the man looked up and met her gaze for a second before she looked away and hurried on. He looked so much like Morgan. But if it really was him, he would have come to me by now. He always tried to speak to me before. Yet this man did nothing. He was not Morgan. If he was, what was he doing here with people she considered her enemies? Was he a friend, or was he just another trap?