Lila's heart was pounding as she replayed her conversation with Damon over and over in her head. There was a gnawing fear deep inside her. What if he was telling the truth? What if her life with Aiden was built on a lie? Determined to get answers, she found herself standing outside Damon's office, her knuckles hesitating against the door.
"Come in," a cool voice called from inside.
Lila pushed open the door and stepped into the dimly lit room. Damon was seated behind a sleek, polished desk, his expression unreadable as he watched her approach.
"I didn't think you'd come," he said, his voice clipped.
Lila's hands trembled, but she squared her shoulders. "I need answers, Damon. What did you mean about me having secrets?"
Damon's eyes were hard as he leaned back in his chair. "Lila, you've got no idea what you've gotten yourself into."
"Just tell me, Damon!" Lila's voice cracked, her fear turning to frustration. "What do you know about me?"
Damon sighed, his gaze piercing. "I know enough to see that your past isn't as clean as you think it is. There's something hidden, something… dark."
Lila's heart skipped a beat. "Like what?"
Damon's expression softened, just for a moment. "I don't know all the details. But I know your family, they've kept something from you. And Aiden… he deserves to know the truth."
Tears stung Lila's eyes. "How can you say that? Aiden loves me. Whatever you think you know, it can't be true."
Damon's lips tightened. "Lila, I don't want to hurt you. But I can't just stand by and let you marry my brother without knowing the truth. Aiden deserves better than a shadowy past."
Lila's heart sank. "You don't understand. Aiden and I are… everything. I can't lose him over something from my past."
Damon's eyes softened, a hint of empathy flickering in them. "Lila, I know you love him. But don't you deserve to know the truth, too? What if there's something about you that you don't even know?"
Lila shook her head. "I can't believe this. It feels like you're trying to ruin everything."
Damon's expression was pained. "I'm not trying to ruin anything, Lila. I just don't want to see Aiden get hurt. And I don't want you to be hurt, either."
Lila swallowed hard, her mind reeling. "What do I do now, Damon?"
Damon's gaze was heavy with something she couldn't name. "You have to confront your family, Lila. Ask questions. Find out what they've been hiding from you."
Lila's heart raced. "But what if they don't tell me? What if they've been lying all along?"
Damon shrugged, his expression resigned. "Then you have to make a choice, Lila. Decide if you can live with the truth whatever it may be."
Lila's mind whirled. She couldn't bear the thought of losing Aiden, but Damon was right. She deserved answers. And Aiden deserved honesty.
"I don't know if I can do this," Lila whispered, her voice breaking.
Damon's expression softened, his voice low. "I wish I could help you more, Lila. But this… it's something you have to face on your own."
With that, Damon turned away, leaving Lila standing there, her heart heavy with uncertainty. She felt like she was falling into an abyss, the ground shifting beneath her feet.
Lila's mind raced as she left Damon's office, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and fear. She needed answers; answers about her past, about what Damon had hinted at. But how could she confront her family? They'd always been so close, so loving. The idea that they might be hiding something from her felt like a betrayal.
She made her way to the library, where her parents often retreated after a long day. The room was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of old books and polished wood. Lila took a deep breath, steeling herself before pushing open the door.
Her mother looked up from her book, a smile spreading across her face. "Lila, darling, what's wrong?"
Lila forced a smile, though her heart was heavy. "I need to talk to you, Mom."
Elizabeth's brow furrowed. "Of course, sweetie. What's on your mind?"
Lila hesitated, her fear palpable. "Mom, there's something I need to know. Something… Damon said."
Elizabeth's smile faltered. "Damon? What did he say?"
Lila took a deep breath. "He said there's something about my past… something you and Dad haven't told me."
Elizabeth's expression went pale. "Lila, what did Damon tell you?"
Lila's heart sank. "He said there's something dark, something you've been hiding from me."
Elizabeth's face tightened. "Lila, I don't know what Damon has been saying, but… he's just trying to create trouble. There's nothing for you to worry about."
Lila's eyes narrowed. "But is he right, Mom? Is there something you haven't told me?"
Elizabeth's face went ashen. "Lila, please. Just drop this. Damon is just trying to mess with us. There's nothing you need to know."
Lila's heart ached. "But what if he's right? What if there is something?"
Elizabeth's expression hardened. "Lila, there's nothing for you to know. We love you, and that's all that matters."
Lila's voice shook. "But I deserve to know the truth, don't I?"
Elizabeth's face crumpled. "Lila, please. I can't talk about this right now. Just… forget what Damon said, okay?"
Lila's heart sank. She turned away, her mind reeling. Her mother wouldn't even talk to her about it. What if there really was something they were hiding?
Lila spent the rest of the day in a daze, unable to shake the fear and doubt. She didn't want to believe what Damon had said, but what if he was right? What if her entire life with Aiden was a lie?
That night, as she lay in bed, staring up at the dark ceiling, Lila made a decision. She couldn't just ignore Damon's words. She needed to find out the truth, no matter how much it hurt.