CHAPTER 23: CHAPTER 23: THE EDGE OF THE LIE

POV: Aaron

6:47 AM — The Silence That Screams

I knew something was wrong the second I walked into the kitchen.

Not just wrong. Off. Tilted. Like reality had been nudged a few degrees sideways and no one else noticed but me.

Milo was already at the counter, pouring cereal with all the enthusiasm of a prisoner receiving his last meal. Elena sat at the table, her hands wrapped around a mug like it might anchor her to Earth.

Nobody was talking.

Not even pretending to be normal anymore.

I tried. God help me, I tried.

"So, uh... anyone see that new Dune trailer?"

Nothing.

Elena blinked. Milo didn’t even lift his head.

Okay. Cool. Just me. Drowning in air.

7:02 AM — The Flashback That Won’t Leave Me

I don’t even remember how it started. That’s the worst part.

It wasn’t some slow-burning, cinematic thing with candles and stolen glances.

It was subtle. Stupid.

One night we both reached for the same wine glass, our fingers brushed, and she laughed—really laughed—and for a second I forgot she was married to my dad.

The second time it happened, we were on the couch. Some rom-com was playing. She leaned her head on my shoulder. I didn’t pull away.

That should’ve been the end of it. But it wasn’t.

I kissed her three days later.

She didn’t stop me.

She kissed me back.

And after that... well, the world split open. And I just kept falling.

8:15 AM — Milo, Cold as Ice

I followed Milo outside.

"Hey," I said, trying to sound casual. "You good?"

He nodded but didn’t look at me. He was focused on his phone, or pretending to be.

"You sure?" I pressed.

Silence.

"Milo."

"What do you want me to say, Aaron?" he finally muttered.

I swallowed. "That we’re okay?"

He turned to face me. His eyes weren’t angry. They were sad.

"You want us to be okay, but you’ve done something that makes that impossible."

I froze.

"What do you mean?" I asked, trying not to sound guilty.

He shook his head. "Don’t insult me."

He walked away before I could ask if he’d told anyone.

10:20 AM — A Message From Her

Elena slipped me a note when I passed by the hallway.

We were becoming good at this — passing secrets like spies in a collapsing kingdom.

It was folded tight, one word on the front: "Now."

I found her out back, near the fence, pretending to water the rosebush my dad never shuts up about.

She didn’t turn around when I approached.

"He knows," she said quietly.

My stomach dropped.

"Elena—"

"He found the letter. I don’t know when. But he read it."

My heart pounded in my ears. "Did he say anything?"

"Only that he gave it back to me."

I exhaled. Relief, fear, shame — all wrapped up in one sick, spiraling breath.

10:32 AM — What the Hell Am I Doing?

"I should leave," I said.

She turned around. "No."

"What else can I do?"

"End this," she whispered. "Like we always said we would."

"But we never did," I said. "You never meant it."

"You think I wanted to fall in love with you?" she snapped, voice trembling.

I didn’t answer.

Because I didn’t know if I wanted to hear the truth.

12:10 PM — The Dad Conversation

Dad was home for lunch.

He tossed his keys on the counter, cracked open a soda, and sat across from me at the table like it was any other day.

"You’ve been quiet lately," he said.

I looked up. "Just tired."

"Something wrong with Elena?"

My skin prickled. "No. Why?"

"She’s been acting funny. Avoiding me. That’s not like her."

I forced a laugh. "Maybe she’s just tired too."

He squinted at me. "I know that look."

"What look?"

"The one you used to get when you broke the neighbor’s fence and tried to pretend it wasn’t you."

I forced a smile.

He didn’t press. But he didn’t believe me either.

1:40 PM — Guilt Is a Loud Room

I sat in my bedroom for almost an hour, staring at my ceiling and hearing every echo of the past few weeks.

Her breath when we kissed.

The way she said my name when no one was listening.

Milo’s voice when he said I hurt people without knowing it.

I used to think this thing was beautiful. A secret oasis. Us against the world.

Now it just felt dirty. Sharp. Like a trap I built for myself and couldn’t escape.

3:00 PM — Almost Telling the Truth

I came this close to telling my dad.

He was sitting on the patio, feet up, sun on his face.

I walked out there. My heart was racing. My mouth opened.

"Dad..."

He turned his head, squinting. "Yeah?"

I blinked.

"Can I borrow the car later?"

He nodded. "Keys are by the door."

And just like that, I became a coward again.

5:15 PM — The Twist I Didn’t See Coming

The note was on the kitchen counter.

Folded. Unmarked.

At first, I thought Elena left it.

But then I saw the handwriting.

It wasn’t hers.

It was Milo’s.

I unfolded it.

"Secrets aren’t weapons until someone picks them up."

No signature.

But I knew.

And suddenly... I realized I wasn’t the only one on the edge of the lie anymore.

📘 End of Chapter 23

💬 YOUR TURN!

Did Milo just put Aaron on notice... or is he going to actually do something next?

Who’s going to crack first — Elena, Aaron, or Dad?

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❤️ Tap that heart if you felt Aaron’s guilt crashing down.

🔔 Follow to get Chapter 24 — where the consequences start showing up at the front door.