PART 9:

The life she’d wanted so desperately she’d lied for 3 months to protect it. It was all about to come crashing down. Victoria pulled up Ryan’s contact on her real phone. Her finger hovered over the call button. She could tell him now. Over the phone. Get it over with before she lost her nerve. But that was cowardly.

He deserved better than a phone call. She’d tell him tomorrow face to face. No more delays. The decision made. Victoria felt something loosen in her chest. Fear, yes, but also relief. The lying had been exhausting. At least the truth would be honest, even if it destroyed everything. She heard a sound from Emma’s room, a small whimper.

Victoria got up, went to check. Emma was still asleep, but restless, tangled in her blankets. Victoria carefully untangled her, tucked the blankets back around her. Emma settled immediately, one small hand reaching out and sleep. Without thinking, Victoria took the child’s hand, held it gently. Emma’s eyes fluttered open. Tori, I’m here.

Just fixing your blankets. Will you stay until Dad gets back? Of course. Will you stay forever? Victoria’s throat closed. Emma, I want you to stay forever, Emma whispered, already drifting back to sleep. I told Santa. I asked him to make you stay. She was asleep again before Victoria could respond. Victoria sat there in the dark, holding the hand of a child who’d already lost one mother and was about to lose another.

Tomorrow, she’d tell Ryan the truth. Tonight, she’d let herself pretend just a little longer that she was Tory Brennan, and this life was real, and she hadn’t destroyed everything before it even began. Victoria didn’t sleep that night. She sat in Ryan’s living room until he came back at midnight, grease, stained, and tired.

He’d kissed her good night, thanked her for staying with Emma, asked if she wanted to stay over. She’d said no, needed to think, needed to figure out how to say what she had to say. Now it was morning and Victoria sat in her penthouse staring at her phone. She drafted and deleted 17 different text messages to Ryan.

Everything from, “We need to talk to,” I have something important to tell you to, “I’ve been lying to you about everything and I’m sorry.” None of them felt right. Her mother called. Victoria ignored it. Her CFO called, ignored that, too. Sarah texted asking if she was okay. Victoria didn’t respond. She needed to tell Ryan today.

Before the press figured out who Tori Brennan really was, before someone connected the dots, before Emma got hurt worse than she was already going to be hurt, Victoria pulled up Ryan’s contact, typed, “Can we meet for lunch? Just you and me. It’s important. She stared at the message for five full minutes before hitting send. His response came almost immediately.

Everything okay? We just need to talk. Three dots appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again. You’re scaring me. I’m sorry. I just need to see you. Can you get away around noon? Yeah. Same diner. Victoria almost laughed. Of course, the same diner where everything had started. Where she’d first lied to his face and he’d believed her because why wouldn’t he? See you then.

She had 4 hours to figure out what to say. 4 hours to prepare for the conversation that would end everything. Victoria spent those hours pacing, rehearsing, trying out different approaches. Ryan, I need to be honest with you. My real name is Victoria Hail and I’m a CEO. Too blunt. There’s something I should have told you from the beginning. Too vague.

I love you, but I’ve been lying about who I am. Too defensive. Nothing sounded right because there was no right way to say it. No combination of words that would make the betrayal hurt less. At 11:30, Victoria changed clothes. She couldn’t decide what to wear. Tori’s cheap coat felt wrong now, like she’d be lying even in how she dressed, but her actual clothes, the cashmere and silk and designer labels, those felt like rubbing salt in the wound.

She settled on jeans and a sweater. Neutral, neither identity. The drive to the diner felt like driving to her own execution. Ryan was already there when she arrived, sitting in their usual booth. He looked worried, stood up when he saw her, searched her face. “What’s wrong?” he asked before she’d even sat down.

“Can we just sit first?” They sat. Doie appeared with coffee neither of them had ordered. Gave Victoria a look that suggested she knew something bad was coming. You’re breaking up with me, Ryan said flatly. What? No. Then what? Because you look like someone died. Victoria wrapped her hands around the coffee mug. The ceramic was warm, but her fingers felt numb.

I need to tell you something, and you’re going to be angry. You have every right to be angry. Ryan went very still. Okay. My name isn’t Tory Brennan. He blinked. What? It’s Victoria. Victoria Hail and I don’t work for a nonprofit. I’m the CEO of a technology company called Hail Tech Solutions.

We develop cyber security software. The company is worth about $1.2 billion. Ryan stared at her, his expression didn’t change. He just stared like she’d started speaking a foreign language. I’ve been lying to you for 3 months, Victoria continued, the words coming faster now that she’d started. About my job, my apartment, my roommates, all of it.

👉 [Tap here for the Next Part ] 👈