Love The Way He Lied

Content Warning: Violence

This novel contains scenes of physical violence, Sexual assault, bloodshed, and emotional trauma that may be disturbing or triggering to some readers. Reader discretion is advised. Please prioritize your well-being while engaging with this content.

"Did you forget me already?" The voice slithered through the dark room like a curse.

Eva stared in horror at Duke Malric Vane, his silhouette outlined by the dim light. That smile that twisted smile was burned into her memory.

"But I remember you clearly," he said, stepping closer. "My little angel."

Eva's body dragged backward, crawling across the floor as her legs trembled beneath her. "P-Please… don't touch me," she cried, tears spilling down her cheeks.

"Don't be like that," he murmured with a sinister softness. "It's not the first time I'm touching you."

Eva wrapped her arms tightly around herself, her breath shaking. "Please… just let me go…"

Duke Vane tilted his head. "Now you're making me sad. Last time, we had such a wonderful time together. Did you really forget?"

And suddenly memories surged back like a wave crashing against her skull.

A different room. A younger self.

Her father's voice:

"Eva, this is my friend, Duke Malric Vane. He's your uncle greet him."

"Welcome, Uncle," she had said, smiling innocently.

He had asked her age.

"I turned 15 last week," she had replied.

"Then I owe you a gift," he said.

She had smiled, wide-eyed and trusting.

"Really?"

That night… the knock on her door… the lie about the gift… the lock clicking shut.

Her voice screaming.

His hands.

The darkness.

Back in the present—

Eva trembled violently, the trauma crashing into her like a blade.

She tried to run.

Duke Malric Vane grabbed her ankle and pulled her back. She screamed.

"Where do you think you're going?" he growled, his grip iron-clad.

Eva kicked, scratched, thrashed anything to break free.

He struck her across the face. Her lip split. Blood dripped down her chin.

Her scream was stifled as he clamped a hand over her mouth. Her eyes widened in terror, streaming with silent tears.

"You've grown stronger," he sneered. "But it won't change anything. I heard you got married… does your husband know? About that night?"

Eva's body froze.

"Judging from your face... he doesn't. I wonder what he'd say if he knew his lovely wife wasn't as untouched as she claimed."

He leaned in, whispering. "Do you think he'll love you the same way?"

Eva shook her head in terror.

"Then stop resisting and be a good girl."

She froze… for one second. Then her fingers tightened.

And in one swift movement she grabbed his head and kicked him with all her might.

His body went flying across the room.

She stumbled to her feet, running toward the locked door.

But pain shot through her foot as she collided with a table glass shattered, piercing her skin.

She cried out and fell to the floor, blood trailing beneath her.

The Duke stood up, fury in his eyes.

He grabbed a jagged piece of broken glass and approached.

"You little—"

BANG. BANG.

A loud knock slammed against the door.

Both of them froze.

"Duke Malric Vane?" a voice rang out. Firm. Familiar. "Is everything alright?"

It was Eyan's voice.

(Some Times Ago)

The palace was silent.

Not the peaceful kind of silence but the tense, creeping quiet that slithered through corridors just before something broke.

Inside his private quarters, Emperor Eyan Lucien Therald knelt beside his wolves Talon, Fen, and Mara offering their evening meal. Three bowls of meat, fresh and steaming, lined in front of them.

"Here," he said softly, brushing Mara's head. "Eat. You earned it."

But none of them moved.

Talon's ears twitched.

Fen lifted his nose and sniffed the air.

Mara's head turned slowly toward the door, his muscles stiffening.

Then all three wolves growled deep, low, dangerous.

Eyan froze. "What is it?"

He followed their gaze to the door.

Their growls escalated into snarls. Their claws scraped the marble floor, and suddenly they lunged.

"Hey!" Eyan shouted, standing. "What's going on?!"

The wolves ignored him, scratching viciously at the door.

"You sense something?"

They didn't respond.

Only scratched harder.

Only growled louder.

Eyan yanked open the door.

In a blur of black fur and fury, the wolves bolted into the hallway, tearing down the corridor like shadows racing toward hell.

"Stop!" Eyan yelled. "Where are you going?!"

He ran after them, heart pounding, instincts screaming.

They didn't slow until they reached a door.

Duke Malric Vane's room.

All three wolves stopped at once growling, snarling, claws raking the floor.

Eyan arrived seconds later, chest rising and falling.

"What the hell…" he whispered.

The wolves didn't turn to him. Their gazes remained locked on the door like they saw death waiting behind it.

"This is the duke's room." His voice hardened. "Do you sense danger?"

Fen bared his fangs. Mara barked. Talon's eyes burned with rage.

Something was wrong. Very wrong.

Eyan stepped forward and knocked, loud and firm.

"Duke Malric Vane. Open the door."

(Inside the room)

Eva lay crumpled on the floor.

Her gown was torn, hanging off her bruised shoulders. Her legs shook uncontrollably.

Her hands were scraped. Blood streaked her feet.

The cold floor bit into her bones, but she couldn't move. Couldn't think.

She could only exist in terror.

Then she heard a voice.

A voice like a thread of light piercing a suffocating tunnel.

"Eyan"

Her breath caught in her throat. Her eyes widened with sudden hope.

But the man standing above her Duke Malric hissed, "If you make a sound," "I'll tell your precious husband every last detail."

She froze.

Tears welled in her eyes, but she nodded.

He left her lying there and opened the door.

Malric stepped into the hallway, shutting the door behind him, forcing a casual smile.

"Your Majesty. What brings you here at this hour?"

Eyan's expression was stone. "Is everything alright in that room?"

The wolves snarled violently, inching closer to the duke.

Malric hesitated. "Of course. Why wouldn't it be?"

"They're growling at you like you're a demon."

"I don't know what's wrong with your beasts"

"They are not wrong," Eyan cut in sharply. "They never are."

"Call them off!"

"I did. They won't stop."

Eyan looked down at his wolves.

They stared at Malric like they wanted to rip him apart.

Eyan turned back to the door. His voice was colder than steel. "Open it."

Malric stuttered, "I already said there's nothing"

"I don't care. Open the door. Now."

Hands shaking, the duke turned and unlocked it.

Darkness greeted them.

The wolves rushed inside like arrows fired from a divine bow.

And Eyan followed.

What he saw…

Stopped his heart.

Eva lay there, her body curled in on itself like something that had been broken, discarded. Her clothes were ripped. Her arms wrapped around herself. Her blood stained the floor.

For a moment, there was nothing.

No air. No sound.

Just pain.

Raw and all-consuming.

The kind of pain that turns into fury so deep, it changes a man.

Duke Malric turned to run.

But he wouldn't get far.

Eyan stepped back. and in moment The sword glinted in the candlelight as Eyan unsheathed it.

"Seal the palace," he growled to the guards. "No one leaves."

In the garden, under the moonlight, Malric limped, panting.

Eyan moved like a hunter.

And with one perfect throw, his sword cut through the night and buried itself into Malric's leg.

The duke crashed to the ground, screaming.

Eyan walked to him With Rage in his Eyes

He stepped on the wound.

And twisted.

Malric howled.

"You hurt her," Eyan whispered, voice trembling with rage. "You touched her."

He raised his sword.

But before the blade could fall, a crowd of knights threw themselves at him.

"Your Majesty—!"

Eyan roared, flinging them aside.

His blade rose again.

Then—

"Halt!" came a voice.

Hans.

He ran forward, standing between Eyan and Malric.

Eyan's blade paused just inches from the hans's throat.

"Get out of my way," Eyan said.

"No."

"I will kill him."

Hans's voice cracked. "Think of her."

Those three words pierced through the haze of rage.

"Think of Her Highness. She needs you."

Eyan's breath caught. His eyes flickered.

Slowly… he lowered the sword.

"You're right."

He turned.

And ran back.

in the room Eva sat trembling in the corner, her back pressed against the wall, eyes wide, unseeing.

Eyan entered the room and knelt before her.

Raising his hand to touch her.

She screamed.

"Don't touch me!" she sobbed, shrinking away.

"Lady Eva," he whispered. "It's me. You're safe now."

"Please… let me go… please…"

He froze.

"I won't touch you," he whispered. "But let me help you."

She didn't respond.

He turned to the guards. "Bring a doctor. Now."

The male doctor arrived but Eva recoiled in terror.

Eyan's fists clenched. "Stop. She's afraid of You."

He turned to the guards. "Get a female doctor. Immediately."

He looked at the wolves, still by her side, still guarding her.

"Stay with her."

He turned and left the room.

outside the door, Eyan stood motionless.

Hans approached. "The duke is captured. He won't escape."

Eyan didn't respond.

He stood still.

And silent.

Like a king made of stone.