Heirloom Lies / Chapter 3: Where She Belongs Now
Heirloom Lies

Heirloom Lies

Author: Valerie Clark


Chapter 3: Where She Belongs Now

I ruined Derek’s birthday party. Word would spread by sunrise. Atlanta society loved a scandal more than bourbon. There’d be think pieces in the local magazine before breakfast.

But Derek didn’t care much. He just shrugged, already bored. It was like my outburst was just another story for his friends over whiskey.

The house manager started ushering guests out, staff cleaning up the mess. Jeff, always calm, moved quickly, waiters sweeping glass, guests muttering goodbyes, and the band packing up.

That beautiful woman stayed, quietly by Derek’s side, her eyes lowered the way kids do when they’ve learned not to talk back. Her presence was a statement—unapologetic, unmoved by the disaster.

Even her mannerisms echoed Lila. It was haunting, the way she smiled softly, never meeting my gaze. Derek looked at her like Lila had come back from the dead.

My hands still shook, my dress stained with wine. The contrast was obvious, and the whispers would follow me for weeks.

Derek played with her fingers, glancing at me. He twined his hand through hers, casual as breathing. Then, without looking at me, he tossed out, "Why are you so upset?"

His voice was flat, like he couldn’t imagine why I’d care.

"If you don’t want to see her, I’ll have her stay somewhere else."

He flicked a dismissive hand, my feelings just an afterthought.

"Relax, I promised Grandma Carol—I’ll never take away your title as Mrs. Langley."

That was supposed to comfort me. My worth was the title—something to keep, not cherish.

The woman turned, voice sugary-sweet. "Mrs. Langley, why get upset? A man like Derek’s never going to have just one woman. I just admire Derek; I won’t get in your way."

It wasn’t even a real apology, just a statement—like I was supposed to be grateful for her courtesy.

I took off my ring and set it on the table in front of Derek. My hands didn’t tremble. The gold band made a soft thunk on the oak.

His eyebrows shot up, eyes narrowing like he was finally interested.

"I’m giving your ring back," I said, quiet but clear. For the first time, everyone listened.

Derek picked up the ring, spun it on his finger, and tossed it high—showing off for the crowd. The diamond flashed under the chandelier, then landed back in his hand. He tossed it to the woman behind him. "Here, a ring worth a fortune. Mrs. Langley says she doesn’t want it, so she doesn’t want it."

He didn’t even look at me. She caught it, startled but smiling.

Derek stood, sneering, and told Jeff, "Find someone to teach her some manners. I don’t want to see a scene like this again."

He took a few steps, then turned back. The room hushed. He threw his own ring on the floor. It clattered, rolling across the hardwood and stopping at my feet.

"If you don’t want the rings, then toss them both." His voice was cold, final. He left me there, surrounded by broken glass and promises.

You may also like

The Prescott Heir Was Never Mine
The Prescott Heir Was Never Mine
4.8
Desperate and starving, Tara fakes a connection to a dead heir—only to become the beloved daughter-in-law of the town’s most powerful family. But just as she settles into her new life, the real Danny Prescott returns from the grave, and her secret threatens to destroy everything. With the truth closing in, can she protect her twins—or will her lies cost her the only home she’s ever known?
Inheritance of Broken Promises
Inheritance of Broken Promises
4.9
A triumphant young woman’s victory is upended by a televised confrontation with her birth family, forcing her to defend her true father and reclaim her narrative. As public spectacle turns to personal reckoning, Autumn’s courage exposes old wounds and paves the way for both herself and her estranged sister to break free from cycles of abandonment and sacrifice.
I Loved Him in Every Lifetime
I Loved Him in Every Lifetime
4.8
A single act of mercy binds Lila, an ordinary fisher girl, to the world of Maple Heights’ most powerful family. Haunted by fragments of another life—and a love that left her in the shadows—she finds herself thrust into a battle of inheritance, secrets, and whispered betrayals. As the new heir ascends and old wounds resurface, Lila faces an impossible choice: reach for the love that destroyed her once before, or settle for safety in a world that never wanted her to belong. When survival means giving up her heart, will Lila finally break the cycle—or be forced to relive her heartbreak again?
Her Words, Their Lies: Heiress in Hiding
Her Words, Their Lies: Heiress in Hiding
4.8
Betrayed by her boyfriend and best friend, framed for plagiarism, and hounded by vicious online mobs, Natalie Porter’s world crumbled in a single night. But when her enemies think she’s lost everything, Natalie erases her author identity and returns to her billionaire mother’s estate—ready to watch the thieves flounder without her genius. With revenge simmering and the truth poised to explode, can the real heiress reclaim her name and destroy the ones who stole her story?
Framed in Maple Heights
Framed in Maple Heights
4.9
A lie shattered our lives. When my childhood friend Jay was framed for a crime he didn’t commit, the whole town turned its back—except for his sister Marissa, who sacrificed everything to clear his name. But in Maple Heights, loyalty is a double-edged sword: every kindness comes with a price, and the truth is just another secret buried beneath gossip and power. As Marissa’s fight for justice spirals into tragedy and Jay claws his way back with a dangerous new plan, old enemies close in, ready to destroy them all over again. When justice fails and vengeance calls, how far will love go to survive? And when the truth finally comes out, who will be left standing?
Her Mother’s Love Was a Lie
Her Mother’s Love Was a Lie
4.7
Shellie brags about a perfect home and a loving mother, but her frayed clothes and empty lunch tray tell another story. When her secret unravels in a brutal, public betrayal, even her desperate loyalty can't save her from the truth: the only thing more painful than hunger is a mother’s rejection. Now, as her former classmate, I can’t stop chasing the ghost of the girl we all broke, even if it means facing what I did to her.
I Left Him the Day She Returned
I Left Him the Day She Returned
4.9
Some ghosts wear familiar faces. When Autumn Whitaker—the woman who once destroyed her mother’s life—appears at Lillian’s husband’s side, it’s like staring into a mirror and watching the past reach for her throat. In a single, devastating afternoon, Lillian burns her bridges: a clean break, a cold goodbye, and a walk into the storm of old family wounds. But Maple Heights is a town that never forgets, and history is always hungry for a repeat. As her stepsister Autumn circles closer, wielding secrets and charm, Lillian must decide: will she let the cycle of betrayal consume her, or write her own ending at last? When love, loyalty, and revenge collide—who will be left standing?
Shattered Vows, Stolen Hearts
Shattered Vows, Stolen Hearts
4.9
Lillian thought her bond with Harrison Whitmore was unbreakable—until a cunning rival rewrote the rules of their world. Betrayed and erased from her own story, Lillian must fight for the truth and her own future, even as everything she loves slips away. Will she reclaim her place, or discover a new path beyond heartbreak?
The Town That Died for My Lies
The Town That Died for My Lies
4.8
Emily was the pride of her dying Midwest town—until she slaughtered everyone who ever loved her. Now, shackled and smeared in shame, she stuns the nation with one final confession: her 'little brother' was never her brother at all, but the secret son she hid from everyone. As her true motives unravel under the glare of Deputy Chief Reed, the world must ask—how far will guilt, desperation, and a monstrous lie drive a girl who once carried all their hopes?
Heir’s Pawn, Twice Betrayed
Heir’s Pawn, Twice Betrayed
4.9
He was the heir I saved from the fire—the man who would become both my salvation and my undoing. When Gabriel Whitmore returned to claim his fortune, the town buzzed with secrets, but no one knew I’d lived this moment before. In another life, I asked for love and became a pawn in their games—betrayed, locked away, poisoned by the girl who wore white at his side. This time, I bow my head and ask only for safety, but the Whitmore estate is a maze of old grudges and new dangers. Judge Langley plots, Gabriel’s heart hardens, and I must decide if survival means giving up on hope forever. Can I break free of the cycle, or will history repeat itself—one heartbreak at a time?
Reborn to Break the Carter Curse
Reborn to Break the Carter Curse
4.7
I spent a lifetime as First Lady, loved by all—yet my heart shattered when I learned my childhood sweetheart, Noah, truly loved my scheming half-sister. Reborn with the chance to choose again, I vow to marry for myself, not family duty, even as Noah and Lillian conspire to ruin my happiness. When my painstaking wedding veil is stolen and turned into their plaything, I swear: this time, I’ll claim the life and love I was denied.
Married Into Poison: His Mistress, My Secret
Married Into Poison: His Mistress, My Secret
5.0
In the Prescott mansion, love is a weapon and loyalty is a trap. Lila never wanted to marry the governor’s son, but to protect her family, she became Jackson Prescott’s wife—a pawn in a house of secrets, mistresses, and silent threats. Each day is a new test: from arranging lovers for her husband to dodging the cruel games of the powerful women around her. But when a pregnancy scandal erupts and poison nearly claims Jackson’s life, Lila discovers that the real enemy may be lurking even closer than she feared. As betrayal and desire collide, Lila must decide: will she survive by playing along, or risk everything to rewrite the rules? When everyone in the house has something to hide, can love outlast the lies—or will the next secret be her undoing?