Prologue / Chapter 1: The Perfect Lie

Shattered Silence

Ava Dawson has spent her entire life walking on eggshells. To the outside world, her family is perfect—wealthy, respected, untouchable. But behind closed doors, she lives in fear. Controlled by a manipulative mother, ignored by a father who refuses to see the truth, and tormented by a sibling who thrives on her pain, Ava has learned that silence is the only way to survive.

But silence has a price. Every bruise, every cruel word, every shattered dream has taken a piece of her. The walls are closing in, and the more she fights, the tighter their grip becomes. Just when she thinks she’s out of options, a chance at escape presents itself. But freedom isn’t easy—especially when the people who claim to love you will do anything to keep you under their control.

As dark family secrets come to light, Ava realizes that escaping her past won’t be as simple as running away. The deeper she digs, the more dangerous the truth becomes. And some truths are better left buried.

Will Ava break free from the chains that bind her, or will her silence become her prison forever?

A story of pain, resilience, and the unbreakable will to survive—Shattered Silence will grip your heart and leave you breathless.

---------

Chapter 1 – The Perfect Lie

The house looked perfect.

From the outside, it was everything people admired—a grand two-story home with tall windows, a neatly trimmed lawn, and a white picket fence. A place where a happy family should live. A place where laughter should echo through the halls, where warmth should fill every room.

But inside, it was cold. Silent. Suffocating.

I sat at the long dining table, my hands neatly folded on my lap. The smell of roasted chicken and garlic rice filled the air, but I had no appetite. Not when I could feel my mother’s gaze burning into me from across the table.

"Eat," she said, her voice sharp, controlled. A warning.

I picked up my fork, forcing myself to take a bite. The food tasted like nothing, like paper in my mouth. I chewed slowly, carefully. Any wrong move could set her off.

My father sat at the head of the table, scrolling through his phone as if he wasn’t even there. As if he didn’t notice the thick tension in the air.

And then there was him.

Liam. My older brother. The golden boy. The one who could do no wrong. He leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips as he tapped his fingers against the table. He wasn’t eating either—he was watching me.

Waiting.

I knew what that meant.

Dinner would be over soon. And then it would start again.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "May I be excused?" I asked, keeping my voice soft, careful.

My mother’s eyes narrowed. "You’ve barely eaten."

"I’m not feeling well," I lied.

For a moment, silence filled the room. And then—

The sharp clatter of silverware against a plate.

Liam chuckled under his breath. My father didn’t even look up.

"You always ruin dinner," my mother muttered, shaking her head. "So ungrateful."

My chest tightened.

I lowered my gaze, gripping my fork so tightly my knuckles turned white. I wanted to scream. To fight back. But I knew better.

Instead, I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. "I’m sorry."

"Go," she said, waving her hand dismissively.

I pushed back my chair, my legs unsteady as I stood. I could feel Liam’s stare following me as I turned toward the hallway.

I needed to get to my room. Lock the door. Just make it through the night.

But before I could take another step, his voice stopped me.

"See you later, little sister."

My stomach twisted. My hands clenched into fists.

Because I knew exactly what that meant.

And there was nothing I could do to stop it.

---

I walked down the hallway as calmly as I could, even though my heart was pounding. Each step felt heavier, like I was dragging myself toward something inevitable.

My bedroom door was just a few feet away. If I could just get inside, lock it—

A hand grabbed my wrist.

I froze.

Liam.

He was behind me before I could react, his grip tight, fingers digging into my skin. My body tensed, fear crawling up my spine.

"Where are you going in such a hurry?" he murmured, his voice low, mocking.

I kept my head down. "To my room."

He chuckled, pulling me closer. "You didn’t even say goodnight."

My stomach churned. I hated this. Hated how he played these games.

"Goodnight, Liam," I whispered, forcing the words out.

His fingers traced up my arm, slow and deliberate, making my skin crawl. "That’s not how you say it," he murmured.

I bit my lip, willing myself to stay still. To not react. That’s what he wanted—to see me flinch, to see me break.

"Let go," I said, barely above a whisper.

His grip tightened. "Or what?"

The hallway was silent. My parents wouldn’t come. They never did. No matter what they heard, no matter what they knew.

I swallowed hard, my hands trembling. "Please."

For a moment, he just stared at me, his dark eyes filled with something twisted. Then, finally, he let go, shoving me back a little too hard. I stumbled but caught myself.

Liam smirked. "Run along, little sister."

I turned and rushed into my room, locking the door behind me. My hands shook as I pressed my forehead against the wood, squeezing my eyes shut.

Breathe. Just breathe.

I listened—waiting, hoping.

A few seconds passed. Then his footsteps retreated down the hall.

Only then did I let out the breath I’d been holding.

I was safe. For now.

But I knew this wasn’t over. It never was.

---

I stood there for a long time, forehead pressed against the door, my breaths uneven. My hands were still trembling, my skin still crawling from where Liam had touched me.

I wanted to scream.

I wanted to cry.

But I did neither.

Instead, I forced myself to move. To lock the second bolt on my door, even though I knew it wouldn’t stop him if he really wanted to come in.

I turned around, my room bathed in darkness except for the faint moonlight seeping through the curtains. The space was neat, everything in its proper place—just how my mother demanded it. The bed perfectly made, the desk organized, the books lined up in alphabetical order. A perfect room for a perfect daughter.

Only, I wasn’t perfect. Not to them.

I sat on the edge of my bed, my body aching with exhaustion, though I hadn’t done anything all day except exist. And existing in this house—surrounded by them—was enough to drain the life out of me.

I stared at my reflection in the vanity mirror across the room. The dim light made my features look softer, almost fragile. My dark hair fell in loose waves around my face, my eyes dull, hollow.

Was this really me?

Or was I just a ghost of the girl I used to be?

I reached for the drawer, my fingers brushing against the cold metal hidden inside. The small pair of scissors I kept there, my only source of control.

My breath hitched as I ran my fingers along the sharp edge.

One cut. Just one. To remind myself I was still here. Still real.

But before I could press down, a sound made me freeze.

A knock.

I stiffened, my fingers curling around the scissors as my heartbeat thundered in my chest.

"Lai—" My voice broke before I could finish his name.

Silence.

Then, another knock. Louder. More insistent.

Panic flared in my chest. I scrambled to hide the scissors under my pillow, my breaths coming out too fast.

"Open up," Liam’s voice drawled through the door.

I squeezed my eyes shut. No. Not tonight. Please, not tonight.

I didn’t answer. Maybe if I stayed quiet, he’d leave. Maybe—

The handle rattled.

"Don’t make me ask again, Ava," he warned.

I forced myself to move, legs unsteady as I stumbled toward the door. My fingers hovered over the lock, hesitation gripping me like ice.

If I didn’t open it, he’d get mad.

If I did…

My hands shook as I twisted the lock.

The door swung open instantly, and there he was. Liam leaned against the frame, his smirk lazy, his eyes dark with something unreadable.

"Took you long enough," he muttered, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.

I moved back instinctively, but he was already too close.

"Did I scare you?" he asked, tilting his head as he watched me.

I shook my head. "No."

His smirk widened. "Liar."

His fingers brushed against my hair, tucking a strand behind my ear. My entire body locked up.

"Mom’s upset with you again," he murmured, as if it was just casual conversation. "Says you’re always ruining things."

I swallowed, my throat dry. "I didn’t do anything."

Liam sighed, shaking his head. "You never do."

His hand dropped from my hair, but the tension in the air didn’t ease. If anything, it thickened.

Then, without warning, he reached out—his fingers gripping my chin, forcing me to look at him.

"You should be more grateful, you know," he mused. "You have a good life here."

My nails dug into my palms. "If it’s so good, why don’t you take my place?"

Something flickered in his eyes. Amusement. Annoyance. Maybe both.

"You always have such a sharp tongue," he muttered, his grip tightening just enough to make me wince.

I wanted to fight back. To shove him away. But I knew better.

Liam liked to play with his food before he ate it.

And I… I was the food.

"Get out," I whispered, my voice barely holding steady.

For a moment, he just stared at me. Then, he chuckled, finally letting go.

"Sleep tight, little sister," he said, stepping back toward the door. "We’ll talk more tomorrow."

He left just as quickly as he came, the door clicking shut behind him.

I stood there, my legs trembling, my chest rising and falling too fast.

I should have been relieved. But I wasn’t.

Because I knew…

Tomorrow would be worse.

And I had no way out.

---

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***