Pretty Lies in the City:

In the shimmering glass mansion towering over New York City, sixteen-year-old Ava Chen lives a life split in two. To her father, Sebastian, she's the perfect daughter—sweet, clingy, always fussing over him with “Did you eat?” and “Are you okay?” She’s his sunshine, his everything. What he doesn’t know is that once she steps out of the house, Ava becomes someone else entirely: a wild-hearted rebel who races bikes, hops clubs, and leaves boys in the dust.

Sebastian Chen isn’t your typical father. He’s only thirty-two, but looks twenty-five—tall, terrifyingly handsome, and possessive beyond reason. He raised Ava alone after her mother, Rain, disappeared right after giving birth. To the world, they look more like lovers than father and daughter, drawing stares and whispers wherever they go.

But their dangerous peace is shattered when Rain returns.

She's been watching. She knows Ava’s secrets. And she’s here to rip them apart.

Rain claims Ava stole Sebastian from her the moment she was born. That Ava is a liar, a manipulator, and that Sebastian was never meant to be a father. As cracks form in their perfect world, Sebastian must face the terrifying truth: What if the daughter he loves more than anything… is hiding darker lies than he ever imagined?

"Pretty Lies in the City" is a dark, twisted, and heart-wrenchingly emotional manga-style novel about obsession, secrets, and the kind of love that defies every rule.

I knew the second I walked into the house and saw the lamp on in the living room. Seb never leaves it on. Not unless he's waiting.


My boots clicked too loud against the marble floor. My hoodie reeked of smoke and sweat and guilt. I tried to move past the living room like I didn't notice, like maybe I could still slip by.


His voice.Rough. Cold. Soft in the worst way.


There he was, sitting on the edge of the couch, elbows on his knees, ringed fingers loosely interlocked. Shirt sleeves rolled, veins popping, jaw clenched. Eyes unreadable.


"I was out with friends," I said, voice small. Too quick. Too stupid. "Just...late-night coffee."


"Ava," he repeated. This time, sharper. "Don't lie to me."


The silence that followed was suffocating.


He stood. Slowly. Like he was trying not to scare me. That scared me more.


He walked over. Tucked my hair behind my ear. His thumb brushed the faint bruise near my jaw—barely visible, but not to him. Never to him.


"You've been doing this for a while, haven't you?" he asked. Not accusing. Just...tired.


Something snapped in me then. My throat clenched, eyes burned. I grabbed his wrist, held onto it like it was the only thing keeping me upright.


"I'm sorry," I choked out. "I'm sorry, Seb."


"I didn't mean to lie, I just— I didn't want you to hate me. I didn't want you to look at me like you're looking at me now."


His hands found my shoulders. Warm. Steady.


"Because you're all I have," I whispered. "You're all I've ever had."


Tears ran hot and fast, shoulders shaking, body collapsing into his chest. He didn't push me away. He never does. His arms wrapped around me, crushing, safe.


I clung to his shirt like a lifeline. "I love you more than anyone, Seb. I swear. I just—I got lost. I didn't know how to tell you."


"You're sixteen," he said quietly. "You're allowed to screw up. But not like this. Not behind my back. Not lying to me."


"Well, I do," he said, voice rising for the first time. "Goddamn it, Ava. You think I'd survive if something happened to you?"


I looked up at him then. His eyes were glassy. Red-rimmed. My tough, terrifying dad—


I wiped my cheeks. Pressed my forehead to his. Whispered, "I'm still your girl."


He cupped my face in both hands, kissed my forehead like it was sacred. "You always will be."


Chapter 7 - I’m Still Your Girl