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 was halfway to Chemistry, earbuds in, hoodie up, my mood semi-stable thanks to two texts from Seb this morning:


Don't skip breakfast, baby.Love you more than anything.


Yeah, okay. I smiled like an idiot for thirty straight seconds.


Things had been… better. Not perfect, but better. I hadn't touched a cigarette or club floor in weeks. Ever since that night he followed me and caught me red-handed, everything changed. The look in his eyes—more disappointed than angry—that haunted me for days.


So I stopped. Cold. I stopped for him.Because he's the only thing I've ever really cared about.


But I guess the universe doesn't like letting people be happy for too long.


Leaning against the wall like she belonged here. Dark shades, perfect hair, red lips. Rain.


I slowed. Took one earbud out. She smiled like venom.


"You've grown up," she said, pushing off the wall, heels clicking. "Almost pretty enough to pass for my daughter."


I rolled my eyes. "Unfortunately, I am your daughter."


She tsked. "You always did talk too much."


"You always did show up where you weren't wanted."


That wiped the smirk off her face for a second.


"You really think he's going to love you forever?" she said. "That you can keep playing house with Sebastian and he'll never realize who you really are?"


I didn't flinch. I folded my arms and gave her a look as blank as the one Seb gives reporters.


"You think you've got him wrapped around your finger. But I knew him first. I knew him before you even opened your eyes."


"Cool," I said. "You want a medal or therapy?"


"I'm going to take him back," she whispered, stepping closer. "I'm going to remind him who he really belongs to. And when I do, he'll see what a lying, sneaking little—"


"Bitch?" I snapped. "You wanna call me that, Rain? Go on. Do it. Let's see how far you get before I snap that plastic nose of yours."


She blinked. The Rain I remembered was always two things: dramatic and calculating. But she wasn't used to this Ava. The version who'd grown teeth.


"I'm not scared of you," I hissed, stepping in so close our noses almost touched. "You think I care that you know about the parties? The boys? The drinking? That was old me, sweetheart. Try to keep up."


She stared at me, confused. I didn't explain. Let her think I was still sneaking out every night. Let her run to Seb with lies that wouldn't stick. I didn't need to prove anything.


"I've got news for you," I added with a smile that tasted like poison. "Seb doesn't even let you call him Seb. But me? He calls me his baby. His whole world. You can try to take him, sure."


I leaned in, just enough to whisper it right into her ear.


"Try it. And I'll burn your whole world down."


She took a shaky breath. I walked past her without looking back.


And for the first time in my life, I didn't feel like the clumsy, clingy girl who cried too easily.


Chapter 11 - Try Me, Mommy Dearest