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 should've let it go — another night of Ava napping on my lap in the office, cocoa mugs still warm, her ridiculous glittery pink socks propped up on my desk as she babbled about monster movies and chemistry tests.


But the hallway felt… off when I walked her back to her room.


Too quiet.Too still.Like the air had been disturbed just moments ago.


The scent of her strawberry perfume lingered on my shirt. But there was something else. Expensive perfume I didn't recognize. Sharp. Cold. Familiar.


I tucked Ava into bed — yes, at sixteen, and no, I don't care how ridiculous that sounds. She curled up immediately, thumb almost in her mouth before she caught herself and hid it under the pillow. Her lashes fluttered against her cheeks, and I let myself hover just a moment longer. Brushed a strand of hair off her forehead.


I'm not stupid. This house is wired — cameras in every hallway, motion sensors, door logs, silent alarms. Every inch accounted for.


That shouldn't be possible. I created this system. Personally.


I rewound the footage. Fast-forwarded. Paused. Slowed.


Hallway clear. No motion. No door creaks. But I could feel it — someone had been there. Right outside my office. Listening. Waiting.


Not Ava. I'd had eyes on her the entire time. She was too busy fighting me for the last marshmallow in her cocoa.


And the camera conveniently blinked off — again — at the same timestamp as last week. As the week before that.


Once is a glitch. Twice is coincidence.


I stared at the screen, jaw tightening.


I'd bet every cent in my account it was Rain.


And for the first time in a long time, I felt something sharp in my blood.


Ava was in the next room. Sleeping, probably dreaming about pink-haired vampires or whatever ridiculous movie she made me watch.


She didn't know someone was watching her when she laughed. Clung. Kissed my cheek. Called me Seb in that sunshine-syrup voice.


I stood slowly. Walked to the hallway again. The air was still cold.


She was here. I knew it. And if she was watching…


And if she thought I'd ever let her touch Ava — even metaphorically?


She had no idea what kind of monster I could be.


Chapter 23 - Dead Zones