Dreams Outgrow Rooms Built From Other Peoples Fears by Niro Mason 139

Posted by ADMINMMADMIN, ? Views, Released on January 12, 2026

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139 The Bitter Taste Of Truth [1]

“Tori-”

1

“This marriage is a lie, you’re trying to convince the entire city that you love the devil. If I were in your situation, I would lose my fucking mind. But Catherine, you’re now incorporating that lie into your real life, and that could have pushed me away, but I’m still here because I know, I can feel something’s wrong.”

“I’m sorry…” I murmured. “I wanna tell you, but I can’t drag you into this. It’s dangerous.”

“Dangerous? Cat, what’s going on?”

Shit.

She’s worried and panicked. That is the last thing I want her to feel right now. The less I drag her into this, the better, but lying to her would only prove everything she just told me true. I never

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139 The Bitter Taste Of Truth [1]

realized how much I was lying to the people I

love. My grandparents, Tori. It wasn’t fair to them

or me.

My phone vibrated, and that was my cue.

“Listen, after this I’ll tell you everything, but it’s gotta be at my own pace, things I think it’s safe to know. But right now I need your help. This works out, then I know what I have gotten myself into.”

Tori hesitated for a bit. “Okay, one hour. Anything longer than that is gonna make it suspicious, and I’m sure that’s not what you need right now.” She pushed to her feet. “You owe me.”

I nodded frantically, watching as she walked to Nico and Reed, who were alerted by her presence. But Nico seems surprisingly

welcoming.

“I have to sit with you guys. Cat needs a bathroom break, a long one. What do they put in their

coffee here?”

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139 The Bitter Taste Of Truth [1]

Okay, that’s a load of mortification, and it’s probably gonna be a core memory, but hey, that works! That was the window I needed for this.

I quickly rose to my feet, walking towards the direction of the restroom, but midway, I redirected my steps, making my way upstairs to the far corner and out of sight.

My eyes roamed the space and pinned on Jenna, who took off her sunglasses.

“One hour,” I said when I got close. “That’s all we

have or less.”

I won’t risk Tori. Which meant the faster I got this

done the better.

“Nice to see you too…” Jenna said, amused.

“This is not a friendly meeting.”

“I totally agree.” She leaned against the wall and folded her arms. “I’m guessing there’s no time to sit because you’re on borrowed time?”

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139 The Bitter Taste Of Truth [1]

“Probably less…”

“You never replied when I spoke about Theo Mercer, and then suddenly you were requesting to meet up.”

“That-”

“No cause for alarm. Theo was seen recently, so he’s not missing,” she explained. “All well and

alive.”

H–He’s alive?

I felt a strong wave of relief. “That’s um… Good

news.”

Jenna fixed me with a pointed stare. “Yes, it is, but it doesn’t change the fact he’s involved in something. My source strongly believes he was dragged by Ares‘ men.”

“But hey! He’s alive…”

She scoffed and shook her head. “That aside, I got

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some info.”

“Info about what?”

“It’s not objective, but it has something to do with a partnership that involves Mercer Systems. It’s still a silenced rumor, but the bloggers are running about it.”

Partnership? I thought Theo only set out to have a sponsor?

“Partnership with who?” I asked.

“With Voss.”

“Voss? As in Noel Voss?”

“No, Noah Voss, the son. He’s recently been in charge after his father’s freak accident.”

I blinked. “Wait, when was this?”

“I think after the meeting with King Corp. My guess is your husband didn’t give a satisfying

answer, and Theo Mercer saw a better

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139 The Bitter Taste Of Truth [1]

opportunity and took it.”

Woah! Woah! Woah! The timeline of this was far apart from when he told me he got a sponsor. Was he with Voss the whole time?

“How true is this?”

“I told you there were rumors, but things like rumors can also be created if they didn’t want the real truth out. The rich sometimes like to keep their agenda hidden.”

Then why did Theo stick close to Agatha if he already had a partnership? That was enough to push Mercer Systems for life! Why did he subject himself to Agatha’s manipulation then?

There’s something very fishy about this.

Jenna checked her watch. “We have to stop meeting like this, limited time won’t bear fruit. We’re going in circles here.”

“But we’re getting somewhere.”

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138 The Bitter Taste Of Truth [1]

“How so?”

“You tell me things no one else would, and now I’m gonna need you to be very honest with me.”

“I’ve always been honest, but it’s all up to you to

believe me or not.” 2

I opened my mouth to speak, but she didn’t let

me.

“I have a strong guess that the reason you decided all of a sudden to talk with me again is that you saw proof of what I told you.”

“I don’t even know what I saw…” I whispered.

“But you saw something.” She pushed off the wall and closed the distance between us. I didn’t

realize how tall she was until now.

Jenna sank her hands in the pockets of her high–waisted pants.

“That’s enough…” she murmured. “I’ll look you in

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the eye

when I say this: Ares King is a dangerous

man. You don’t just know it as I do.”

“He doesn’t work for the mafia.”

Jenna chuckled, amused. “Who gave you that

idea?”

“Well, it’s—”

“Ares King is the mafia.”

My breath shuddered, my chest feeling as if it’d come apart. Unlike before, I flipped when she told me something like this weeks ago, but now…? I just can’t because I can’t take off the image of Ares holding that gun.