**A Life Built on Lies**
When Oliver finished school, he had no close friends. His father, William Hartley, had controlled every aspect of his life since childhood, and his mother always backed him up. They lived in Manchester, where the family was considered part of the elite. Oliver’s grandfather had been a high-ranking executive at a major factory, and his father, William, had inherited both the position and the belief that their family was superior.
William often lectured his son:
*»People like us—you included—should never associate with just anyone.»*
*»But Dad, what do you mean by ‘just anyone’?»* Oliver asked, confused.
*»Those who can’t offer anything of value. Trust me, son, there are too many of them,»* his father replied sternly.
William constantly screened Oliver’s school friends, forbidding him from speaking to certain people. As a result, Oliver grew up isolated. He resented it—he was nearly an adult, yet his father still dictated his every move.
University was his only hope for freedom. Oliver had planned to apply to a specific college, but his father intervened.
*»You’ll attend the Polytechnic. I have a friend there who’ll keep an eye on you,»* William insisted.
The one silver lining was that the Polytechnic was in Liverpool. Oliver hoped distance would loosen his father’s grip. He longed to rebel, to choose his own path—but he quickly realised he had no idea how to live independently.
*»I’ve never had my own place, no connections to help me find work… I’ve been sheltered my whole life,»* he thought. *»Fine. I’ll get my degree, save money, and then escape far enough that my father can’t reach me.»*
University life was uneventful at first. He made friends, dated a few girls—but his father still received reports about him, knowing almost everything he did. Still, William hadn’t interfered… yet.
In his fourth year, Oliver fell hard for Emily, a bright, modest girl from an ordinary family. She lived in student housing, paid her own way, and worked tirelessly. They met at a party and soon became inseparable. Oliver was renting a flat—courtesy of his father, who kept a spare key and made unannounced visits every few weeks.
Their relationship grew serious. Oliver adored her independence, feeling ashamed of his own privilege. But there was one problem.
*»If my father finds out Emily’s background, he’ll ruin everything. I can’t let that happen.»*
So he lied. He told her his parents were traditional—no living together before marriage, no serious relationships without their approval. He avoided her on campus, terrified his father’s spy would notice.
By their final year, they were making plans.
*»We should tell our parents soon,»* Oliver said one evening.
*»Mine know about you, but not our plans,»* Emily replied.
Oliver hoped his father would approve—Emily was excelling in her field, already offered a prestigious job. Surely William would respect that.
Then, one spring day, his father summoned him home.
*»Your mother’s ill,»* Oliver lied to Emily, knowing she’d understand.
At home, he was blindsided. His parents had arranged a marriage with the daughter of an old friend, Charlotte. A venue was booked, a flat purchased—everything decided without his input.
Stunned, Oliver spoke privately with Charlotte.
*»I’m not thrilled about this either,»* she admitted. *»But my father found out about my affair with a married man. This is his solution.»*
Oliver, too accustomed to obedience, rationalised: *»We’ll pretend for a year or two, then divorce. Emily will wait.»*
He returned to Liverpool, avoiding the truth. *»Dad’s secured me a job in Manchester,»* he told Emily. *»We’ll have to postpone the wedding. But I’ll visit often.»*
She reluctantly agreed.
After graduation, they parted briefly—Emily to her hometown, Oliver to Manchester, where he married Charlotte in a hollow ceremony. They honeymooned in Spain, during which Oliver called Emily, claiming illness.
When he returned, she was gone. Her mother coldly informed him: *»She’s moved away. Don’t call again.»*
Years passed. Oliver never divorced. He and Charlotte lived as strangers, raising a son who wasn’t his. He dated other women, travelled alone, but never forgot Emily.
Decades later, his dying mother confessed: Emily had called, pregnant with his child. William had dismissed it, assuming the baby wasn’t Oliver’s.
At 45, Oliver tracked Emily down. She was married, his daughter grown, calling another man *»Dad.»* Emily refused to let him disrupt their lives.
*»Your life is built on lies,»* she said. *»Don’t drag my daughter into it.»*
Devastated, Oliver confronted his father: *»You ruined everything. My real daughter doesn’t know me. The boy we raised isn’t mine. This is your doing.»*
Now, he clings to one hope—that someday, he’ll meet his daughter. Maybe then, he can make amends.
**Lesson learned:** A life controlled by others is no life at all. Deception breeds regret, and the price of obedience is often happiness itself.