Meeting Lewis was like something out of a movie. I was sitting in a little café, cramming for my final exams, when he tripped over his own feet and spilled coffee all over my notes.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” he exclaimed, his face flushed with embarrassment.
I looked up, startled, but then I saw the sincerity in his eyes and couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s okay, really. I needed a break from studying anyway.”
“Can I at least buy you another drink to make up for it?” he asked, a hopeful smile creeping onto his face.
“Sure,” I said, still chuckling. “I’m Jianna, by the way.”
“I’m Lewis. Nice to meet you, even under these…messy circumstances.”
From that day, we were inseparable. Lewis had this infectious charm and an easygoing smile that made everyone around him feel at ease.
Lewis worked as a mechanic, often getting lost in his world of engines and gears. He came from a humble background, which deeply moved me. Despite his modest means, he always found time for our late-night talks and weekend adventures.
Three months into our relationship, I started hinting that it was time for him to meet my parents. But Lewis always had an excuse.
“Babe, you know this project is killing me. Maybe next week?” he’d say, wiping grease off his hands after a long day at the garage.
I sighed, feeling a bit frustrated. “You said that last week, Lewis. They really want to meet you.”
“I promise, Jia, after this deadline, we’ll go,” he assured, his eyes pleading.
One evening, as we were lounging on the couch, I brought it up again. “Lewis, my parents keep asking about you. They want to meet the guy who’s stolen their daughter’s heart.”
Lewis sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. “I know, Jia. It’s just… meeting the parents is a big deal. What if they don’t like me?”
I chuckled, cupping his face in my hands. “They’ll love you, just like I do.”
Finally, after weeks of coaxing, Lewis agreed. “Alright, let’s do it. This Saturday?”
“Really? You mean it?” I beamed, hugging him tight.
“Yeah, really. I want to make you happy,” he murmured into my hair.
Saturday arrived, and my parents were ecstatic. My mom, Maria, made her famous lasagna, and my dad, Robert, even cleaned the grill for a potential barbecue. As Lewis and I pulled into the driveway, I could feel the nerves creeping in.
“Relax, Jia. It’ll be fine,” Lewis assured, squeezing my hand.
We walked up to the door, and my mom greeted us with a warm hug. “You must be Lewis! It’s so wonderful to finally meet you!” she exclaimed, her eyes twinkling.
“Nice to meet you too, Mrs. Walker. Jianna talks about you all the time,” Lewis replied with his trademark smile.
My dad approached, offering a firm handshake. “Robert Walker. Welcome to our home, Lewis.”
“Thank you, sir. It’s a pleasure,” Lewis said, his voice steady.
After a brief chat in the living room, my dad suggested a tour of the house. “Come on, Lewis, let me show you around.”
“Sure, I’d love to see it,” Lewis replied, following him.
They started with the kitchen, moved to the dining room, and finally headed towards the basement. “This is where I keep my tools and stuff. A bit of a man cave,” my dad explained.
Lewis stepped inside, glancing around. “Looks great, Mr. Walker. You’ve got quite the setup here.”
But something shifted in my dad’s demeanor. His face hardened as he looked at Lewis. “Why don’t you step in a bit further, Lewis?” he said, his tone flat.
“Uh, sure,” Lewis said, taking a few more steps into the basement.
Suddenly, my dad slammed the door shut behind him, locking it swiftly. Panic surged through me. “Dad, what are you doing?” I shouted, rushing towards him.
“Stay back, Jianna!” he barked, pulling out his phone. “I’m calling the cops.”
“What? Why?” I was bewildered, trying to push past him to get to Lewis.
“You don’t understand, Jianna. This man… he’s dangerous,” my dad said, his voice trembling with an emotion I couldn’t place.
Lewis banged on the door from the other side. “Mr. Walker, please, open the door! There’s been some kind of mistake!”
My mom, drawn by the commotion, appeared at the top of the stairs. “Robert, what’s going on?” she demanded, her eyes wide with fear.
“I don’t have time to explain right now, Maria. Just trust me,” my dad insisted, dialing 911.
I stood there, caught between disbelief and terror, as the reality of the situation began to sink in.
“Dad, will you please tell me why you did that?” I demanded, tears welling up in my eyes.
“Jia, listen to me very carefully. He’s not really Lewis. He’s actually a wedding con man who robbed my business partner Roger’s daughter Alice two years ago in another city,” my father said, his voice steady but filled with anger. “I recognized him the moment he walked in.”
I stumbled back, feeling as if the ground had been ripped from beneath my feet. “No, that can’t be true. Lewis is… he’s my boyfriend. He wouldn’t do that,” I protested, shaking my head in disbelief.
“Jia, I know it’s hard to believe, but everything he’s told you is a lie. He’s an impostor,” my dad insisted, his eyes softening as he saw my distress.
Just then, we heard a loud crash from the basement. Lewis had broken a window and was trying to escape.
Before we could react, he was gone, disappearing into the night. The cops arrived moments later, but Lewis had vanished.
“I can’t believe this,” I whispered, sinking to the floor. “How could I have been so blind?”
My mom knelt beside me, wrapping her arms around me. “It’s not your fault, sweetie. People like him are very good at deceiving others.”
The cops took statements from us, and my dad explained everything he knew about Lewis, or rather, the man posing as Lewis.
As we talked, my mind raced, trying to piece together the fragments of my shattered reality. I thought back to every moment we shared, every story he told me. Had it all been a lie?
As the police officers were about to leave, I noticed something on the floor near the broken window. It was Lewis’ fitness bracelet. He always wore it, bragging about how it helped him track his workouts. I picked it up, turning it over in my hands.
“Wait,” I called out to the officers. “He left this behind. Can you use it to track him?”
One of the officers, a kind-faced woman named Officer Martinez, took the bracelet from me. “These usually have GPS tracking. If he’s still wearing the linked device, we might be able to find him.”
We handed over the bracelet, and within minutes, the tech team was working on locating Lewis. I sat there, numb, as the house buzzed with activity. My dad sat next to me, his hand on my shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Jia. I never wanted you to go through this.”
“I just don’t understand, Dad. How could he fool me like this? I thought I knew him,” I said, my voice breaking.
“We’ll get through this together,” he said softly. “We’ll make sure he pays for what he’s done.”
A couple of hours later, Officer Martinez returned with an update. “We’ve got a location. His phone is pinging from a motel a few miles away. We’re moving in now.”
I nodded, unable to speak. My mom squeezed my hand. “Do you want to come with us?” Officer Martinez asked.
“Yes,” I replied, my voice firm. “I need to see this through.”
The drive to the motel was a blur. When we arrived, the police moved swiftly, surrounding the building. I stood back, clutching my mom’s hand, as they approached the room where Lewis was hiding.
“Police! Open up!” Officer Martinez shouted, banging on the door. There was no response. They forced the door open, and moments later, they emerged with Lewis in handcuffs.
His eyes met mine, and for a split second, I saw the man I thought I loved. “Jia, I can explain,” he pleaded, his voice desperate.
“Save it, Lewis, or whatever your real name is,” I said coldly. “I don’t want to hear any more of your lies.”
As they led him away, I felt a strange mix of relief and sorrow. The man I had fallen for was a ghost, a figment of a carefully constructed illusion. But I was also free from his deceit, ready to rebuild my life.
Back at home, my dad hugged me tightly. “I’m so proud of you for staying strong, Jia.”
“I’ll be okay,” I said, tears streaming down my face. “It hurts now, but I’ll be okay.”
In the weeks that followed, the truth about Lewis came out. His real name was Andrew, and he had a long history of conning women and stealing from their families. He was charged with multiple counts of fraud and theft, ensuring he would spend a long time behind bars.
As I began to heal, I realized how lucky I was to have a family that loved and protected me. It was a painful lesson, but it taught me to value the truth and to trust my instincts.
I knew I would eventually find love again: real love, built on trust and honesty. Until then, I had my family by my side, and that was enough.
Share
