Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 77265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
I’m trapped in a lie.
They’ve twisted my mind so that I barely recognize who I am anymore. In this new prison, I’m the devoted wife of a brilliant, deceptive man who holds the key to my carefully constructed reality.
But something is missing and my soul aches.
As the cracks in my mind widen, fragments of a life I don’t remember claw their way to the surface. A name lingers on the edges of my thoughts and sends a shiver down my spine.
Caius.
This new life is a nightmare but not real. The truth holds steady in my heart, showing me the way. I know Caius is searching for me. We’ll soon find our way back to each other.
The people who did this to me think they’ve won and broken my mind forever.
They were wrong.
Once I find him, we’ll expose every facet of their evil empire.
Together, we will burn it all to the ground.
Cup of Lies is book three in The Crowne Conspiracy trilogy. This book is a dark, psychological romance that contains triggering content. This book completes the series.
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PREVIOUSLY IN MIND MAZE…
Still trapped under Caius Crowne’s control, Romy Langston struggled to heal after Gareth’s horrific betrayal. As she fought to regain her strength, she was forced to spend Christmas in New York with her estranged father, Gideon Langston, and her stepmother, Eva. There, memories long buried began to surface, especially when she recognized her childhood nanny, Vivienne, as the true “monster” from her past.
When Romy confronted her father, he dismissed her accusations and pushed for stronger medication to silence her. But the truth only grew louder. Using Kaitlyn’s Barbie dolls, Romy uncovered the horrific secrets Vivienne and Gareth tried to keep hidden.
As Romy clung to the fragile bond she was forming with Caius, their relationship deepened into something far more dangerous—real love. But every step closer pulled her deeper into the Crownes’ control.
During Eva’s birthday celebration and President Huxley’s gala, Romy began seeing the cracks in their perfect world. Subliminal messaging. Mind control. Corruption at the highest level. As new threats closed in, including the charming but sinister Seth Portman and Doc Junior, Caius made a bold move. He publicly proposed to Romy, shattering the president’s manipulative spell over them.
Romy helped Megan Benson break free from CUP’s grip, but in doing so, exposed herself. Her brother, Bastian, assaulted her, and Caius came to the rescue. Unfortunately, in his quest to find answers about his sister, he left Romy in a vulnerable position, and Theo swept in.
Caius uncovered horrifying secrets about Romy’s past—including a doll that tied everything back to her captivity. But before he could save her, Theo betrayed them both. Drugged and kidnapped, Romy was delivered straight into the twisted clutches of the masterminds behind the mind control.
Caius, desperate to find her, was ensnared by his father’s lies. They framed Romy as a traitor, drugged him, and forced him into choosing between saving Romy or his long-lost sister, Calista. Trusting his heart, Caius chose Calista—believing he could return for Romy.
Both Romy and Caius became victims of their enemy’s most devastating weapon yet: the Stem Lock procedure.
Six months later, Romy wakes to a perfect life—a husband, a daughter, a home, and a growing baby. But it’s all a lie. Her memories have been wiped clean. Her mind belongs to someone else now.
Someone who is not Caius.
Romy
My mind is a liar.
It’s been playing tricks on me since I was a little girl. I’ve learned not to trust it. To be suspicious of every thought and skeptical of every memory.
I’m on constant alert, always at odds with my overactive brain.
Is it lying to you now?
Yes.
Somehow, deep in the hollow cavity of my chest, I feel it. There’s an empty ache inside of me, begging me to remember.
Except, everything is perfect.
People with perfect lives don’t agonize over strange feelings. They give in to the goodness around them and don’t take a second for granted.
I’m married to a hardworking man, have an adorable and sassy daughter, and each day grow bigger with a new little one on the way. My home is immaculate, and my heart is happy.
Liar.
The pain in my chest intensifies to the point I wonder if I’m suffering from heartburn.
Stop lying to yourself, Romy. Think.
The only time I can really do my thinking is when Seth is at work. At one time, I hated the long hours he put in, but more and more lately, I’m grateful for them.
Something doesn’t add up with him.
I absently rub at the newest bruise on my wrist. Seth says I’m clumsy and always bumping into things. How come I can’t remember when I do? Why does this bruise feel and look like a thumbprint that is the exact size of his?
Your mind is tricking you, Romy. He’s a good husband. You’re making something out of nothing.
Am I, though?
As I fold towels, I get caught up staring at the giant picture above our fireplace. It’s a wedding photo of me and Seth. The funny thing is, I can’t remember it. I’m not sure when it even took place. I refuse to broach the topic again, though, because it puts Seth in a dark mood. Sometimes I feel like I’m disappointing him—like I’m not turning out the way he thought I should be. But the picture is perfect—too perfect—as though someone painted on our fake, smiling faces. It doesn’t feel authentic to me.
I peek in on Kaitlyn, happy to see she’s quietly playing with her dolls. Since it’s raining, she can’t go outside to play. As much as I love to entertain her, sometimes I need a break.
Tiptoeing back to my room, I do my best to dig through the dark, hidey holes of my brain. Surely I’ll remember something about our wedding. Was Dad there? Bastian?
A flash of anger ripples down my spine, making my skin burn hot.
Strange.
Why does it feel like I should be mad at them?