The Story of a Lie by Robert Louis Stevenson

A young man named Dick Naseby falls in love with a girl but, in trying to please her, lies about his father's past, presenting him as a noble figure. When the truth eventually emerges, the consequences threaten to ruin everything. The plot is driven by themes of social pressure, self-deception, and the fragility of trust. Stevenson critiques Victorian moral expectations and emotional repression. A story about how even well-meaning lies can fracture relationships.