Chapter 105
One of the physios leans forward squinting. “Doesn’t that necklace look like the one Aiden bought his girlfriend? The fancy one from the community event?”
Laughter bubbles from the back corner.Short, Curious. Almost hungry.
I swallow. “It’s not-“Vanessa cuts me off with a laugh–sharp, not amused.More like she’s unsheathing something.” so you expect us to believe you didnt steal it?” her voice carries just enough fake innocence to make my skin prickle.
“Vanessa-“I start.She folds her arms. “Or what? You magically stumbled into a mysterious millionaire boyfriend who buys jewelry that just happens to match the pieces the tabl
A couple interns snicker behind her.Someone nudges someone else.the doorway with a grin that makes my teeth clench.
bsess over?”
om guy Jace leans on the
maybe Aiden’s girlfriend isnt that mysterious after all,” he says. ” she kinda looks like Taylor doesnt she?” that hits like a slap.
heat rushes to my cheeks so fast it feels like i just stepped into an oven.my heartbeat stutters then gallops i wish i could hide the flush shove it back under my skin pretend it does not mean anything.
but i can feel every pair of eyes on me waiting watching like they are connecting dots that arent theirs to
connect.
“its not what you think, “i say the words tumbling out too fast.i can hear the strain in my voice thin stretched fragile. ” i got it from a friend. As a thank you. That’s all.”
The room doesn’t relax.no one nods or shrugs or accepts it.instead there is a silence filled with exchanged glances.Little smirks.raised eyebrows.And then Vanessa. Always Vanessa.she studies my face then the necklace then me again. Slowly. Meticulously.
like shes peeling away layers i didnt give her permission to touch.
“right,” she says softly.
Too softly.
“A thank you.”
her smile edges across her face but it never touches her eyes. Those stay sharp. Focused. Predatory.she looks at me like she is just been handed the most interesting rumor of the season and she fully intends to unwrap it in front of everyone.,
i move past her because standing still feels too dangerous.my legs are trying to carry me forward but every step feel so wrong. Heavy.like im dragging something behind me.
whispers bloom in my wake. “Did you see–?““It’s definitely the same one.““She didn’t even deny it right.““Do you think…?”
“No way.”
1/2
Chapter tots
+25 Bonus
“But maybe”
the words blur together a low hum of judgment that crawls under my skin like static.i push open the door to the therapy hallway but the sound follows me there too bleeding through walls clinging to me.
My chest tightens with every step.the necklace burns against my skin.Not painful–just aware. Too aware.It’s the weight of their eyes. The questions.
The assumptions.The way Vanessa looked at me like she’d spotted a crack and planned to wedge it wider.And beneath all that noise, something deeper presses in–the fear that’s been building ever since yesterday.
How long can i do this?
how long can i stay here in the middle of Aiden’s world pretending i ca but still carries everywhere he goes?
how long until someone pushes hard enough and everything shatters?
my fingers brush the necklace again.
Warm. Solid. Familiar.
ne spotlight he never asked for
by the time i reach the therapy room my steps arent just heavy they feel anchored like each footfall sinks deeper than the last.my breath comes shallow scraping the edges of my lungs.
not because of the necklace.
but because Vanessa’s suspicion follows me like a shadow i cant outrun.
and for the first time standing in this hallway with whispers still clinging to the air behind me i wonder something i have been avoiding for weeks.
Something sharp.
Dangerous.
Unavoidable.
How much longer can I keep standing in Aiden’s world…without being crushed by what people think they see?
