Desired by All and He Threw Away 30

Chapter 30 

“Nothing. “i shake my head quickly but i feel the heat crawl up my eck a small smile ghosts across his face it is barely there but gone as soon as it comes. 

“Taylor,” he says quieter this time “don’t let them take this from you. You did the right thing, your getting your revenge” his words slip under my skin it is warm and steady i swallow hard nodding even though Im not sure i believe it. 

then my phone buzzes again–Liam. I answer without thinking. “Hey.” 

“Taylor.” His voice comes through, low and rushed. “I just saw the news about Dylan. And… the stuff they’re saying about you and Aiden. You okay?” 

I force a small breath, staring at the faint light bleeding from the window. “Yeah. I’m fine.” 

Its a lie and he probably hears it. the truth is the comments about Dylan dont bother me – he deserves every bit of it. But the ones about me? About us? Those dig deeper than I want to admit. 

“you sure?” he presses softer now. 

“i’ll survive,” i say quietly. “its just noise. It’ll fade.” 

there is a pause, then he sighs. “Alright. Just…take it easy okay? oh and before i forget, Dylan’s girlfriend- or i guess, ex- just posted another video.It’s already everywhere. You might want to check it out before it blows up more.” 

“Got it,” I say. “Thanks, Liam.” 

“hang in there, Tay this will pass,“he says gently. “dont let them twist your story.” 

the call ends leaving a thin ring of silence in its wake 

It doesnt feel like it. I turn to Aiden, who’s already scrolling again. Ella just posted something again.” He tilts the screen 

toward me, and there she is—perfect lighting, soft tears, trembling voice. 

Her caption reads: ‘I can’t stay silent anymore. Dylan and I are done. I believed in someone who wasn’t who I thought he was. 

But I refuse to let lies define me.‘ 

Her voice cracks halfway through the video, but her eyes are sharp practiced. It’s a performance meant to look unpracticed. she is trying to take control,” i say. 

Aiden leans back against the couch, watching her with a half smirk. “And failing miserably.” 

“She looks desperate,” I murmur. “Like she’s trying to rewrite what happened before it hardens into truth.” He looks over at me. “You’d know.” There’s no sting in his words, just quiet respec 

for a moment the tension fades. the storm outside has softened into a low drizzle now just tapping gently at the window. the room smells faintly of rain and coffee. my phone lies facedown on the bed mercifully silent for once. 

i exhale slow and shaky. 

Aiden studies me again, that same unreadable look on his face. “You handled all this better than most people would.” I blink, thrown by the compliment. “You think so, it doesnt feel it, “Yeah. He shrugs lightly. “You didn’t tlinch. You stayed calm, most people would have crash out. That’s rare,” 

Something warm flickers in my chest–unexpected, delicate. I try cover it with a small, awkward laugh. “Guess I’m getting 

used to chaos.” 

“Or you’re just stronger than you realize.” 

The words catch me off guard. They’re simple, but the sincerity in hem feels heavier than the rest of the night combined. “ Thanks,” I say softly. he gives a faint nod and we fall into a comforable quiet the blue glow from the window stretches across the room catching in his eyes softening their usual sharpness. 

for a long time neither of us speaks.we just sit there two people surrounded by the wreckage of other people’s mistakes both 

1/2 

+25 Bonus 

of us pretending not to notice how close our shoulders have drifted 

Outside, the storm seem to have calm down. the world feels momentarily still as if catching its breath.i pick up my phone again not to check the chaos but to look at our reflection in the dark screen- two shapes framed by light and silence. 

And for the second time tonight the noise fades enough for me to hear my mind underneath it all. Something is changing between us, or maybe im just imagine it. 

P 

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