Chapter 157


    Chapter 157Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Thinking about it, | curled my fingers and took a gentle breath before saying, “No need.”


    “Xaviera, do you think this isn’t a good idea?”


    My gaze sharpened, and | locked eyes with Cecilia, blurting out, “Is this your idea, or Hogan’s?”


    “Xaviera,” Cecilia looked at me timidly, cautiously saying, “Are you


    mad?”


    | was instantly steamed, waved my hand dismissively, and said, “Hogan’s got you spoiled rotten, out of touch with the real world.”


    Seeing that | was showing her the door, Cecilia continued, “Xaviera, you''ve got it wrong, it’s not Hogan’s idea, it’s me, | wanted to


    take some pressure off him, it was my call.”


    “Then you can tell Mr. Zade for me,” | managed a strained smile, “a partnership is out of the question.”


    At my words, Cecilia hung her head and asked, “Can’t you give it another thought, Xaviera?”


    By then, my heart had sunk to rock bottom, and | said calmly, “My mind’s made up.”


    After Cecilia left, | copsed onto the bed like a deted balloon.


    Weirdly, my ankle was the one that was hurt, but this dull pain spread from my heart to my limbs, like being inexplicably sucked


    into an ocean above the clouds, suffocating.


    I''d always known Cecilia and | were worlds apart, but | didn’t realize


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    it was like heaven and earth.


    And | was still supposed to be the spectator to their love story.


    What a joke.


    A total failure of a spectator.


    Utterly andpletely defeated.


    Thinking this, | slowly pulled back my wristband and caught sight of


    that vicious scar.


    Maybe loving too hard was my biggest mistake.


    The jarring ring of my cell phone snapped me out of it.


    It was Wallis calling.


    “Xaviera, how''s it going?”


    When | heard that concerned tone, suddenly, my nose tingled, and tears started streaming down uncontrobly.


    “| lost,” my voice was hoarse, filled with resentment, “Wallis, I’ve


    lost.”


    “Xaviera, don’t scare me, what happened? Is Hogan giving you a hard time? Or Cecilia, say something, Xaviera?”


    She shouldn''t have asked; the tears came pouring down like pearls off a string.


    “I can’t find FreeMan,” | choked out, “Wallis, I''m so useless.”


    “Is that what''s got you?,” Wallis sounded relieved, “Don’t panic, | called you exactly to talk about this. I''ve got a new lead on


    FreeMan.”


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    | said incredulously, “What lead?”


    It turned out that, justst night, Morgan shared somendscape photos in FreeMan’s fan group from his trip to Pinecrest Hollow.


    The clever fans followed the clues and dug up two


    off-the-beaten-path spots for FreeMan’s shoots, both near a ce


    called River Vi.


    The fans were sure FreeMan would show up there soon.


    River Vi, wasn’t that the ce Timothy mentioned where his buddy Sean was throwing a party?


    “Wallis, thank you,” | wiped the tears from my face, “Maybe | still


    have a chance.”


    After hanging up, | sshed my face with cold water and scrolled through my contacts for Timothy’s name.


    | dialed, and the call connected within moments.


    “What''s up, Xaviera?”


    | steadied my breath, a bit excited, “Can | stille to the party tomorrow night?”