Chapter 155
I had hoped that the chaos in my life would somehow subside, but the next morning, I was met with
yet another unsettling surprise. As I retrieved the mail from my mailbox, a white envelope with an
official–looking seal caught my eye. I tore it open, my heart pounding with a mix of curiosity and
dread.
Inside, I found a legal document–a protective order. My eyes widened as I read the words on the
page, bile rose up my throat and I had to shove away the urge to vomit. The order stated that I was
prohibited from approaching Ste within a certain distance.
I was beingbeled as an “aggravated stalker.”
I clenched my fists, a mixture of disbelief and anger coursing through me. How had ite to this?
Ste had taken this step to further distance herself from me for something I had no hand in doing!
I picked up my phone and dialed Scarlett’s number, hoping to find answers. After a few rings, she
picked up.
“Your sister sent a protection order, Scarlett!” I practically spat the words out. “Did you know about
this?”
There was a pause on the other end of the line before Scarlett’s voice came
through, apologetic and concerned. “Oh, Evie, I didn’t know she was going to take it this far. I’m so
sorry!”
I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions raging within me. “Why is she doing this,
Scarlett? I never posed a threat to her or her family.”
Scarlett sighed. “She sees you as a threat now, which could work in our favor depending on how we
move from here.”
I couldn’t help but scoff at the absurdity of it all. “A threat? I’ve never wanted anything but the truth
toe out. She’s the one who’s been deceitful from the start!”
Scarlett’s voice softened. “I know, Evie. But right now, we need to be careful. Thest thing we want
is for things to escte even further.”
I knew she was right, but the injustice of it all left a bitter taste in my mouth. “What
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should I do, Scarlett?”
“I’ll talk to her,” she replied. “Maybe convince her to reconsider.”
I nodded, though I doubted Scarlett’s influence over Ste at this point. “Alright. Let me know if
there’s any update.”
I paced back and forth in my apartment, the weight of the
protective order from Ste heavy on my mind. I needed someone to talk to, someone who would
listen without judgment. Aria was the first person who came to mind, but I quickly remembered our
recent fight, and the thought of reaching out to her felt like stepping into a lion’s den.
Instead, I grabbed my phone and dialed Lucas’s number. I know he’d been a bit busytely, but
hopefully he’d lighten up at the sound of my voice. As the phone rang, my anxiety grew, but when
he finally answered, his voice was warm and weing.
“Evie? Hey, hon, how have you been?”
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. “Lucas, I… I need to talk to someone.
Something’s happened, and I don’t know what to do.”
He sensed the urgency in my voice. “I need to hear this one. What’s going on?”
I hesitated for a moment before blurting out the news. “Ste got a protective order against me,
Lucas. She’s using me of being a stalker.”
There was a stunned silence on the other end of the line. Then Lucas spoke, his voiceced with
disbelief. “What? That’s… that’s insane, Evie. Where did that
usation evene from?”
I exined the situation as best I could, recounting how Ste had taken this. drastic step to
distance herself from me after the dress debacle. Lucas listened attentively, his anger growing with
each word.
“What a bitch!” he said firmly. “We need to fight this.”
I appreciated Lucas’s support, but I knew that a legal battle would only escte the situation further.
“I don’t want to make things worse, Lucas. I just want this nightmare to end.”
He sighed, understanding my hesitation. “Okay, I get it. How about youe over
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to my ce? We can hang out, have a few drinks, and take your mind off of all this for a while.”
I nodded, grateful for the offer. “That sounds good, Lucas. I could use a distraction right now.”
We agreed on a time, and I quickly got ready to head to his ce. As I left my apartment, I couldn’t
help but feel a sense of relief knowing that I had a friend who was willing to stand by me during
these tumultuous times.
When I arrived at Lucas’s apartment, he greeted me with a warm hug and a sympathetic smile. His
ce was cozy, filled with the familiar scent of scented candles and soft music ying in the
background.
We settled on his couch, each of us with a ss of wine in hand. The atmosphere wasforting,
and I finally felt like I could breathe for a moment.
Lucas leaned back and looked at me with concern. “I don’t get how you don’t look old and decrepit
right now. It feels like you’ve lived a whole life these past couple of months.”
I took a sip of my wine, trying to find the words to express my frustration. “I never wanted any of
this, Lucas. All I wanted was to be a voice for others, but it feels like. my voice is slowly being taken
away.”
He nodded in understanding. “I’m sorry, sweety. Maybe you’re better off anyway?”
I sighed. “I just don’t know how to move forward from here. Everything’s be soplicated,
and I feel like I’m trapped.”
Lucas reached out and ced a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “We’ll figure this out, Evie. You’re
not alone in this. We’ll find a way to clear your name somehow.”
His words offered me a glimmer of hope, and I managed a small smile. “Thank you, Lucas. I don’t
know what I would do without you.”
All of a sudden, Lucas leaned forward, his brown eyes filled with excitement. “How about we n a
day trip? A little change of scenery might do you good.”
I couldn’t help but let out a small sigh of relief at the idea. A day away from the constant reminders
of all the chaos in my life sounded like a dream. But then, my mind started to wander, and I began
to imagine something even more luxurious- a weekend spa getaway at a fancy resort.
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A small smile crept across my face as I fantasized about being pampered, lounging by a pool, and
forgetting about all the troubles that had gued me. “Actually, a weekend spa retreat sounds
amazing,” I said, half–jokingly.
Lucas’s eyes widened in surprise, and he grinned. “I like the sound of that. A luxury spa weekend
getaway, it is!”
My smile faltered as reality hit me. “Lucas, I appreciate the offer, but I can’t afford something like
that right now.”
He shook his head, determination in his eyes. “Evie, this weekend is on me. Consider it a gift, a
chance to rx and recharge. You’ve been through so much, and you deserve a break.”
I hesitated, my pride making it difficult for me to ept such a generous offer. Plus, there was the
looming issue of my strained rtionship with Aria. “I don’t know, Lucas. It’s just… It’s been a rough
time, and I don’t want to impose on you.”
Lucas reached out and ced a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “You’re not imposing, Evie. I want
to do this for you. You’ve been a great friend to me, and I hate seeing you like this. Besides, I
already have the perfect ce in mind.”
I couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude for having a friend like Lucas in my life. His genuine
kindness and willingness to help were like a lifeline in the storm. of my troubles. “Thank you, Lucas.
I appreciate it more than you know.”
He smiled warmly. “It’s settled, then. We’ll n a weekend getaway, and you can invite Aria too. It
might be a good opportunity for you two to make amends.”
My heart sank at the mention of Aria. Our fight had been brutal, and I wasn’t sure if she was ready
to patch things up. “I don’t know if Aria would want toe. We had a pretty heated argument.”
Lucas leaned back, considering my words. “About what?”
“Take your best guess,” I said with an attempt at humor, though it died out quickly. “I found some
incriminating information earlier.”
“Do tell,” Lucas said, poking me in the ribs. “Is it another celebrity scandal?”
“It’s Timothy’s fiancé,” I began bitterly. “She’s been having secret rendezvous with Timothy’s
brother, Andy.”
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Lucas jerked his head back, as if the news physically pped him. He turned to look at the coffee
table, a strained expression on his face. “Wow”
“Exactly.” I said. “I have photos as proof, and after finding them. Aria told me that 1 needed to tell
Timothy.”
“So why don’t you?” Lucas asked, tilting his head to the side. “Wouldn’t you want him to tell you?”
After a moment of silence. I sighed and crossed my arms. “I would want him to return the favor but
would keep him from thinking I’m just bitter and obsessed with their affairs? I spied on them to get
those photos!”
Lucas snorted. “Evie, what did you used to say before?”
I blinked at him. “Huh?
“What you used to say. Something about willfully being the antagonist….”
“If it meant doing what was right.” I finished. I frowned and dropped my gaze to the id nket
that I’d strewn over my legs for warmth. I had been bitter about everything, from Timothy’s wedding
to the baby they had on the way.
I thought I was doing what was right, but I’d faced a deeppse in judgement. Aria was right. I had
been intentionally hurting him.
“I’m awful,” I said finally, throwing my head in my hands. “I wanted to hate him so much, and hurt
him back, but I just can’t”
“You’re not awful. Lucas pulled me into a one armed hug and rubbed my trembling arm. “You’re
hurt, and now you know you don’t want to stoop to that kind of level and hurt him too.
N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.
I sniffed, wiping a stray tear from my eyes. You’re right. I don’t want to be that person.”
“Right.” He leaned forward and snatched a few tissues from the box on the table. then handed them
to me. “It’s okay to care about him, even if it hurts. It’ll hurt worse knowing that you could’ve stopped
him from making a huge mistake.”
I wiped my face and nodded at his words. “You’re right.”
“Just think about it. Meanwhile, I’ll talk to Aria, and maybe this getaway could be a
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chance for both of you to clear the air and move forward.”
I knew Lucas was right, but the thought of facing Aria after our fight filled me with even more
apprehension. Still, I couldn’t let my pride and fear stand in the way
anymore.
“Okay,” I said finally.
Lucas grinned, clearly pleased with my decision. “Great! It’s a n, then!”
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