Dawn relentlessly posted pictures online of her newly ford family, and the overwhelming response from the public was as if they’ve all been waiting for this mont to arrive.
She shared images of Ezra with her son, of the two of them together, and of all of them as a group, generating excitent and cheers from followers as if they were witnessing a long-awaited event.
On the other hand, Evie observed these posts with simring jealousy. It wasn’t just envy; it felt like a string was being pulled at her heart.
Ruby had advised her to stay off her phone until the situation cooled down, but with no sign of that happening, Evie found herself sneaking online, only to be bombarded with Dawn’s posts.
One photo, in particular, caught her eye—Ezra was smiling at Dawn, his eyes alight with genuine joy. It felt like a barrage of arrows piercing her heart.
They appeared to be a stunning couple online. All of Dawn’s pictures projected an image of a perfect family, the most beautiful family that ever existed.
’And he dares to keep texting ,’ Evie thought angrily, her fists clenched.
How could Ezra be so shaless? He had a family now, and instead of focusing on them, he was preoccupied with ssaging her. Her annoyance boiled over.
Was he implying that despite everything that had happened, there was still hope for her, even when he had a son and possibly a wife? Dawn clearly seed to have re-entered his life permanently.
So why was he still reaching out to her? The frustration intensified.
The solution was clear: she needed to block him on all her social dia platforms. And she did—Telegram, Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook—everywhere she could. She even blacklisted his number to ensure he couldn’t call her again.
Finally, when Evie finished, a wave of relief washed over her. Ezra could no longer reach her.
However, unbeknownst to her, the world she was viewing online wasn’t an accurate portrayal. The picture of Ezra smiling at Dawn had been taken at a mont when his head had tilted, catching sight of Noah and smiling reflexively. In reality, he and Dawn had been in the middle of an argunt.
Ezra was perpetually frustrated with Dawn because her behavior always tested his patience.
"Stop the unnecessary chaos you’re creating online, Dawn," he had told her.
"Chaos?" Dawn feigned innocence. "You an showcasing my wonderful family for the world to see?" she countered, a smirk playing on her lips.
Ezra’s jaw tightened in irritation. Family? He wasn’t family with her, and even the thought provoked his anger.
"Cut it out. This is unnecessary," he repeated, trying to convey his ssage clearly. But did he really think she would back down? Dawn never listened, which only fueled his frustration.
Undeterred, she closed the distance between them, locking eyes with him. "I know why you’re saying this," she remarked, nodding slowly.
He t her gaze with confusion.
"You’re saying this because of Evie, right?" she pressed, her expression mischievous as she noticed a flicker of sothing in Ezra’s eyes.
"I’m telling you to stop because it’s pointless, not everyone needs to know what’s going on in my life" Ezra insisted, attempting to compose himself, but she saw right through him.
"Or is it about protecting Evie’s feelings? Is she at ho crying while everyone roots for us and condemns her?" Dawn taunted.
"You’re pushing it," Ezra warned through clenched teeth.
"I’m certain this is all about her," Dawn retorted confidently, arms crossed. "And frankly, I don’t care. I will continue to showcase my wonderful family, and there’s nothing you can do to stop ," she added, smirking in irritation.
Ezra gripped her arm tightly, his frustration boiling over. "Believe it or not, I could still throw you out of my house," he declared sharply.
"So you better do as I say, or start packing your bags," he warned coldly, his eyes fierce as he glared into hers before releasing her and striding past her into the house.
He was done with this situation. He longed to escape this nightmare and wished desperately for it all to be a dream, not the harsh reality he was trapped in.
***
Evie was in her room, preparing for a client eting. She sat in front of the mirror, applying powder to her face when Ruby barged in, absorbed in her phone and licking a lollipop. Nonchalantly, she flopped onto Evie’s bed, her legs swinging in the air.
"There’s sothing off about this woman, Evie," she declared, catching Evie’s attention.
"What do you an?" Evie asked, confused.
"This Dawn" Ruby sat up, pointing at her screen with her lollipop. "I have a strong feeling sothing’s not right."
Evie turned to the mirror, deliberately ignoring Ruby’s comnt while she finished her lipstick. She was done caring about anything tied to Ezra. "Look at how many people are siding with her and hating on you—it’s unbelievable," Ruby continued.
Evie remained unbothered, perfecting her lipstick before pressing her lips together and wiping the corners. She glanced at the table, picked up a gloss, and applied it over her lipstick, admiring the transformation in the mirror. With her hair parted in the middle, her earrings glinting in the light, and her eyeliner flawlessly applied, she felt like herself again.
"Why do I find all these accounts suspicious?" Ruby muttered, narrowing her eyes at her phone.
"You need to drop this, Ruby. I’ve moved on," Evie replied firmly.
"I know," Ruby said, briefly looking up. Her expression shifted as she took in Evie’s stunning look—a skirt and a halter neck top, bangles adorning her wrists. "You look fantastic, Evie"
"I know," Evie smirked, appreciating the complint while Ruby returned her focus to her phone.
"Aha!" Ruby exclaid, jumping to her feet. "I knew sothing was off. Look at these accounts, Evie! They’re created just to trash you and then vanish. It’s clear soone is intent on bringing you down, and it’s not hard to figure out who... It’s her." Ruby stated, her tone serious.
Evie stared at her, unfazed. "And why should I care? She can do whatever she wants. It doesn’t bother ."
"This woman is a snake, Evie. She’s clearly trying to drag you down and separate you from Ezra. Who knows what else she might plan?" Ruby said, her eyes widening as she imagined the depths of the other woman’s sches.
Evie rolled her eyes, unimpressed.
Suddenly, Ruby received a notification that caught both their attention. She instinctively pulled her phone closer, hiding the screen.
"What are you hiding?" Evie asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Nothing," Ruby replied, grinning. "You should get going to your eting. Don’t keep your client waiting," she urged, prompting Evie to leave.
As soon as Evie stepped out, Ruby dashed back to the bed and opened the ssage again. A scream threatened to escape her as she clamped a hand over her mouth. Shane had finally replied to her text after all this ti. Evie had given her his contact, but Ruby had waited to reach out. Now, seeing his response made her heart plumt.
She had asked if he rembered her, reminding him of her na—Ruby.
His response? "Which Ruby?"
Ruby swallowed hard. How could he not rember her? They had shared a kiss during a ga; how could he forget?
She was frustrated with n, seriously.
"Ruby... Evie’s friend. We played that ga at Ezra’s and planned a surprise for Evie together... that Ruby," she texted back only to realize how desperate it sounded.
If only she didn’t have feelings for him; this wouldn’t be bothering her. She hit send, but as expected, there was no imdiate response.
Great. It looked like she was in for another long wait.
***
The room was quiet, sunlight filters through the blinds in sharp, golden rays. Evie sat across from her client, legs crossed, tablet resting firmly on her lap despite not having touched it since the session began. Her mind had been a storm lately, but in this mont, focusing on soone else’s pain steadied her.
Almost.
Liana sat opposite her, a woman in her early thirties, fingers tightly wringing together, face taut with frustration. "I know people say I should forgive him, that it wasn’t that deep. But it was—to ." Her voice cracked, revealing the hurt beneath.
Evie nodded, maintaining her composure. "What happened?"
"He lied," Liana said, voice steadying. "About sothing small at first. But it unraveled. He’d been seeing soone else... emotionally, at least. He claims it wasn’t physical. But does that even matter?"
Evie felt a twist in her stomach.
Liana continued, voice wavering slightly. "I just don’t know how to trust again. I loved him. I still do. But now everything feels like a lie."
Evie inhaled deeply, grounding herself. "It’s perfectly valid to still love soone while acknowledging they’re not good for you. That love doesn’t erase betrayal. You’re fully entitled to leave, even if part of you wants to stay."
Liana blinked, uncertainty in her eyes. "But they say I overreacted. That I should’ve heard his side. That I’m dramatic."
Evie’s tone sharpened, her gaze intense. "No one gets to dictate how much pain you’re allowed to feel. Your process of handling betrayal is yours alone. Not theirs."
Silence held for a mont, heavy with unresolved emotion.
Then Liana asked softly, "Do you think I’ll ever feel like myself again?"
Evie offered a faint smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Not the sa self. But I believe you can erge stronger."
Her words resonated in the space between them, louder in her own thoughts. As she wrapped up the session, thanked Liana, and watched her leave, Evie remained in the quiet, her throat tight.
She dished out solid advice. Now it was ti for her to follow it.
The door clicked shut behind Liana, plunging the room into a heavy stillness.
Evie exhaled a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding.
Turning her face toward the window, she watched the afternoon sun sink into a hazy orange. Her fingers gripped the edges of her tablet, but she didn’t make any move just yet.
Liana’s words echoed in her mind—the anger, the confusion, the feeling of having been foolish for placing her trust in soone.
"You’re allowed to leave, even if part of you still wants to stay."
She had said that to comfort Liana, but the words weighed heavily on her chest.
Ezra.
The reality that their relationship was fake didn’t lessen the sting. Sowhere along the way, the lines blurred. Her guard slipped. And in the end, she found herself blindsided and embarrassed.
Everyone had witnessed the unfolding drama. Everyone had ford their opinions.
How foolish had she looked, standing next to a man whose ex had a child calling him daddy?
Evie shut her eyes, leaning her head back as if to envelop herself in the quiet. Her heart still pulled toward him, but it also cautioned her.
Never again... It told her.
She was snapped out of her trance by the ringing of her phone. With a sigh, she reached for it, her eyes narrowing at the unknown caller. A mont of hesitation passed before she firmly decided to answer.
"Hello." Her voice was soft, but steady as it passed through the line.
"Evie." And she instantly recognized that voice. Ezra.
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