Chapter 108
Irene’s POV:
As Delores and I walked out of the restaurant, the morning sun filtered through the clouds, casting a soft, golden glow over everything. For the first time in weeks, I felt a flicker of peace, a sense of control starting to return to my life. Maybe taking a step back was exactly what I really needed, just a chance to find my footing before facing Eva and the mess she had created.
But as much as I wanted to hold on, a knot still twisted in my stomach. I couldn’t shake the feeling that taking this break, even if it was just for a few days, might give Eva the opening she wanted to dig her claws deeper. But if I stayed, I would only keep being trapped in the cycle of lies and manipulation she has wrapped around everyone. Damien, Lenora, even me.
I almost didn’t notice Delores stop beside me because I was lost in thoughts. She turned to face me, her gaze was serious but filled with concern.
“Irene, you are going to get through this,” she said softly as if sensing the doubts brewing in me. “Eva might think she’s in control, but she’s not. And Damie will definitely realize the truth as time goes on.”
“I just don’t want to lose him, Delores. Or Lenora. But I don’t know how to keep them close without losing myself in the process.” I nodded, managing a small smile, though I could feel the weight of uncertainty tugging at me.
“You’re not losing anyone. This break isn’t about giving up; it’s about finding a way to come back stronger.”
The determination in her voice gave me the boost I needed. Maybe a few days away was really my best chance to clear my mind and find the strength to fight back against Eva’s manipulations. So I made the decision right there: I’d leave, even if only for a few days, and give myself room to breathe. And rejuvenate..
By the time we reached the parking lot, my phone buzzed in my purse. I pulled it out, half expecting it to be Damien. But instead, it was Lenora.
“I need to see you,” the text read. And those simple four words hit me like a punch to the chest.
The memory of her accusing words replayed in my head, her bitter words echoing in my head. Every time I tried to get close, to be the friend she needed, it felt like she was pulling further away.
But this was a chance to talk to her without Eva being around, and maybe, just maybe, we could start healing this rift between us.
I glanced up at Delores, who was watching me closely. “It’s Lenora, she wants to meet,” I said, showing the text to her.
Delores’s eyes widened slightly, then she nodded. “You should go. Maybe this is the chance you’ve been waiting for.”
With a deep sigh, I said goodbye to Delores and drove toward the small cafe Lenora had mentioned. The whole way there, my heart pounded in my chest, a mixture of hope and dread building as I thought about what I should say, and how I’d try to make her see that I was on her side.
When I arrived, Lenora was already sitting outside at a table, stirring her tea in tight, distracted cireles. She looked up as I approached, her gaze cold and guarded. It wasn’t the warm, open Lenora I remembered. This version of her seemed brittle, hardened by pain I couldn’t reach.
“Thanks for meeting me,” I said, sliding into the chair across from her with a small smile.
She nodded but remained quiet, her eyes looking elsewhere as if she were looking for an escape. My heart twisted, but I forced myself to stay calm, to give her the space she needed.
“Lenora. I know things have become messy between us, and I want to fix that. I want you to know that I’m here for you, no matter what.” I said in a gentle voice.
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15:05 Thu, Oct 31
Chapter 108
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“Are you really?” she asked, Her gaze snapped to mine, sharp and accusing. Her voice was laced with bitterness. “Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like you’re only here to save face. She accused.
I flinched, feeling the sting her words gave me. “That’s not true, Lenora. I care about you. I always have.”
She shook her head, her fingers gripping the edge of the table. “You have no idea what it’s like, Irene. You became a part of my life, and suddenly everything fell apart. First Eva, and now it’s George and Damien. Everyone around me is suffering, and somehow, you’re at the center of it all.”
I opened my mouth to respond, to defend myself, but the raging glare in her eyes stopped me. She was hurting, and trying to explain myself now would only make things worse.
“I know you’re in pain,” I said softly, trying to reach her through the wall she had set up. “But blaming me isn’t going to make things better. I’m not the enemy here.” I tried to reason but she cackled bitterly, her gaze icy.
“That’s exactly what Eva said you’d say. That you’d pretend to care, pretend to understand, while you continue to ruin everything around you,” She angrily said.
The mention of Eva’s name sent a rush of anger through me, but I held it back. Losing my temper wouldn’t help. “Eva isn’t looking out for you, Lenora. She’s using you to get what she wants.” I said to her,
Lenora’s expression shifted, a flash of vulnerability crossing her features, but it was gone in an instant. “You don’t get it. You’re not family. You’re simply just an intruder.” She crossed her arms, her jaw clenched.
The words hit me like a ton of bricks, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. After everything I’d done to try and protect her even when she didn’t know… it felt as though she was erasing every bit of love I’d ever shown her.
I stammered, unable to find my voice, to tell her how wrong she was. Then she leaned forward with a fierce gaze, “Maybe Damien should choose, Irene. Between you and his real family. Because I’m tired of pretending like you belong here.” She said to me with a particular glint in her eyes that broke my heart even more.
Her words hung in the air, slicing through me in a harsh way that left me raw and exposed. Silence fell between us, heavy and choking, and I could feel the weight of her resentment pressing down, crushing any hope I had left.
And for the first time, I was speechless. I didn’t have a response. All I could do was sit there, feeling the rift between us widen, until it suddenly felt like I was a thousand miles away from the woman I’d once known.
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