Chapter 36: 35.

Anonymous POV:

Evelyn leaned back in the oversized armchair of a luxurious hotel suite, a glass of wine in her hand as she stared out the window at the bustling cityscape below. The lights of Paris glittered like stars, but even the beauty of the city couldn’t distract her.

She pressed her phone against her ear, her best friend Amari’s voice breaking the silence. “Okay, but why are you obsessing over her? I thought you don’t do attachment.”

“I don’t,” Evelyn replied, swirling her wine absently. “It’s not attachment. It’s... curiosity.”

“Curiosity?” Amari’s laugh was rich and skeptical. “Girl, please. You’re hooked. You’re not even trying to hide it.”

Evelyn sighed, tipping her head back against the chair. “I don’t know. Maybe I just want to see her again. That’s not a crime, is it? I mean, she was... intoxicating.”

“Which one?” Amari teased. “The wife, or the one you can’t stop thinking about?”

Evelyn hesitated, biting her lip. “Tiana,” she admitted softly. “There was something about her. She’s... different. Sweet, but with a quiet strength. And the way she looked at me... I can’t explain it.”

“Wow. You sound like you’re describing the love of your life.”

“Oh, shut up,” Evelyn snapped, though there was no real bite in her tone.

“I’m serious,” Amari said. “You’re in love.”

“I’m not in love,” Evelyn said firmly, sitting up straight. “I don’t even believe in love, you know that. I’m just... I don’t know, maybe I just need to... be with her. Alone. Get it out of my system.”

“Uh-huh. Sure. That’s what you want to believe.”

“You’re delusional.”

“Nope. I think you’re in denial,” Amari countered, her tone light but laced with truth.

Evelyn groaned, setting her glass down on the side table. The conversation was getting under her skin, and she didn’t like it. But even as she rolled her eyes at Amari’s words, she couldn’t stop the images of Tiana from flashing in her mind—her smile, her laugh, the way she seemed to radiate warmth.

“Whatever,” Evelyn muttered. “It’s not love. It’s just... unfinished business.”

“Unfinished business?” Amari repeated with a snort. “Okay, then why haven’t you talked to her? You’re on Instagram, aren’t you? Why not just DM her?”

“She barely replies,” Evelyn admitted, her voice quieter now. “She’s probably busy, or... I don’t know. Maybe she doesn’t want to talk to me.”

Amari was silent for a moment before she spoke again, her tone softer. “Or maybe something’s going on. You don’t know her situation, Evelyn. If you really care about her, maybe you should find out.”

Evelyn’s gaze drifted back to the city outside. The thought had crossed her mind more than once—to stop waiting for Instagram replies and take matters into her own hands.

“Maybe I should,” she murmured. “I could ask around. See where she lives, fly out there. Just to check in, you know?”

“Check in? Sure, let’s call it that,” Amari said, her tone teasing again.

But then her voice turned serious. “What about her wife, though? Don’t you think you’re going to be ruining their marriage by just popping up?”

Evelyn stiffened. “Ashantii?” she said, almost spitting the name. “Maybe. But I can see right through her and I've seen how she acts. Controlling. Overbearing.She doesn’t deserve someone like Tiana.”

“And you do?” Amari asked pointedly.

Evelyn exhaled sharply, annoyed at the question. “This isn’t about deserving. It’s about... I don’t know. Making sure Tiana’s okay. I can’t shake the feeling that she’s not.”

Amari’s laugh was dry. “Right. You’re flying across the world out of the goodness of your heart. You’re still hung up on her, Evelyn, and you’re looking for any excuse to justify it.”

“Think what you want,” Evelyn said flatly. “But I’m going to do it.”

“Fine,” Amari said, her tone laced with exasperation. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you. If you’re not careful, you’re going to make everything worse.”

Evelyn didn’t respond. Her mind was already made up. She couldn’t shake the pull she felt toward Tiana, and the more she tried to ignore it, the stronger it became.

She leaned back in her chair, her thoughts filled with Tiana’s face. It wasn’t love. It couldn’t be.

But deep down, she knew Amari was right about one thing: she wasn’t ready to let Tiana go. And she didn’t plan to.

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A/N: Compliments of the new year.I hope you're all doing well and taking care of yourselves.Sorry for the late updates I'm back and I'm feeling better.

Please don't forget to vote,share and comment as your support is highly appreciated.🤍✨️

-Lunah.