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 Stella within a certain

distance.

I was being labeled as an “aggravated stalker.”

I clenched my fists, a mixture of disbelief and anger coursing through me. How had it come to this? Stella 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 to come 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. The last thing we want is for things to escalate 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 Stella 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 Stella 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 busy lately, 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 welcoming.

“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. “Stella got a protective order against me, Lucas. She’s accusing me of

being a stalker.”

There was a stunned silence on the other end of the line. Then Lucas spoke, his voice laced with disbelief. “What? That's...

that’s insane, Evie. Where did that

accusation even come from?”

I explained the situation as best I could, recounting how Stella 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 escalate 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 you come over

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to my place? 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 place. 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 place was cozy, filled with the

familiar scent of scented candles and soft music playing in the background.

We settled on his couch, each of us with a glass of wine in hand. The atmosphere was comforting, 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 become so complicated, and I feel like I’m trapped.”

Lucas reached out and placed 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 plan 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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Chapter 155

Asmall smile crept across my face as I fantasized about being pampered, lounging by a pool, and forgetting about all the

troubles that had plagued 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 relax and recharge.

You've been through so much, and you deserve a break.”

I hesitated, my pride making it difficult for me to accept such a generous offer. Plus, there was the looming issue of my strained

relationship with Aria. “I don’t know, Lucas. It’s just... Its been a rough time, and I don’t want to impose on you.”

Lucas reached out and placed 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 place 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 plan 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 to come. 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 slapped 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 plaid blanket 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 deep lapse in judgement. Aria was right. I had been intentionally hurting him.

“lm 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.

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 plan, then!”

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