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Chapter 15

Author: J-Noiré
last update Last Updated: 2025-07-20 06:04:02

I couldn't hold back the tears anymore as Max’s words replayed in my head on a loop, each syllable digging deeper into the fragile walls I’d built around myself. How could you be so careless, Lila? A one night stand? With no protection? The sheer judgment in his voice had felt like knives cutting through my skin.

I rubbed my hands down my face, trying to erase the memory, but it was burned into my mind. The shame coiled tightly in my chest like a living, breathing thing. It was suffocating.

I had known this moment would come. The moment someone would ask me the hard questions and I’d have no choice but to answer. But I hadn’t expected it to feel this brutal. I hadn’t expected the words to taste like poison when I said them aloud: It’s Drew.

A part of me wished I’d kept that truth to myself. I should’ve lied, should’ve said I didn’t know or that it didn’t matter. But no Max had pressed, and I’d crumbled, letting the truth tumble out like shards of glass.

I wrapped my arms around my kne
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