Amelia's POV"Oh, and one more thing," he said, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "Try not to let the media frenzy get to you. It will most likely blow over soon."With that, he exited the apartment, leaving Blair and me alone once again. We stared at the closed door for a moment, the silence thick with unspoken thoughts."Well," Blair said finally, letting out a long breath. "This is certainly not how I imagined the day to start.""No kidding," I replied, a small smile playing on my lips. "But hey, at least you have a date to look forward to. Me..."She squeezed my shoulder in a warm hug. "Everything will be fine, Ames. Now, let's get ready for the day."Her optimism was admirable, but a knot of worry remained lodged in my stomach. The day stretched before me, filled with uncertainty and the looming presence of a media circus I desperately wanted to avoid."You're right," I forced a smile, feeling unconvincing even to myself. "Let's just get this day over with."The following hour
Amelia's POVI had no way of responding to Eddie's statement. Instead, I changed the subject. "Isn't Chloe going to school?" I asked. "No," Eddie replied, rubbing his forehead, a clear indication that he was stressed. "I thought it would be best for her to stay home today, just to be safe."I nodded slowly, understanding what he was saying. Just then, perhaps because she had heard her name, Chloe walked over to me and began to pull on my hand. "Amelia, come play with me in my playroom," she asked. "In a minute, sweetie. Let me just put my bag in my room."As I headed to the stairs, she followed me. She stayed with me throughout as I unpacked my bag in the bedroom and then we headed to her playroom. Chloe's playroom was an explosion of color and imagination, a testament to her boundless energy and playful spirit. Sunlight streamed through a large bay window, illuminating a space that felt more like a miniature amusement park than a room. Soft, plush carpeting in a vibrant shade of
Blair's POVThen, he spoke again, his voice laced with desperation. "Blair, please. Just give me half an hour. I'm at the coffee shop across from the hospital. The one with the red awning. Come on, just listen."The coffee shop across from the hospital. The one I frequented on breaks, the one with the surprisingly good blueberry muffins. The thought of seeing him there, in a place I considered a haven, twisted my stomach into knots."I don't know, Thomas," I mumbled, torn between anger and a sliver of morbid curiosity."Please, Blair," he pleaded. "This is important. I won't take up much of your time."He sounded genuinely remorseful, a stark contrast to the arrogant jerk I remembered. A small part of me, the part that still held onto a flicker of the love we once shared, felt a pang of sympathy. But the bigger, stronger part of me clung to the anger, the betrayal.Letting out a defeated sigh, I finally relented. "Fine," I conceded, the word tasting bitter on my tongue. "But thirty mi
Blair's POV"Understand what, Thomas?" I interrupted, my voice rising a notch. "That you threw away everything we had for a fling?""It wasn't a fling," he stammered, his voice laced with desperation. "It… it was a mistake. A terrible mistake."I scoffed. "A mistake you made repeatedly, judging by the state of the bed."He winced, his face flushing a deep crimson. Shame flickered in his eyes, a stark contrast to the arrogance he usually wore like a second skin."There's more to the story, Blair," he pleaded. "Please, just let me explain."Part of me wanted to walk away, to leave him drowning in his own regret. But another part, a curious and perhaps foolish part, yearned to hear his explanation, no matter how flimsy it might be.With a sigh, I sank into the seat opposite him, the plush red cushion offering little comfort. "Alright, Thomas," I said, my voice weary. "Explain. But don't expect me to believe everything you say."He let out a shaky breath, relief flickering across his face
Blair's POVMaybe, just maybe, a sliver of the pain I felt was finally reaching him."I… I just needed you to be there," he mumbled, his voice barely a whisper."And I was there," I countered, my voice shaking with a mixture of anger and hurt. "I was there, supporting your dreams, holding your hand through your challenges. But apparently, that wasn't enough for you."A tear escaped the corner of my eye, tracing a warm path down my cheek. I ignored it, refusing to let him see me break down."Please, don't do this."I held his gaze, the memory of his betrayal flashing before me. The careless laugh, the tangled limbs on the bed – it was a scene seared into my memory, a constant reminder of his deceit."There's nothing left to discuss, Thomas," I said, my voice surprisingly steady despite the storm churning within me. "You had your chance, and you threw it away."A flicker of pain crossed his face, a stark contrast to the arrogance I'd known."I know," he choked out, his voice thick with
Blair's POV"Delivery for Tonia Johnson," I repeated, holding up the bouquet of lilies I had bought on my way here. Sarah's eyes widened in surprise."Blair, honey, you shouldn't have," she said, her voice laced with concern."Nonsense," I countered, forcing a smile. "You deserve some sunshine after everything you've been through."Tonia had been battling cancer for the past couple of years, and Amelia and I had taken turns keeping her company and supporting her through the grueling treatment. Witnessing her strength and resilience had inspired me in ways I couldn't even describe."Blair, honey," she said, her voice laced with concern. "You look a little pale. Did you get some sleep last night?"The concern in her eyes threatened to crack the dam I'd built. I blinked rapidly, willing the traitorous tears back."Just a long night catching up on paperwork," I lied, forcing a smile.Tonia wasn't easily fooled. She narrowed her eyes, studying my face with the scrutiny of a seasoned detect
Jenna's POV"Don't look at her that way. It's all in your best interests." Gwen snapped at me when she noticed me giving Sarah the stink eye. I rolled my eyes and walked away from the kitchen heading to my living room. Gwen followed me with Sarah close behind. "I assume you're here to berate me for the whole Eddie controversy," I drawled as I reached the living room and sprawled on the plush, leather couch. "You think?" Gwen replied sarcastically, coming to stand in front of me with her hands akimbo. "What on earth were you thinking, Jenna? How could you start a scandal on one of the biggest nights in movie awards' history?"I snarled. "I did not start a scandal. The internet did and that jerk, Eddie only made things worse by posting what he did. The air crackled with tension as Gwen towered over me, her hands still firmly planted on her hips."The internet wouldn't have a scandal to exploit if you hadn't blurted out that little 'secret' on live television, Jenna," she countered,
Jenna's POVA slow smile spread across Gwen's face. "Perfect! We can leverage your celebrity status for good. Imagine the headlines: 'Jenna McDonald Hosts Charity Gala for Furry Friends!' It'll be a complete PR makeover.""But what about Eddie?" Sarah chimed in, her voice laced with apprehension. "Wouldn't this just fuel the fire? People might think it's a publicity stunt to get back at him."Gwen waved a dismissive hand. "We can address that. We'll frame it as you finally moving on and focusing on something positive. Besides, if Eddie tries to pull anything after this, it'll only make him look bad."My heart was hammered with a mixture of excitement and nervousness."Alright," I said, taking a deep breath. "Let's do it. Let's turn this disaster into an opportunity."Gwen clapped her hands together, her emerald eyes sparkling with renewed energy. "That's the spirit! Now, let's get to work. We have a lot to do before that gala."Amelia's POVJust as Chloe was declaring her stuffed unic