Chapter 4 - Desperate Escape

Lucy Hale

What's going on?

I thought this was supposed to happen two days ago.

Anxiety creeped its way across my skin, pricking me in every way possible.

I could sense it.

The moment our eyes met, my entire body went numb.

A face I once woke up to every morning. 

A face I last saw staring down at me mercilessly as I fell off a cliff to my death.

My lungs refused to work for a second and even so, I forced myself to breathe.

I forced my hands to unclench, undigging my nails from my palm.

I tore my gaze away from him, desperate to reclaim even a shred of control.

My voice scraped out of my throat. 

“Mia, could you handle the gentlemen for a bit? I still need to sort out the new stock.”

It was a weak excuse, but Mia didn’t notice. 

Or she pretended to, I wildly guessed.

She nodded, eyeing me oddly before she turned to greet both of the men. 

The other guy smiled politely at her, adjusting the sleeves of his dark blazer.

All the while, Adrian’s gaze lingered on me with unreadable intensity.

I couldn’t bear it. 

I quickly slipped behind the small counter and professed to inspect the inventory on the tablet.

Though the screen might as well have been blank. 

My heartbeat drowned out everything, even the suffocating, pounding in my ears.

Why was he here? 

What was he doing in the store today of all days? 

I avoided the original meeting date. 

I changed the event. 

I changed the timing. 

Why does fate keep dragging him to me?

My fingers trembled as I pretended to scroll, every movement felt brittle.

All I wanted was to stay invisible and for him to leave.

But fate, ever so cruel.

Footsteps approached, painfully slow, deliberately halted in front of the counter.

I reflectively stiffened.

His voice came low and smooth, the same voice that once made me trust him. 

A voice I now feared more than anything.

“Excuse me.”

My breath caught. 

My head lifted automatically, even though every instinct screamed not to.

Adrian stood in front of me.

Up close, he was exactly as I remembered. 

Sharp features softened by controlled expression, albeit younger.

Dark eyes boring into mine. 

In this life, he shouldn’t recognize me. 

He shouldn’t know me. 

But still, his gaze held a strange familiarity, as if he was studying me a little too much.

“Could you help me with a measurement?”

My stomach twisted violently.

Of all requests.

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice even. “Oh, I think my friend is free to help.”

As if summoned by fate’s cruelty again, I glanced over and saw Mia was completely handful.

She was already absorbed in her work with the other man, holding up fabrics, lightly matching it to him. 

There was no way she’d hear me now.

My escape route disappeared instantly.

I felt my throat tighten. 

Maybe I can call someone.

But the boutique was small. There was no one else.

Adrian tilted his head slightly. “If it’s not too much trouble.”

My fingers dug into the edge of the counter. 

My vision blurred for a moment, panic swelling.

Growing, threatening to break me open. 

My breath came shallow as my back felt uncomfortably icy, forming a cold sweat.

The memory of the cliff flashed behind my eyes, the wind, the betrayal, his expression as he pushed me.

My chest tightened intensely, I almost gagged.

Go away.

If you have a tiny bit of remorse, just leave me alone.

“Are you alright?” Adrian asked, his voice softer. 

Concerned. 

As if he wasn’t the man who betrayed me. 

As if he wasn’t the reason I died.

No. 

No.

I couldn’t break down in front of him. Not here. 

Not when he had no idea who I truly was.

I forced myself to inhale and somehow shaped the trembling air into words. “I’m fine. Please wait for a moment.”

Before he could respond, I stepped back and practically fled toward Mia.

She turned, startled by how fast I approached. “Lucy? Oh my god, you’re pale! Are you okay?”

I grabbed her arm, shaking my head quickly. 

“Mia, can I take this gentleman instead. Please?” I half-whispered, practically begging.

I didn’t know what I was saying anymore. 

Everything felt too loud, too choking. 

I couldn’t face Adrian, not when every cell in my body remembered every nook and hook of my past life.

As though it had happened only yesterday.

Mia took one look at my face, and didn't question it. 

“Okay, no problem. I’ll switch. Just sit down for a second, Lucy.”

Relief washed over me, I almost buckled right there and then. 

I nodded shakily and stepped back, trying to breathe.

Just then, a gentle, yet hesitant touch tapped my shoulder.

I flinched violently.

“Hey,” the man who had come in with Adrian greeted softly. 

Who was he?

He wasn’t Adrian’s assistant, I remembered that much. 

I think I had seen him at least once at a Hawthorne family event in my past life. 

It felt as if I supposedly should've known him.

But I couldn’t recall his name at all.

His eyes were genuine, looking at me with quiet concern.

“Are you alright?” 

His voice low and steady, nothing like the suffocating dread coming from Adrian’s presence. 

“You look like you’re about to faint.”

I swallowed hard, unable to form words as the world wobbled slightly around me.