Chapter 81

Ashleigh felt the world around her blur into silence. The café, once a warm haven of familiar scents and quiet chatter, now felt suffocating. Across the table, three sets of eyes burned into her—Fiona's sharp, unwavering stare, James's disapproving frown, and Arthur's cool, assessing gaze. The weight of their scrutiny made her throat tighten, but the real pressure came from the phone resting on her lap, as heavy as a brick. Adrian's name glowed on the screen, his text burning into her mind. Why aren't you responding? I hope you haven't lied to me again. Her fingers curled tightly around her phone, flipping it facedown before anyone noticed. But Arthur did. 'Who was that?" His voice was neutral, but there was something unreadable in his expression, something sharp. 'No one important," she answered too quickly. His eyes narrowed. 'Still lying, Ashleigh?" He let out a quiet sigh, shaking his head as he leaned back. 'You're insufferable." Ashleigh swallowed, her grip tightening on her purse. She had come here hoping to mend at least one broken relationship, but now she was trapped—cornered by people who had once been her closest friends, all demanding answers she couldn't give. 'I was going to call you guys today," she said finally, forcing steadiness into her voice. 'I didn't expect to run into you here." Fiona folded her arms, her posture tense. 'Well, from the way you iced us out, we didn't expect you'd even be in town." Ashleigh flinched at the coldness in her tone. 'I was overwhelmed with school and everything, so I couldn't call when I got home at first," she said weakly. 'That's not an answer, Ashleigh," Arthur interjected, his gaze piercing. She turned to him, her expression pleading. 'Don't add to this, Arthur," she said desperately. Arthur's expression remained unchanged. 'Like them, I haven't heard from you in a while. When I finally do, it's because you want something." He gestured at Fiona and James, his voice laced with quiet disappointment. 'And now this? It's like you're a different person depending on who you're with. Why all the secrecy?" Ashleigh's heart pounded, her pulse erratic. They were getting too close, peeling away the layers she had spent so long carefully constructing. Fiona exhaled sharply, her patience thinning. 'Why don't you just tell us what's going on? Why lie? Why make excuses?" Her phone vibrated again, a fresh wave of panic washing over her. She didn't even have to look. Adrian. James leaned forward, his voice quiet but pointed. 'It's that guy from the resort, isn't it?" Arthur frowned, his eyes flicking between them. 'What guy?" 'We don't know much about him," Fiona admitted. 'Only that he's the reason for Ashleigh's sudden ‘life upgrades.' She wasn't like this before." James nodded, his jaw tight. 'She was different. Before she met him, she was—" he hesitated, searching for the right words. 'She was just Ashleigh. Now, we don't go to her house, we can't call at certain times, and half the time, she looks like she's carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders." Arthur's gaze lingered on Ashleigh, quiet but piercing. 'He's also the reason why you're like this, isn't he?" She felt as though the walls of the café were closing in, the air too thick to breathe. The truth teetered on the edge of her tongue, but she couldn't let it slip. 'Ashleigh," Arthur pressed, his voice softer now. 'Even in school, you seemed upset from time to time. If something's wrong, we can help you." No, you can't, she wanted to scream. 'I don't want to talk about it," she whispered instead. 'It's complicated." Her phone buzzed again, and she forced herself to glance at the screen. You didn't reply to my last two texts. I'm on my way. Panic coiled in her stomach like a snake. She had to leave. Now. 'I'm sorry, but I need to go." Ashleigh stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. Fiona's eyes darkened. 'Running away again?" Ashleigh hesitated, guilt clawing at her. 'I promise to explain tonight," she said, looking between Fiona and James. 'And I'll call you too, Arthur. We still have a conversation to finish." Arthur gave a slow nod, his expression unreadable. Without another word, Ashleigh turned and hurried out of the café. The cool air outside should have been refreshing, but it felt like ice against her skin. Her heart pounded as she walked briskly toward her car, barely noticing the man across the street. Jake. He leaned casually against a lamppost, cigarette between his fingers, watching. Behind her, another figure emerged from the café. Tristan. He walked with unhurried steps, his eyes never leaving her. Unaware of their presence, Ashleigh reached her car just as Susan slid into the driver's seat. She yanked the door open and got in, exhaling shakily. 'Drive." From a distance, Jake and Tristan exchanged a glance before blending back into the crowd. In his office, Adrian watched the live feed on his tablet, his fingers tapping idly against the desk. The screen showed Ashleigh moving with frantic urgency, slipping into her car as Susan pulled away. The corners of his lips lifted slightly. She was unraveling. Sliding the tablet aside, Adrian leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. 'How complicated is it now, Ashleigh?"