Betrothed To An Alpha? I Don't Think So!
Chapter 78: I’m Not Going!

Chapter 78: I’m Not Going!

Evelyn rubbed at her chest, the pain intensifying with every passing second. The corner of her mouth attempted to lift into a fake smile as she raised her head. She’d always taught herself to smile to ensure no one knew she was in pain, but right now, she couldn’t even do that.

"Evelyn—"

"I don’t know."

She shook her head.

"I don’t know what I feel, Amber. That is the problem, I don’t."

Amber’s shoulders slumped. "Wait here for me." She left for the bathroom where she turned on the hot shower.

She picked up a towel and dried it before making her way back to the living room where she draped it over Evelyn.

Evelyn relaxed in the warmth. She didn’t move regardless, not even when Amber got onto the sofa right next to her.

She sat with her arms still wrapped around her knees.

"You know, I hadn’t even meant to start all these. I’m the reason he decided to end this, but I hadn’t even meant to. I was just scared. I used to be in control, in so much control that I was afraid of nothing. Then little by little, he started seeping his way under my skin, and by the time I knew it, I started enjoying living with him. I started really enjoying being with him when he’s not there, all I feel is loneliness. I started noticing so many things I didn’t want to, and it scared me... It frightened me, Amber. Do you think I’m in love with him?"

Amber shook his head. "I don’t know if you do, Evelyn. But I think it’s best if you don’t. You’ll only be hurting yourself now."

"W-why...?" Evelyn looked at her with heavy puffy eyes.

"The papers...they should arrive at him anytime soon. It may already even be there. And if he’s signed it, wouldn’t that make all your feelings useless? And...Zayne Mancini, does he even feel a thing for you? Is this all one-sided?"

Evelyn stared at her. She couldn’t answer because truth be told, she didn’t know what Zayne Mancini felt. Not about her.

Clearly nothing. After all, it was clear in his tone that he wanted nothing to do with her once the deal was over.

The wetness in her eyes broke again, and unable to even cry in front of her best friend, she buried her face in her knees, sobbing silently.

"Evelyn—"

"I’m fine. I’m fine, Amber. I know what you’re going to say and—"

"You don’t know what I’m going to say." Amber shook her head. "I’m not pitying you, Evy. I’m rather worried for you, because you and I know what happened the last time you held a one-sided feeling for someone. I don’t want that to repeat itself again. The last thing I want is to see you struggle with moving on and being miserable while he’s happy."

"I’m fine..." Evelyn mumbled.

"Are you?" Amber asked. "Are you really?"

Evelyn couldn’t answer her.

"You know what. I think this can be fixed. It’s obvious you’ll be miserable if I don’t—"

"It can’t." Evelyn shook her head. "It can’t be fixed."

"Let us talk to Zayne Mancini first and—"

"And what?" She shot her gaze up to her. "What are you going to say to him? Oh, Evelyn is sad without you, please take her back. Do you know how ridiculous that sounds?"

Amber blinked. "Yeah, that sounds really pathetic."

"I’m fine, I mean it. There is no need to worry. I’ll be fine."

"You and I know you won’t. Even if no one else knows you, Evelyn, I—"

Something on the couch vibrated heavily. Both of them glanced at the device. It was Evelyn’s phone.

She didn’t even bother picking it up. Amber on the other hand did, and what she saw made her frown.

"Valerio?"

Evelyn immediately glanced at her.

"Since when did you start talking to that asshole again?" Amber questioned.

"I wasn’t...talking to him." Evelyn shook her head. "It’s not like that."

"Then what is it like? After what he did, I’m surprised he even has your damn number, Evelyn!"

"I didn’t give it to him. Brandon did."

"Why haven’t you blocked him? He made you miserable!"

Evelyn dragged her fingers through her hair. "I didn’t want it to seem like I was still stuck on what happened a year ago. Which I’m not."

She sighed, sniffling.

"He’s been pestering me. He even came to the event and it didn’t turn out well. Now he wants me to go to dinner with him so we could talk and so he could...apologize? I don’t know."

Amber asked, "Are you going to go?"

"When I’m like this? No... Besides, I don’t want anything to do with him. I just want to be alone," Evelyn responded.

Amber let out a soft sigh and shifted closer to her. She threw an arm over her shoulder and pulled her in, having her rest onto her.

A few beats of silence passed between the two of them before suddenly said. "You know, this might be good for you."

The words took a few seconds to sink in.

"What do you mean?" Evelyn asked.

"Since nothing is going on between you and Zayne Mancini, why not give Valerio a chance?" Amber suggested. "I know he fucked up in the past, but since he’s willing to talk and even apologize, I don’t see why you can’t give him a chance."

Evelyn glared at her. "Amber! This is Valerio we’re talking about."

"Yes, but..."

Amber lifted both her brows.

"Listen, it doesn’t even have to be a date. Like he said, he just wants to take you to dinner so you two can talk. I don’t see anything wrong with that."

"I’m not going!"

"Evelyn, this might be good for you." She half smiled at her, caressing through her hair. "Staying cooped up and alone in here is going to do nothing for you, rather break and leave you a depressed mess. You can go to the dinner and if you don’t like it, give me a call, I’ll come and pick you up. How about that?"

"Amber—"

"Evelyn, this won’t be a date. See it as a way to keep Zayne Mancini out of your head for a night. How about that? Talk to Valerio, find out what he wants. Let him apologize properly to you for everything that happened, and you can move on with one thing in your life. What do you think?"