Chapter Eighty One
Chloe and Janet stood side by side in the spacious kitchen, their nimble hands moving in perfect harmony as they chopped vegetables and cracked eggs. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, intermingling with the sizzling sound of bacon on the stove.
After a few minutes of comfortable silence, Chloe spoke up, her voice tinged with curiosity. “Have you seen Lucas lately?” she asked, her eyes darting to her friend’s face.
Janet paused, her knife hovering over a plump tomato. “No, I haven’t,” she said finally, her tone guarded. “I’ve been avoiding him.”
“Why?” Chloe pressed, her curiosity growing stronger by the second.
Janet hesitated before speaking. “Because he lied to me,” she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. “He slept with me without telling me he was Emily’s brother. I can’t forgive him for that.”
Chloe felt a pang of sympathy for her friend. “I’m sorry,” she said softly, placing a comforting hand on Janet’s shoulder. “That must have been tough for you.”
Janet nodded, a hint of sadness in her eyes. “It was,” she said quietly. “But I’m trying to move on.”
Chloe nodded, her mind racing with thoughts. “Maybe there’s more to the story,” she suggested tentatively.
Janet’s eyes flashed with anger. “What more could there be?” she spat. “He used me, Chloe. He used me to get close to Emily.”
Chloe held up her hands, sensing her friend’s raw emotions. “I’m not defending him,” she said calmly. “I just think there might be more to the situation than we know.”
Janet sighed heavily, her knife clattering on the cutting board. “Maybe,” she said, her voice resigned. “But I don’t want anything to do with him right now.”
Chloe nodded, knowing better than to push the issue further. “Okay,” she said simply, turning back to the task at hand.
As they worked in silence, Chloe’s mind drifted back to a similar situation she had been in years ago. She had been a teenager, struggling to cope with the sudden loss of her parents in a car accident. In the aftermath, she had become distant and withdrawn, pushing away anyone who tried to help her.
But then she had met Marco, a boy from school who had taken an interest in her. They had started dating, and for a brief time, Chloe had felt like she could finally move on from the tragedy.
But then she had discovered that Marco had been involved in the accident that had taken her parents’ lives. He had been driving under the influence, and had fled the scene in a panic.
Chloe had been devastated by the revelation, but she had also been determined to seek justice for her parents. She had spent months gathering evidence and building a case against Marco, until finally, he had been arrested and charged with vehicular manslaughter.
The memory was still painful, but it had also taught Chloe a valuable lesson. People were often not what they seemed, and it was important to look beyond the surface.
As she finished cracking the last egg, Chloe couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to Lucas’s situation than Janet realized. Perhaps he had a reason for not disclosing his relationship to Emily.
But for now, Chloe knew better than to stir the pot any further. She would let Janet come to her own conclusions in her own time.
The conversation turned to Chloe’s own struggles, and Janet asked her about the love triangle she found herself in with Liam and Aiden. Chloe sighed, her heart heavy with guilt.
“I had to lie to Liam to get him to stay away from me,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t want to hurt him, but I couldn’t keep leading him on.”
Janet’s eyes widened in surprise. “You lied to him?” she asked incredulously.
Chloe nodded, her eyes downcast. “I know, it’s not right,” she said, her voice heavy with regret. “But I had to do something.”
As Chloe opened up to Janet about her complicated love life, Janet couldn’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu. It wasn’t so long ago that she had been in a similar situation, torn between her feelings for Lucas and the pain of his deception.
“I know exactly how you feel,” Janet said, her voice soft and sympathetic. “Love can be a battlefield, and sometimes we get caught in the crossfire.”
Chloe nodded, grateful for her friend’s understanding. “I just wish there was a way to make things right,” she said, her eyes pleading.
Janet smiled gently. “There is always a way,” she said. “It might not be easy, but it’s worth fighting for.”
Chloe felt a glimmer of hope in her heart. Maybe Janet was right. Maybe there was a way forward, a way to make things right with Liam and Aiden.
“But what if I make the wrong choice?” Chloe asked, her voice laced with fear.
Janet leaned in closer, her eyes intense. “There are no wrong choices,” she said firmly. “Only lessons to be learned. The key is to follow your heart, and trust that everything will work out in the end.”
Chloe felt a sense of peace wash over her at her friend’s words. Maybe it was time to stop overthinking things and start listening to her heart. Maybe it was time to take a leap of faith and see where it led her.
As they continued to chop vegetables and prepare breakfast, the two friends talked about their hopes and dreams, their fears and doubts, and the challenges that lay ahead. Despite the uncertainty of the future, they both felt a sense of camaraderie and comfort in each other’s company.
As Chloe opened up about her love triangle, Janet listened intently, her expression a mix of sympathy and curiosity.
“So, who do you really want to be with?” Janet asked, her tone gentle but probing.
Chloe hesitated, her thoughts jumbled. “I don’t know,” she admitted finally, her voice small. “I care about both of them, but in different ways.”
Janet nodded thoughtfully. “I can imagine that’s a difficult position to be in,” she said, her words careful. “But have you considered what they want?”
Chloe shook her head. “Not really,” she admitted. “I’ve been so focused on my own feelings, I haven’t thought about theirs.”
Janet smiled knowingly. “Well, maybe it’s time to start,” she said, her tone encouraging. “It’s not just about you, Chloe. You have to think about their feelings too.”
Chloe nodded, a sense of determination settling over her. “You’re right,” she said, her voice firm. “I need to talk to them, find out what they want, and make a decision based on that.”
Janet grinned. “That’s the spirit,” she said, patting Chloe’s arm. “And don’t forget, I’m here for you. Whatever you need.”
Chloe felt a rush of gratitude towards her friend. It was times like these she realized how lucky she was to have someone like Janet in her life.
As they sat down to eat breakfast, Chloe couldn’t help but feel grateful for the distraction of Janet’s company. The food was delicious, and the two friends chatted and joked as they ate, the sound of their laughter filling the room.
“You know what we should do?” Chloe said suddenly, a mischievous glint in her eye. “We should go out tonight and hit up that new bar downtown. I heard they have amazing cocktails.”
Janet raised an eyebrow skeptically. “I don’t know, Chloe,” she said. “It’s a Monday night. I have work tomorrow.”
Chloe waved a hand dismissively. “Come on, live a little,” she urged. “It’ll be fun, I promise.”
Janet hesitated for a moment, but the excitement in Chloe’s eyes was infectious, and she found herself nodding in agreement. “Okay, let’s do it,” she said, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
Chloe whooped with excitement, and the two friends made plans to meet up later that night. As they finished their meal, Chloe’s mind was racing with possibilities, the weight of her troubles momentarily lifted by the prospect of a night out with her friend.
Later that evening, the two women arrived at the bar, the pulsing music and neon lights signaling the start of a wild night. Chloe led the way, her confidence and enthusiasm infectious as she ordered drinks and flirted shamelessly with the bartender.
Janet found herself caught up in the energy of the moment, the thrill of the unknown and the freedom of the night. They danced and drank, their laughter ringing out over the music as they let loose and forgot about their worries.
At some point, Chloe disappeared with a handsome stranger, leaving Janet alone at the bar. But instead of feeling abandoned, she felt a sense of liberation, the knowledge that she could stand on her own two feet and enjoy the night on her own terms.
When Chloe returned a few hours later, her eyes sparkling with excitement, Janet couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy. But as they stumbled out of the bar and into the cool night air, arm in arm and laughing uncontrollably, Janet knew that she wouldn’t have wanted the night to go any other way.
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of Chloe’s phone ringing. She glanced down at the screen and saw that it was Liam calling.
“Speak of the devil,” she muttered, before answering the call.
“Hey, Liam,” she said, trying to sound upbeat.
“Hey, Chloe,” Liam’s voice came through the line. “I was wondering if we could talk. I feel like there’s something you’re not telling me.”
Chloe’s heart sank. She had hoped to avoid this conversation for a little while longer. But she knew she couldn’t put it off forever.Owned by NôvelDrama.Org.
“Sure, Liam,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “Let’s talk.”
Janet looked at her with concern, and Chloe gave her a reassuring smile before turning her attention back to the phone call.
“Can we meet up?” He asked.