The following morning began on a good note. I stretched, my mind racing with thoughts for the next chapter in my novel.
But the moment the desktop appeared, my heart stopped. The folder containing my novel—two years of blood, sweat, and sleepless nights—was gone. I looked through every area of the hard disk, hoping I had misplaced it. Nothing.
For illustrative purpose only.
But I knew I didn’t. I hurried from the room and went straight to Lana. As I walked down the hall, faint noises drew my attention. I froze, my heart racing. Slowly, I approached the sound. The door to the next room was slightly ajar.
“We just need to pitch it to the right publisher?” he said.
My blood became chilly. Eric’s voice was distinctive. Looking through the gap, I noticed Lana leaning in, her voice a low hum of conspiracy.
My stomach churned with rage, treachery, and, worse, disillusionment. Eric, who had made me laugh, listened to me, and earned my trust, was a part of it.
I turned away before they could notice me and went to my room. I slammed my suitcase shut, shoving clothing in clumsily.
By the time I left the island, the dazzling sunshine seemed like a terrible joke. I maintained my attention forward, unwilling to look back. I did not need to.
Months later, the bookstore was filled with excitement. Rows of seats were occupied, and the air was alive with talk. I stood on the stage, holding a copy of my novel, and tried to concentrate on the people looking back at me.
After the signing line had shortened and the last guest had left, I collapsed into a chair in the store’s corner, tired. That was when I noticed it—a small folded note on the table.
“You owe me an autograph. Café around the corner when you’re free.”
The handwriting was familiar. My heart skips a beat. Eric.
For illustrative purposes only.
For a second, I pondered crumpling it and walking away. But instead, I sighed, got my coat, and went to the café. I recognized him immediately.
“Thea, I need to explain. What happened on the island… At first, I didn’t realize Lana’s true motives. She convinced me it was all to help you. But the moment I discovered what she was planning, I took the flash drive and sent it to you.”
“She always envied you, you know,” Eric said quietly, breaking the silence. “Even back in university, she felt overshadowed. This time, she saw an opportunity and used both our trust to try and take what wasn’t hers.”
“You made the right choice. That counts for something.”
“Does that mean you’ll give me another chance?”
For illustrative purposes only.
As we left the café, I saw myself smiling. That one date led to another and then another. Before I realized it, I had fallen in love. And at the time, it wasn’t one-sided. What began as betrayal has grown into a partnership based on understanding, forgiveness, and, yes, love.
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