Chapter 127: Chapter-127. (It Was Evident).
The date had finally arrived.
Elena had sent the location earlier that morning. It was nothing, but short, precise, and aloof.
Just a message with the address. No greeting, no explanation, no emojis like before.
I just stared at the screen for a full minute before exhaling quietly. It was the same restaurant where we had gone to meet Caroline and Nicole... before everything had fallen apart.
Now, it only carried the weight of everything that had gone wrong.
The car crash.
The kidnapping.
Josh.
The lies.
The guilt.
Everything that had broken us apart and forced us to go our separate ways.
The drive felt longer than usual. Maybe because my thoughts were louder than the engine.
My hand rested on the steering wheel, tight enough that my knuckles looked pale, but my mind wasn’t really on the road. It was spinning around one single point. To be more specific, one person.
Elena.
I had not told Grandpa Albert about this meeting. Not after what happened the last time.The way she had looked at us still burned in the back of my mind.
That day, she was not angry in the way she used to be. There was no shouting, no trembling voice, no hesitation. Just calm, cutting words that made everything go silent.
She had changed. It was evident.
She was not fragile anymore. She was not looking for understanding or forgiveness.
She had built walls that were too strong and cold to break. Moreover, in this situation, I did not know how to reach her anymore.
I respected that strength, but at the same time, it scared me. It felt like I had lost her long before she even said it aloud.
Grandpa had taken it hard that day. He did not say much, but the disappointment in his eyes said enough.
That’s why I didn’t tell him about tonight. I couldn’t let him go through that again...not until I understood what I was even doing.
So I came alone.
The irony of it all didn’t escape me. She chose the same restaurant, the same room.
But why?
There were no happy memories tied to this place anymore. Not after what happened that night. Not after the crash. Not after Josh took her.
When I reached, I realized I was early.... Maybe it was better because I needed to collect all my thoughts.
The waiter led me to the same private room, and for a moment, the familiarity almost hurt.
The same dim lighting, the same faint scent of vanilla candles, the same damn table where everything had fallen apart.
I checked my watch. Seven was still twenty minutes away.
The quiet hum of the air conditioner filled the silence. I could hear faint laughter and clinking glasses from the dining hall outside, but here, everything felt heavy. Still.
I leaned back in the chair, rubbing my temples, trying to focus on anything else, but my mind didn’t listen.
I thought about the crash, about Josh, about how I had failed to protect her. About how much she must have suffered because of me.
The guilt was like rust, and slow, but it ate away at everything over time.
I had not wanted to hurt her that day. I only wanted to make her see reason.
To show her that shutting everyone out was not the solution, but she had seen it differently. Maybe she was right. Maybe I had pushed too hard.
Still, her last words from that night echoed in my mind.
You’ll lose me again. This time, for good.
And damn it, the expression on her face told me everything...that she had meant every syllable.
I took a deep breath, leaning forward, elbows on the table. I rehearsed what I had to say when she walked in.
I would not argue. I would not defend myself. I will listen...really listen. For once.
Then, the door opened.
My heart jumped. I stood up instantly, almost knocking the chair behind me, but the moment I saw who it was, my chest tightened.
It wasn’t her.
It was the least expected person, Nicole. And right behind him was Grace.
Nicole’s arms were crossed, and that usual mix of irritation and arrogance was painted across his face.
His blonde hair looked slightly messy, like he’d come here unwillingly. Grace, with her purple hair and impatient eyes, followed him in, confusion already written across her face.
"What are you two doing here?" I asked, trying to keep my tone even, though irritation prickled at the edge of my words.
Nicole raised an eyebrow, his voice dry. "You tell me. You are the one who texted us to meet here."
I blinked. "What? No, I didn’t."
Grace scoffed. "Oh, come on. Don’t start that. You literally texted us this morning at seven sharp, same place, same room." Her voice had that familiar sharpness that made everything sound like an accusation.
"What is this, Dave? Are you trying to replay the world’s most awkward night?"
I shook my head firmly. "I didn’t send any message."
Nicole fished his phone from his pocket, scrolling for a few seconds before holding the screen up to me. "Then explain this."
And there it was a message, supposedly from me, with my name, my number, the restaurant, the room, everything.
My stomach sank, but I maintained my cold expression, "That’s not from me."
Grace folded her arms, tapping her foot. "Then who did? Your ghost?"
The room fell into silence, thick with confusion and tension. I ran a hand through my hair, trying to think. None of this made sense.
Nicole muttered under his breath, "Something’s off about this..."
And then the door opened. Again.
The air shifted immediately. It’s strange how you can feel someone before you even see them. I didn’t need to turn.
I already knew. Still, I did, and my heart stumbled.
Elena. It was her.
She stood in the doorway like she belonged there, poised, calm, almost regal in her silence.
Her presence filled the space in a way it never used to.