The day Silas Peyton and I had planned to move to the same city, I couldn’t make it. He might never understand how, after just a quick trip back home to pack, I vanished without a trace. A few days later, I called him. The moment he picked up, his voice was sharp and accusing: “Evie Langston, were you planning a cliff-edge breakup?” I glanced around at the cold, unyielding concrete walls and forced myself to say what I didn’t mean. “Yeah, I’m heading to Europe soon to live a better life.” “Let’s not contact each other again.” Content Five years later, I was making ends meet by running a stall at the Blue Ridge Night Bazaar in Asheville. By night, I painted nails for tourists and sold handmade trinkets on the side. That evening, a drizzle started. The woman running the neighboring stall began packing up and called out to me, “Evie, it’s raining. Why aren’t you heading home?” I gave her a bitter smile and shook my head. I hadn’t made a single sale all day. Going home empty-handed didn’t sit right. She tried to console me. “Girl, this isn’t how you earn a living. You’ve barely eaten today—you can’t keep treating yourself like this.” Before she could finish, two people stopped in front of my stall—a couple who looked like they’d stepped straight out of a magazine. “Hey, how much for a manicure?” The girl’s voice was sugary sweet as she idly flipped through the nail designs. I instinctively lowered my head, wiped off the chair for her, and introduced myself eagerly, “Basic designs are $50, more intricate ones are $100. And if you like, I can give you a free plush toy—handmade by me.” She barely glanced at me, pointing at a trendy seasonal design. “This one. Forget the plush toy—I don’t trust unlicensed crafts.” The man beside her raised the umbrella higher over her head, his voice teasing and indulgent. “Only you would think of getting your nails done in the rain.” My hand, reaching for tools, froze. That voice—I hadn’t heard it in years, but I’d never forget it. Silas Peyton. I stole a glance at him and saw how he’d changed. He was leaner, sharper, and even more handsome. My heart twisted like fallen leaves caught in a fierce wind. I pressed down on the girl’s hand and forced myself to focus, mechanically tracing the design she wanted. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Silas pull out a chair and sit down, still holding the umbrella over her. My mind drifted back to our college days. Whenever it rained, he’d wait for me outside the dorms, tilting the umbrella to shield me more than himself. But that devotion no longer belonged to me. Now, he stood beside another woman, shielding her from the elements and giving her his undivided attention. “Wait—wipe it off,” the girl suddenly said, pulling her hand back to inspect her nails. “Miss, is… something wrong?” I asked nervously. She frowned, shaking her head. “Your hands—they’re rough. It feels like they’re full of thorns.” “How are you supposed to do manicures with hands like that? Don’t you know anything about marketing?” For the first time, I noticed my cracked, calloused fingers, worn from years of stitching and mending. My face burned, and my chest tightened with shame. Silas chuckled lightly, tousling her hair, and pulled out his wallet. “Could you clean it off for her? Keep the money.” Then, his gaze finally fell on me. That one look made him freeze, his hand gripping the cash mid-motion. I watched as his expression hardened, his facial muscles twitching. Those once gentle, mesmerizing eyes were now filled with bitterness. The girl, oblivious, began wiping her fingers with disinfectant wipes. She turned to him and asked, “What’s wrong? Do you know her?” He suddenly laughed, pulling out a few more bills and tossing them at me. “No. Just felt sorry for her.” “Think of it as charity for a beggar. Let’s go.” Those words felt like claws digging into my chest. He’d recognized me—at my lowest.
What Silas Peyton didn’t know was that this wasn’t my lowest point. The year we graduated, we had agreed to move to the same city. Before leaving, I returned to my mother’s house to pack. What greeted me there was a nightmare. My stepfather had my mom pinned to the ground, one hand holding her head down, the other raining punches. When he saw me, he didn’t stop. If anything, he hit harder. “You worthless leech! Just like your daughter—useless and filthy. You live off my money, but when it’s time to serve me, you refuse? I’ll beat you to death!” My mother’s wails and his curses blended into a cacophony that shattered my sanity. I couldn’t stand it anymore. I charged at him and pushed him away. But I was no match for him. Within seconds, he’d recovered and slapped me across the face. My mom scrambled up and clung to his legs. “Please, stop! Don’t hurt her. She’ll make money—she’ll help you.” The mention of money made him even angrier. He shoved her aside and wrapped his hands around my neck. At that moment, I thought I was going to die. In desperation, my hand found a fruit knife on the table. Without thinking, I plunged it into his chest. At barely twenty, I had taken a life. The day I awaited sentencing, I called Silas. His first words were angry: “How could you do this to me?” I wiped the tears streaming down my face and, for the first time, forced myself to sound cold and disdainful. “Silas Peyton, listen. In a few days, I’ll be in Europe living my best life.” “Only a fool would stick with someone like you.” My lies were enough to crush him, who had nothing back then. His voice trembled as he warned me not to regret it before hanging up. I was sentenced to five years for manslaughter. My mom hanged herself a week later. From that moment, I lost not just my freedom but also my mother. Regret consumed me, but it was too late. Silas Peyton was perfect, the kind of man no one could ever replace. And I—my carefully built inner fortress had crumbled into ruins. I was no longer worthy of him. Never would be. When I was released, no company would hire me. I managed to find a job delivering food, but once my record was discovered, even my kind boss turned cold. “You stupid girl! Don’t you know they’ll investigate and come down on me? Get out—now!” Who would’ve thought a graduate from a prestigious college would end up unqualified even to deliver takeout? Eventually, I survived by selling crafts I’d learned in prison, working from dawn until dusk just to make ends meet. The money Silas threw at me today was almost what I earned in a month. But I didn’t want it. That money hitting me felt more painful than a slap across the face. Later that night, I got a call from my college roommate, Madison Vance. She was the only person I’d stayed in touch with after my release. “Evie, I’m getting married next month. Silas will be there—my dad’s working with him, and I can’t avoid it.” “But you have to come. We promised back in college, remember?” I glanced at the money I hadn’t returned, steadying my voice. “Don’t worry. I’ll be there.” “I have something I need to give back to him anyway.” It’s time to return it. And let go.
Madison Vance’s wedding was held at her father’s hotel, the Vance Regency Hotel in Manhattan. It was my first time back in this city in over five years. Even though I’d been out of prison and reintegrating into society for half a year, crowds still made me feel uneasy. “Evie, don’t be so tense,” Madison said, giving my shoulder a reassuring pat. I forced a dry smile and gestured for her to go ahead and tend to her guests. Once everyone had taken their seats, I realized I’d been placed at a table with my old college classmates. None of them recognized me. Silas Peyton arrived with the same beautiful woman I’d seen at the Blue Ridge Night Bazaar. Their entrance caused an immediate stir. “Well, well, looks like Mr. Peyton might be tying the knot soon,” someone teased. Silas didn’t deny it, confidently holding the woman’s hand as they walked. Glancing briefly in my direction, he nodded with a smile. “That’s right. When Serena and I get married, I hope everyone here will join us to celebrate.” So, her name was Serena Cross. I kept my head down, wishing I could disappear into the floor. My only strategy was to make myself as invisible as possible. But Serena noticed me. “Hey! Aren’t you the girl who did my nails that day?” Her voice carried, and every pair of eyes at the table turned to me. Finally, someone exclaimed, “You’re… Evelyn Langston, right?” I nodded slightly, still avoiding eye contact. The recognition set off a wave of murmurs. “It is her! But what happened to you? You used to be so gorgeous. Now you look… malnourished.” I forced a weak smile, not knowing how to respond. One of Silas’s friends, who had always been close to him, smirked and added, “Wow, the campus beauty queen fell pretty far. Guess karma caught up with you. No one’s heard a word from you for years—we thought maybe you didn’t survive the pandemic.” The comments stung, but I could bear it. After all, compared to the abuse I endured in prison, this was nothing. Besides, this was Madison’s wedding. I wouldn’t let anything ruin it. I focused on my plate, quietly eating while ignoring the conversation around me. Silas chuckled, serving Serena another bite of food. “Ms. Langston, is American cuisine too plain for someone who’s been living abroad?” I chewed my last bite mechanically, set my fork down gently, and stood. “Enjoy your meals, everyone. I have to go.” I spoke with my eyes fixed on the empty space above their heads. At a table full of people, I couldn’t find a single pair of eyes willing to meet mine. I left in a hurry, without saying goodbye to Madison or returning the money I owed Silas. But before I could step out of the hotel, Silas intercepted me. Somehow, he’d taken a different route and was already waiting at the door. Without warning, he grabbed my arm and dragged me to a secluded corner. His expression was dark, like a brewing storm. “Evelyn Langston, what’s the deal? Weren’t you supposed to be living it up in Europe? What are you doing back here?” I stood there, tongue-tied, his words like barbs caught in my throat. “This is your karma for dumping me, isn’t it?” he spat, his voice rising. “Are you jealous? Look at me now—I’m wealthy, successful, and my girlfriend is beautiful and sweet.” “The best part? She loves me. She’d never abandon me like you did. You’re the one who got left behind!” Years of pent-up anger exploded like a dam bursting, his words hitting me like tidal waves, leaving me gasping for air. Just then, Madison appeared, out of breath and stepping protectively between us. “Silas, what’s wrong with you? Do you even know what Evie—” “Madison!” I interrupted sharply, cutting her off. I shoved the money I’d been holding into Silas’s hand, then grabbed Madison and walked away. He didn’t need to know. Some truths are better left buried.
That night, Madison called me. “Evie, stop hiding in that little market. Come work at my dad’s hotel.” I hesitated, feeling a mix of apprehension and disbelief. “Are you sure? I don’t want to cause any trouble.” Madison dismissed my concerns. “It’s fine! Just a temporary job as a guest room attendant. You won’t have to deal with people much, and you’ll make way more than you do selling plush toys.” For once, I decided to take a chance. On my third day, there was a birthday party being held in the main hall. It had nothing to do with me—until my manager called me down to help serve drinks. When I entered the hall, I froze. The party was for Silas Peyton. I’d completely forgotten. The place was packed with college friends and influential people he’d befriended in Manhattan. I scanned the room, desperate to spot Madison. I wanted nothing more than to stay out of sight. “What are you staring at? You’re here to work, not gawk!” barked the floor supervisor. She shoved a tray of drinks into my hands and pointed to the main table. “Hurry up! They’ve been waiting.” Before I could protest, she pushed me forward. Like a zombie, I carried the tray toward the crowd. As I approached the main table, Serena suddenly turned, bumping into my arm. The tray slipped, crashing to the floor. Glasses shattered, and wine splattered everywhere—right onto Serena’s expensive heels and dress. “Seriously? Are you blind?” she snapped. “I’m sorry.” My apology was automatic as I fumbled to clean up the mess. Serena wasn’t satisfied. “Sorry? Do you have any idea how much these shoes cost? Get down and clean them properly!” I hesitated, glancing at Silas. His brow furrowed slightly, but he said nothing. That was answer enough. He wasn’t going to step in. “Hello? Are you deaf? Is this how your staff handles mistakes?” Serena pressed. Fine. I pulled out a handkerchief, knelt down, and began wiping her shoes. I could feel the weight of every gaze in the room pressing down on me. Before I was done, Serena let out a cold laugh. “Ladies and gentlemen, doesn’t this face look familiar? Anyone know where our dear Evelyn Langston has been all these years?” My mind went blank. She planned this. Her voice dripped with mockery. “Evelyn, should I tell everyone where you disappeared to, or would you like the honor?” I finally understood—she’d dug into my past. For reasons I couldn’t fathom, she was determined to expose me. The crowd buzzed with whispers, like a swarm of flies. I looked up, meeting Serena’s triumphant gaze. At that moment, I felt like a cornered animal, surrounded by predators waiting for me to crumble. If I was going to fall, I’d do it on my own terms. Straightening up, I turned to the crowd. My voice was steady. “No need. I’ll tell them myself.” “Years ago, I killed someone. I spent those missing years in prison.” The truth wasn’t for them. It was for me. All I wanted was to live without hiding. “What did you say?” Silas shot to his feet, staring at me in disbelief. His eyes burned with intensity, like a fire that couldn’t be extinguished.
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