Chapter 73

Late in the evening, Lucy was lounging in bed, scrolling through her phone and feeling content. She had spent the entire day with Darren, playing and laughing and making love, and it had been nothing short of magical. She was so wrapped up in her own little world that she almost didn't hear the sound of Stanley's voice in her mind.

"Lucy, are you there? Can you hear me?"

Lucy tensed up, feeling a sudden rush of anxiety. She had been avoiding Stanley since she had started dating Darren, feeling guilty and ashamed of the way she had treated him. She knew that he had always been kind and supportive towards her, but she couldn't help the way she felt. She had fallen for Darren hard, and she couldn't imagine being with anyone else.

She took a deep breath, trying to block out the sound of Stanley's voice. She knew that it wasn't fair to him, but she couldn't bring herself to face him.

"Lucy, please answer me. I need to talk to you," Stanley's voice echoed in her mind, insistent and pleading