Chapter 5: A Familiar Face

JULIA

I didn’t hesitate.

The bush was dense and prickly, but I dove in anyway, ignoring the sharp thorns that snagged at my sweater and scraped against my arms.

My breath hitched as I pressed my body flat against the uneven ground, clutching the rough bark of a tree trunk for cover.

There they were. Evan and Heather. Together.

The girl he always told me not to worry about.

I hated how my heart reacted—betrayal, anger, longing—all tangled up in a mess that made it hard to breathe.

Evan leaned against his car, his dark hair ruffled by the breeze in that effortless way that used to drive me wild.

He still looked the same—well, not entirely. His features were slightly older, and he looked more handsome. However, the shine in his eyes dimmed lightly. For other people, it might not be noticeable, but for me, who had seen him smile countless of times, it was definitely different.

Heather stood beside him, her hand brushing his arm as she laughed at something I couldn’t hear. I suddenly had the urge to pluck her teeth out.

‘Wait, no! Bad Julia!’

I shook my head as a part of me whispered, ‘He’s not your Evan anymore.’

But that didn’t make it hurt any less.

I shifted slightly, wincing as a branch jabbed my side. The bush offered decent coverage, but it wasn’t built for prolonged surveillance missions. I pressed my lips together, willing the ache in my chest to stay quiet.

Then it happened. Evan’s frown deepened, and his gaze snapped toward my direction.

I froze, my heartbeat thundering in my ears.

“Crap,” I muttered, realizing just how foolish I must look. It would be pathetic to find me here hiding in a bush! I would much rather be hit with a bus and paraded all over town.

He walked towards me, and I swear I was going to have a heart attack.

However, to my utter relief—and a little bit of disappointment—his eyes darted past me.

A stray cat slinked out from behind the bush, meowing without a care in the world.

Evan’s shoulders relaxed as he crouched, scooping up the small, scraggly creature. The cat didn’t fight him. It nestled into his arms, purring softly. Meanwhile, all I could do was watch from the safety of my bush.

Yes, I’m claiming it as my bush now.

Heather scrunched her nose. “Evan, don’t touch that. It’s filthy. You might get sick.”

“She’s not filthy. She’s scared,” Evan replied.

His voice was calm. The voice I once knew better than my own. “We’ll take her to the shelter.”

Heather crossed her arms. “Fine,“ she said with an unamused smile.

I tilted my head to the side. Did Heather not like animals? She seemed to be the sweetest girl! As far as I know, she was even an advocate for wildlife back when we were freshmen in college.

Still, I didn’t have the luxury to dwell on that.

Evan didn’t respond to Heather’s dismissive statement. Instead, he just cradled the cat a little closer and walked toward his car. Heather followed, looking a little bit irritated.

I stayed hidden as the car pulled away. My knees ached from crouching, and my sweater had definitely seen better days, but I didn’t move.

Not yet.

He was still kind. That was the worst part.

Why were they together? I thought—

Bzzz.

My phone vibrated in my pocket, snapping me out of my thoughts. I pulled it out and squinted at the screen.

Andy’s teacher: Mrs. Johnson! Just checking in. Is everything okay? Andy’s still waiting to be picked up.

“Oh my goodness,” I muttered, panic flooding me as I scrambled to my feet.

I glanced at the time.

12:15 PM. The bus! I had completely forgotten about the bus!

My heart raced as I tore out of the bush, leaves clinging to my hair and twigs poking out from my clothes. I cursed under my breath, sprinting down the sidewalk in a desperate attempt to catch the next bus.

By the time I reached the stop, it was long gone, leaving me stranded with no choice but to run.

My lungs burned as I ran through pedestrians, apologizing as I nearly tripped over someone’s dog. The daycare wasn’t far, but it felt like an eternity before I skidded to a halt outside the building.

Pushing the door open, I stumbled inside.

Andy sat by the play corner, his small face lighting up when he saw me. “Mommy!”

I rushed over and scooped him up, hugging him tightly. “I’m so sorry, bub,” I whispered, kissing his forehead. “I got caught up, but I’m here now.”

Andy giggled, his tiny arms wrapping around my neck. “It’s okay, Mommy. Miss Ellie played with me.”

“Miss who?”

“Miss Ellie!” Andy pointed toward the front desk, where the teacher stood talking to another parent.

My heart stopped.

Not because of the name but because of the face that turned toward me.

The teacher, with her sharp green eyes and perfectly sweet face, looked equally stunned. Her lips parted in recognition.

“Julia?”

“Ellie?”

There was no mistaking her.

Eleonor Cassidy Astor.

Evan’s sister.