All Chapters of Pathetically Beautiful : Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Willow pov The door abruptly swung open, and Dillon's presence filled the room. "Willow, I need to talk to you," he said, his voice tinged with urgency. Before I could respond, he grabbed my arm and led me outside. His touch, although gentle, sent a jolt of discomfort through me. "Dillon, what's wrong?" I asked as soon as we were out of earshot of the house.He took a deep breath, the tension in his posture unmistakable. "It's about Brax. He's asked me to do something... because he found out you were talking to a cop today."My heart pounded, my mind racing a million miles a minute. I stood there, unable to find words, my thoughts swirling in a chaotic dance of worry and fear."Willow," Dillon continued softly, "you need to tell him the truth, or he's going to find out on his own.""No," I protested, shaking my head vigorously. "I can't tell him. I'm doing this not just for myself but for him, too."Dillon's eyes softened with understanding. "I know, but Willow—" Our conversation w

Days passed as I resolutely avoided Brax and Dillon, my phone vibrating with unanswered calls and unopened texts from Brax. I told myself over and over that it had to be this way. I had to let go of them both and focus on my plan to take Steve down. Walking through the school halls, the cacophony of teenage chatter seemed distant and uninviting. Alone, I felt the weight of my decisions, but I knew it was all for the best.As I got to my first class, I felt an unwelcome buzz around me. The teacher's droning voice faded into the background, the words blending into a monotonous hum. Just as I tried to settle into my seat, the door flew open with a crash, startling the entire room.“Braxton Young! What do you think you’re doing?” The teacher’s voice was shrill.Brax scanned the room, his intense gaze locking onto mine. My body went rigid. His eyes held mine captive, and his presence pierced through my carefully constructed walls. "Willow," he said, his voice cutting through the fog in my

Brax’s POVSitting in the living room, I felt consumed by thoughts of Willow. Every minute without her felt like an eternity, and the grasp of her absence ate at my soul. Kasey and Nat were here too, but their presence seemed superficial compared to the shadow Willow cast in my mind. Kasey's voice broke through my thoughts, although it was muffled—as if he were speaking from underwater. He had been talking at me, not realising I wasn’t listening. His voice grew more urgent, trying to snap me out of my reverie.“Brax!” Kasey’s yell finally dragged me back to the present.I blinked, focusing on him. “Sorry, man. What was that?” I asked, trying to catch up.Kasey sighed, rubbing his hand over his face. "Man, you need to let her go. She's not worth all of this. You and Dillon haven't spoken since the party. I miss hanging out with my two best mates. You shouldn't be fighting over a girl."His words hit me like a blow to the chest. I leaned forward, burying my face in my hands, my fingers

Willow's POVI stood staring at my reflection in the mirror, the woman staring back at me almost unrecognisable. My cheeks were hollow, my blue eyes sunken deep with dark circles beneath them, and my once vibrant hair hung limp and lifeless. The long, low-cut dress clung to my body, a testament to the weight I’d lost. The high slit up my leg seemed to mock me, revealing not just skin but the fragile state of my soul.How had I come to this? Again? The reflection seemed to ask me. Only a few weeks ago, I was a fearful but hopeful teenager. I had come a long way before, I believed, and now, I was just a shell worse than I had ever been. I had seduced Steve to gain his trust, systematically tearing down my own barriers, piece by piece. In some twisted way, I hoped it would all be worth it—worth the sleepless nights and the constant dread gnawing at me. If I could just gather the evidence and bring him down, I could protect the people I loved. Brax, Nat, Kasey, and Dillon deserved better

Willow’s POV Leaving Brax in the bathroom felt like tearing away a piece of my soul, the guilt almost suffocating. My body ached for him, not just from the fiery passion we had just shared but from the security he gave me, a sense of safety I could never afford to crave. Making my way back through the party, I forced a smile at the curious onlookers, pretending I was just another guest in the swirling chaos of music and laughter. Brax's desperate words replayed in my mind as I reached my stepfather, Steve. He was lost in conversation with his guests, but his predatory gaze caught me the instant I returned to his side. If only he knew what had just transpired, that the girl standing before him was a maelstrom of defiance and fear. But Steve, always overconfident, didn’t suspect a thing. That ignorance was my only card to play. "Where were you?" Steve asked with a slight slur, his eyes narrowing. "Bathroom," I replied nonchalantly, avoiding his gaze. As the night dragged on, I remai