Page 57 of Whispers of Deception

Augustus clenched his jaw, his hands balling into fists at his sides. “I’m not leaving you,” he repeated, but his voice was hollow, and Lilia knew he was lying. Maybe not to her, but to himself.

“You already have,” she whispered, her heart breaking as she said the words out loud. “You already made that choice.”

For a moment, neither of them said anything. The silence between them was suffocating, filled with all the words they couldn’t say, all the feelings they were too afraid to face. Lilia could see the conflict in Augustus’ eyes, the war raging inside him. But she also knew that he had already made up his mind.

And that realization was enough to shatter her completely.

She stepped back from him, her tears falling freely now as she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to hold herself together. “I can’t do this,” she whispered. “I can’t keep pretending like this doesn’t hurt.”

Augustus looked like he wanted to say something, like he wanted to reach out to her, but he didn’t. He just stood there, watching her with that same distant expression, his hands still shoved deep into his pockets.

Lilia wiped her eyes again, her chest aching with the weight of everything that had been left unsaid. She couldn’t stand to bethere any longer. She couldn’t stand to look at him and see the man she thought she loved—the man who was choosing to walk away from her.

“Goodbye, Augustus,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

She turned and walked away from him, her footsteps echoing through the empty park. She didn’t look back, didn’t dare to, because she knew if she did, she might fall apart completely.

The walk home felt like it took forever. Every step felt heavier than the last, and by the time she reached her front door, she was exhausted—physically, emotionally, in every way possible.

She went straight to her room, not bothering to turn on the lights. She crawled into bed, pulling the covers over her head as if that could protect her from the world outside. But it couldn’t protect her from the pain inside her chest, from the hollow ache that refused to go away.

She cried herself to sleep that night, her tears soaking her pillow as she curled into herself, trying to block out the memories of Augustus’ voice, of the way he had looked at her.

And for the first time in a long time, Lilia felt completely and utterly alone.

Chapter Twenty-Four

November 22nd, 2022

The Montgomery home

In hindsight, Lilia realized now how stupid it was to go there. To speak to her at a time like this. But after the other day, she wasn’t sure she even had the ability to think rationally anymore.

She stood in front of Amelia’s door, her breath shallow as she gathered the courage to knock. Her hoodie was pulled low, casting shadows over her face, the fabric heavy and damp from the lingering mist in the air. She glanced around, making sure no one was watching her, and knocked softly. Her hair, loose and unkempt, fell forward like curtains, offering some semblance of privacy from the world.

The door creaked open, revealing Amelia in a disheveled state. Her eyes were swollen from crying, her hair a tangled mess atop her head. She wore an old, oversized sweatshirt that looked like it hadn’t been washed in days.

“Mel—” Lilia began, her voice hesitant, but Amelia cut her off with a sharp look.

“You need to leave.” Amelia’s voice was cold, and she immediately began pushing the door closed.

“Please, I didn’t kill her,” Lilia blurted out, desperate to be heard. She pushed against the door, stopping it from shutting completely. “That audio—it was taken out of context. I know you have no reason to believe me, I swear we didn’t kill her. But I want to find out who did.”

Amelia’s hand tightened on the door, her expression hardening. “I shouldn’t even be here, talking to you,” she whispered, her voice laced with exhaustion.

“Please,” Lilia’s voice broke. “You believe me, don’t you? I would’ve never hurt her. You know that.”

Amelia’s eyes narrowed, her face scrunching up with disdain. “I don’t know what to believe,” she spat back. “How could you sleep with him?”

“It was a mistake,” Lilia whispered, barely able to get the words out.

“A mistake?” Amelia sneered, her anger flaring up like a wildfire. “Oh, you tripped and fell on his dick, huh?”

Lilia flinched at the crude words, feeling them like physical blows. “Please,” she begged, her voice trembling. “I’m being set up—someone’s trying to frame me. You were the only one who knew Willow better than any of us. You have to help us.”

“Get off my porch.” Amelia’s voice was filled with venom, her eyes flashing with anger.

“Mellie—”

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