Chapter 30: The Realization
"Of course," Evie thought, realizing that was the crux of it.
But she couldn’t muster a retort in time; he left the room before she could voice her thoughts. Her brows knitted together as a sudden ache took hold in her chest. His stinging words had shattered something within her that she hadn’t even acknowledged before.
Evie knew this was merely an arrangement between them, yet his blatant declaration after everything that had transpired in Paris unsettled her in a way she couldn’t clearly define.
Evie was the kind of woman who fell quickly, especially after being given attention, and Paris had been a catalyst.
In the moments they shared—alone, with no prying eyes—he turned her birthday into a memorable occasion, igniting feelings she struggled to control.
No one looked at her the way he did; no one saw her as he did.
She could still recall the lingering intimacy of their dance, their kiss, their late-night strolls, and those charged glances... Did it truly mean nothing to him?
Just yesterday, they were caught up in something special, and now Ezra had reverted to his usual self, as if nothing had changed.
Did he even possess a heart that felt anything? He was heartless.
Evie wasn’t even pretending when she had brought him coffee this morning.
It was not about liking Ezra completely but because of an undeniable stirring inside her that he had now brutally shut down by mentioning their arrangement.
They were merely a fake couple when no one was looking. It pierced her deeply.
She swallowed hard, feeling the lump in her throat intensify. She felt her eyes turn misty, and she chuckled. Laughing at herself. Was she that weak a woman!?
Why was she feeling this way? She asked herself.
Why her?
Just as a tear slipped down her cheek, a knock on the door snapped her back to reality. She quickly wiped her eyes, plastering on a smile as if she hadn’t just been wounded by a man’s direct, cutting words. Fuck you, Ezra. She thought as she swiveled on her heels.
When she opened the door, Ruby stood there, greeting her with a teasing smile. "Good morning, princess."
"Good morning! Did you sleep well?" Evie asked.
"Yeah," Ruby replied, her smile brightening, before her face fell. "I saw Ezra this morning. He just walked out, I greeted him, and he didn’t even acknowledge me—just stormed off. What’s up with him?"
Evie scoffed, adopting a nonchalant demeanor. "How would I know?" she replied, trying to project indifference.
Ruby studied her closely, seemingly weighing her response but ultimately deciding against it. "Why don’t you come in so we can talk?" Evie suggested. Ruby tilted her head, while Evie pulled Ruby inside with a smirk and closed the door firmly behind them.
Ruby lounged on the chair, her eyes scanning the lavish room Evie shared with Ezra, its grandeur accentuating the feeling that they were out of place in such an opulent mansion.
"Last night was a blast. I haven’t seen you and Ezra act like that before," Ruby pointed out, recalling the laughter that had filled the air until everyone had passed out on the rug near each other.
"Yeah," Evie replied tersely, not wanting to read too much into it.
"And you and Shane," she added, narrowing her eyes at Ruby, who rolled her own eyes in response. "Did you tell him he’s your favorite actor?" Evie leaned in closer, intrigued.
Ruby’s face lit up at the mention. "That reminds me, Evie... Are we even best friends anymore?" Ruby shot back, fixing Evie with an intense gaze.
Evie blinked, momentarily taken aback. "Why would you ask that?" she confronted.
"Because I don’t recognize you anymore..." Ruby shrugged, her tone implying deeper issues at hand. Evie wondered where the conversation was heading, were they not just talking about Shane?
"Imagine you keeping so much from me! You didn’t even mention that Shane was staying here? You wouldn’t believe my reaction when I saw him!" Ruby exclaimed.
A smile crept across Evie’s lips. "What was your reaction?" she prodded.
Ruby leaned back, as if recollecting the moment vividly.
She remembered stepping out of the cab, cake box in hand along with other items for the occasion. Humming to herself as she approached the grand doors, she pressed the doorbell. Silence followed. Confused, she stepped back to check if she was in the right mansion at all. It was Ezra’s... so she was at the right place.
Ruby repressed the button again, and when the door swung open, she couldn’t believe her eyes.
There stood Shawn, clad in black pants and a casual white shirt, revealing a glimpse of his Calvin Klein boxers, his hair tousled, and an apple in hand that he was casually chewing.
Ruby’s eyes widened as she locked onto Shane’s gaze. She dropped the items in her hand and stepped back, shock written all over her face.
Shane Thorne!?
Was this really Shane Thorne? The internationally recognized actor she idolized?
She took another step back, struggling to accept that this man could be right before her.
Evie!
Ruby clenched her fists, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. How could her best friend keep this a secret? Evie knew Ruby was a huge fan of Shane, and she still kept quiet about it!? Her silence felt like betrayal.
This was unacceptable, and Ruby was determined to confront Evie about it.
"Are you alright?" Shane asked, tilting his head inquisitively, his narrowed eyes studying the stunned girl in front of him. She appeared as if she had just encountered a ghost.
Ruby shook her head, bewildered. She was far from alright; her heart was racing, and panic threatened to consume her.
Did he just speak to her?
Did her idol just engage with her?
In disbelief, Ruby pinched herself to confirm it was real. "Miss?" Shane prompted, an eyebrow raised in curiosity.
Still trying to process the situation, Ruby pushed herself to regain her composure. "I’m looking for my friend Evie. She lives here with Ezra... Ezra Thorne," she stated firmly, hoping he would understand her urgency.
Shane’s expression softened slightly. "Oh, Evie? She just flew out of the country with Ezra."
"What!?" Ruby exclaimed, her voice rising with indignation. "When did this happen?" Her frustration was palpable. She had come here hoping to see her best friend, only to discover that Evie was halfway around the world.
Why had Evie stopped updating her about her life? Weren’t they besties anymore!?
Shane took a casual bite of his apple, continuing to observe Ruby with mild amusement. "Just now," he replied nonchalantly, eyeing the stunned girl with short hair.