Chapter 265

There weren’t too many nights when the haunting memories of Bruce didn’t linger, lurking in the shadows of my subconscious. Nightmares, vivid and torturous, invaded my dreams, tearing through the fragile tranquility of the night.

In the midst of fragmented illusions and haunting echoes, I felt myself consumed by a familiar terror. Images of Bruce's menacing glare and his callous insults played on an endless loop, a relentless torment that left me gasping for breath in the clutches of sleep.

A scream clawed its way out of my throat, ripping through the silence of the night. I thrashed in the grip of my nightmares, my limbs flailing.

Suddenly, I jolted awake, my heart pounding against my chest. Timothy was there, his face etched with concern, his arms desperately trying to contain my flailing limbs. "Evie, wake up! You're having a nightmare," he urged, his voice thick with worry.

Gasping for breath, I scanned the room, trying to anchor myself in reality. "Timothy," I murmured, guilt washing over me. "I'm so sorry."

"It's okay, Evie. It's not your fault," he assured me, his grip loosening as I calmed down. "You're safe now."

But I couldn't shake off the weight of how far I’d unraveled. I pulled away gently, the guilt gnawing at me. "I can't do this to you, Timothy. I need to go," I confessed, my voice trembling with regret.

"No, Evie, please," he pleaded, reaching out to hold me close. "It’s alright. You just had a nightmare."

Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked into his earnest gaze. "I know, but we can’t do this every night. It’s not fair to you to have to wake up and calm me down," I explained, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Evie…” He rubbed his eyes, already looking exhausted.

I turned away, feeling even worse. “I think it would be best if I got things under control until then.”

Timothy sighed, a mixture of understanding and disappointment clouding his features. "Alright, if that's what you want," he implored.

"It’s for the best," I whispered, already regretting leaving him behind. “I’ll be back, though. Promise.”

Gathering my things in a haze, I dressed quickly, my movements mechanical. Timothy watched silently, his expression a blend of longing and sorrow. As I stood at the door, his voice broke the silence once more. "Call me if you need anything, okay?"

Nodding wordlessly, I forced a weak smile before turning away. With each step, the weight of my decision bore down on me, and I choked back a sob.

Back in my apartment, the darkness enveloped me like a suffocating shroud. The memories of that nightmarish past clawed at the edges of my consciousness, threatening to pull me back into their grasp. I collapsed onto my bed, wrapping my arms around myself, seeking solace in the familiarity of solitude.

But the solitude only amplified the echoes of my thoughts. The night seemed endless as I tossed and turned, the silence broken only by the haunting whispers of my fears. Bruce's face loomed large in my mind, whispering promises of all the harm he would bring.

Hours passed like an eternity, the night slowly surrendering to the faint glow of dawn peeking through the window. I struggled to drag myself out of bed, each movement feeling like an uphill battle against an invisible force sapping my energy.

A faint knock on the door pierced the silence, followed by Aria's concerned voice. "Evie? Are you alright?"

I forced myself to respond, my voice weak. "I'll be out in a minute, Aria."

She entered cautiously, her expression falling as she saw me still in bed, not yet dressed for work. "You look like you could use some help getting ready."

"I can manage, Aria," I murmured.

“At the pace you’re going?” Aria kissed her teeth. “Come on. Let’s get your dressed.”

Just as I managed to put myself together with Aria's help, the doorbell went off and interrupted our efforts.

“That’s probably Timothy,” said Aria, heading back through the doorway.

I adjusted my blazer and slipped on my shoes, deciding I could just do my makeup at work. I met Aria in the living room where she was greeting Timothy at the door.

“Ah, here she is.” She stepped out of the way, making room for me to slip by. “Still a little tired.”

Timothy wrapped an arm around me and pulled me close. "Are you feeling okay?" he asked. “I know you weren’t doing too well after last night.”

I averted my gaze, not wanting to burden him with my troubles. "I'll manage," I replied.

Timothy's concerned expression lingered, but he didn’t press further. He guided me to his car and we rode in peaceful silence. I mostly used it to shut my eyes for as long as I could.

As we reached my workplace, he leaned in to kiss me softly. "Have a good day, Evie."

His gesture, meant to offer comfort, instead triggered a wave of overwhelming emotions. I wanted to believe it would be a good day, but nothing could distract from the revived sense of fear within me.

“You too,” I said, leaning in to give him another peck on the lips. I cupped his cheek, running a thumb over his bandaged chin. “See you tonight.”

I stepped into the bustling firm, only to be met with a whirlwind of activity. Interns bombarded me with questions, tasks awaited completion, and the pace of the office seemed unrelenting.

"Evie, we need your input on these reports," someone called out, waving a stack of documents in my direction.

"I need your opinion on this contract I wrote," another voice chimed in, adding to the mounting demands.

I smiled at him, gently pressing the papers away. “Oh, I know Sarah would be willing. She has a good eye when it comes to those, being a paralegal.

The pressure mounted, suffocating me as I tried to keep up with the demands of the day. The morning's exhaustion, coupled with the emotional turmoil, made each passing moment feel like an unbearable challenge.

"Evie, I need you to sign these documents. It's urgent," Dana said briskly, handing me the papers without waiting for a response as she walked by.

I nodded, trying to focus, but before I could even read through the first page, another coworker approached me with a brightly colored card. "Hey, Evie! Could you sign this birthday card for Faith from the department? We're collecting signatures."

Eventually, I attempted to navigate through the chaos, offering hurried responses. "I'll get to it, just need a moment," I managed to say, trying to buy some time to collect my thoughts.

With a desperate need for solace, I made my way to my office, hoping for a moment of silence. But as I opened the door, my heart sank at the sight of Jasper, seated calmly in my chair, waiting for me. He glanced at me and lifted his chin.

"Evie," he greeted me with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I've been waiting for you."

I attempted to mask the unease creeping over me. "Jasper, what brings you here?" My tone, although polite, betrayed my apprehension.

He rose from the chair, his gaze intense as he approached me. He reached behind me and shut the door, and I heard the brief “click” of the lock right after. "I wanted to discuss a few things with you. Can we talk?"