Chapter 7 Facade Relationship

Evelyn POV

Dana's message came out of the blue late in the evening. "Can we meet tomorrow? I'm worried about you."

For a moment, I stared at the screen, wondering if I'd imagined it. Dana wasn't the type to check in unless she had an ulterior motive. Still, curiosity tugged at me. What could she possibly want? Her concern felt as genuine as a plastic pearl, but I decided to play along.

The next afternoon, I walked into the café, a quiet little spot tucked into the corner of the city. Dana had chosen the table by the window, naturally. She was already seated, her designer sunglasses perched on her head and a delicate teacup in her manicured hands.

"Evelyn!" she said brightly, her smile wide enough to show all her teeth. "You look amazing."

"Thanks," I replied coolly, pulling out the chair across from her. "You wanted to talk?"

The waiter approached, and Dana ordered her usual tea with extra honey, explaining how she'd been "under the weather." I asked for coffee, no frills. As the waiter left, Dana leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand like we were old friends catching up.

"I've been so worried about you," she began, her voice dripping with concern. "Ever since the party, you've been so... distant. I wanted to check in, see how you're holding up."

"I'm fine," I said shortly, taking a sip of my coffee.

Dana's expression softened, or at least she wanted it to appear that way. "I know how hard this must be for you. I mean, you and Caleb have always been so perfect together. I can't imagine what you're going through right now."

Her words were like nails on a chalkboard, each one grating against my patience. "People grow apart. It happens."

"But it doesn't have to," she countered quickly, her eyes wide with faux sincerity. "Caleb loves you, Evelyn. He's been a wreck since the party. He can't stop talking about how much he wants to make things right."

I tilted my head, pretending to consider her words. "That's nice to hear."

Dana's lips parted as if she wanted to press the issue, but she stopped herself, taking a sip of her tea instead. Then, as if struck by a sudden idea, she said, "You know, I think he's just waiting for a sign from you. Maybe if you reached out, he'd feel less... I don't know, hopeless?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Why don't you tell him to reach out if he feels that way? He has my number."

Dana laughed, a light, airy sound that felt rehearsed. "Oh, Evelyn, you know how stubborn Caleb can be. He probably thinks he's giving you space, but really, he's just miserable without you."

I leaned back in my chair, folding my arms. "And you care about his misery because...?"

She blinked, caught off guard for a moment. Then, she recovered with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Because I care about you both. You've been together so long; it feels like you're part of my family too. Seeing you apart... it's heartbreaking."

"Heartbreaking," I repeated, my tone flat. "That's a strong word."

Dana hesitated, her fingers toying with the edge of her teacup. "I know you think I'm meddling, but I just want to help. I don't want either of you to regret losing something so special."

I studied her carefully. Her voice was full of earnest emotion, but there was something off about it-too polished, too perfect. She was rehearsing this, and I didn't believe a word of it.

"Let's cut to the chase, Dana," I said, my voice firmer now. "What do you really want?"

She looked taken aback, her eyes widening as though I'd accused her of something heinous. "I don't understand-"

"Yes, you do," I interrupted. "You didn't drag me out here just to talk about Caleb's feelings. What's your angle?"

Her mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. For a moment, I thought she might keep up the act, but then she sighed, lowering her gaze. "Fine," she said softly. "I just wanted to appeal to you-to ask you to give Caleb another chance."

I said nothing, letting her words hang in the air.

Dana pressed on, her voice trembling just enough to sound convincing. "He's devastated, Evelyn. He doesn't want to lose you. And honestly, I don't think you want to lose him either. I mean, deep down, don't you still love him?"

Her question hit a nerve, but I refused to show it. Instead, I shrugged, keeping my expression neutral. "I'll think about it," I said finally.

Her face lit up, and I could see the relief washing over her. "Thank you," she said, reaching out to touch my hand briefly. "That's all I wanted-to know that you'd at least consider it."

The conversation drifted to lighter topics after that. Dana rambled about work, mutual acquaintances, and her plans for the upcoming weekend. I nodded and smiled in all the right places, but my mind was elsewhere.

By the time I left the café, I felt like I'd just walked out of a bad play. Dana thought she was pulling the strings, but I saw through her act. Whatever she and Caleb were planning, I wasn't going to let them win.

When I got home, the first thing I noticed was the stillness. My father was out, and the house felt too quiet. I placed my bag on the kitchen counter and wandered into the living room, a strange sense of unease settling over me.

That's when I saw it-a plain white envelope resting on the coffee table. My name was typed on the front in bold, black letters.

Frowning, I picked it up and tore it open. Inside was a single sheet of paper with a chilling message:

"You're making a mistake. Stay in your place, or you'll regret it."

I stared at the words, my heart pounding in my chest. A thousand questions raced through my mind. Who had sent this? Dana? Caleb? Or someone else entirely?

The sound of a door creaking behind me made me whip around, my pulse spiking. But the hallway was empty.

Clutching the note, I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down. Whoever sent this wanted me rattled, but I wouldn't give them the satisfaction.

I folded the note and slid it into my pocket, my jaw tightening. If they thought this would scare me into submission, they were wrong. I wasn't going to back down.