ThE LIE BETWEEN US

Chapter 5: The Decision

Kayla's POV

I couldn't remember much about the walk home.

All I could remember was George's voice.

"Please leave, Kayla."

Those words kept playing in my head.

I had spent almost two years imagining a future with him.

I had imagined us being together, making plans, and building something that would last.

I never imagined that one night would leave us walking away from each other like strangers.

By the time I reached home, my legs were aching.

I had considered taking a cab, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I needed the walk. I needed the cold air around me, even though my thoughts were still all over the place.

I pushed the door open slowly.

Lily was sitting on my bed.

She looked up immediately.

"Welcome home, Kayla."

I tried to smile, but I couldn't.

I walked over and sat beside her.

The moment she looked at my face, her expression changed.

"Kayla..."

She moved closer.

"What happened?"

I didn't answer.

I didn't even know where to begin.

Lily stood up.

"Wait here."

She walked out of the room and returned a few moments later with a glass of water.

"Drink this."

I took it from her.

"Thank you."

I drank slowly.

It helped calm me down a little, but it didn't stop the thoughts running through my head.

Lily sat beside me again.

"Now tell me what happened."

I took a deep breath.

"When I got to George's hotel, I was about to tell him everything."

I paused.

"But before I could say anything, he received a message."

Lily listened quietly.

"The moment he read it, his whole expression changed."

"What kind of message?"

"I don't know."

I shook my head.

"There was another woman there. Her name was Tessa."

"Tessa?"

"Yes."

I wiped my face.

"She kept accusing me of cheating on George and doing things behind his back. She kept telling me to confess."

Lily frowned.

"What?"

"I didn't even know what she was talking about."

My voice started shaking again.

"Then George showed me his phone."

I looked down at my hands.

"There were messages on it. Messages that were supposedly sent from my number."

Lily stared at me.

"Your number?"

I nodded.

"I tried explaining that I didn't send them, but he wouldn't believe me."

I swallowed.

"He told me to leave."

The tears I had been holding back finally came.

Lily immediately wrapped her arms around me.

"I'm sorry."

I cried against her shoulder.

"I don't understand why this happened."

She rubbed my back gently.

After a few moments, she pulled away.

"Where's your phone?"

"It's in my purse."

She reached for my purse and took it out.

I didn't even ask what she wanted to do.

She unlocked it and started checking my messages.

She went through my recent conversations, call history, and other notifications.

I watched her carefully.

After a while, she looked up.

"There's nothing here."

I nodded.

"Exactly."

I wiped my face.

"I don't understand how those messages got to his phone."

Lily handed the phone back to me.

"Tessa also said she knew me."

I looked at her.

"But I've never seen that woman before."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

I was certain.

"I've never met her in my life."

Lily was quiet for a moment.

"Something isn't right."

She looked at me seriously.

"Could someone have had access to your phone?"

"No."

"What about your personal information?"

I thought about it.

"Everything important is locked in my cupboard."

"I don't remember giving anyone access to any of my documents."

Lily nodded slowly.

"Then someone went out of their way to do this."

I looked at her.

"Why would anyone want to frame me?"

She sighed.

"I don't know."

Then she held my hand.

"But you've never intentionally hurt anyone."

I looked away.

"The world can be wicked sometimes."

Her words stayed in my head.

Then something occurred to me.

I turned toward her.

"No one knew I was going to George's hotel."

Lily looked at me.

"Except you."

Her expression changed.

I immediately shook my head.

"No."

"I didn't mean it like that."

"I know."

She gave me a small smile.

"You don't have to explain."

I nodded.

But something about the thought bothered me.

I trusted Lily.

She was my best friend.

She was the one person I had told about my plan to confess my feelings to George.

Still, the thought wouldn't leave my mind.

After a while, Lily handed me a towel.

"Go and take a shower."

I nodded.

I went into the bathroom, washed my face, and took a quick shower.

Afterward, I forced myself to eat a little.

I wasn't hungry, but I knew I couldn't spend the entire night without eating.

When I got into bed, I couldn't sleep.

I sat there with my hands resting on my head.

George's voice kept coming back.

"Please leave, Kayla."

I closed my eyes.

The tears started again.

A few minutes later, I felt a hand on my shoulder.

I opened my eyes.

It was Lily.

"Kayla."

"Yes?"

Her voice was gentle.

"Did you really send those messages?"

I stared at her.

"No."

There was no hesitation this time.

"I would never do that."

"I love George."

"Why would I betray him?"

Lily looked at me for a moment.

"I'm sorry."

"George didn't even give you a chance to explain."

I wiped my cheeks.

"Who was that woman?"

She paused.

"Did she seem like someone who knew George well?"

I thought back to the hotel.

The way Tessa spoke.

The way she stood beside him.

The confidence in her voice.

"Yes."

"She seemed like she knew him."

Lily nodded.

"I believe you."

I looked at her.

"If you didn't send those messages, then someone is deliberately trying to destroy your life."

My heart sank.

"Who?"

"I don't know."

She squeezed my hand.

"But whoever did it will make a mistake eventually."

I looked at her.

"Lies don't stay hidden forever."

Her words gave me a little hope.

"We need to find out who is behind this."

I nodded.

For the first time since leaving the hotel, I felt something other than helplessness.

Determination.

I wiped my face.

"I won't beg George anymore."

Lily looked at me.

"I'll clear my name."

I clenched my hands.

"I know I didn't send those messages, and I'm going to prove it."

I thought about the phone.

The messages.

The strange woman.

Everything that had happened.

Someone wanted George to hate me.

Someone wanted us apart.

And I wasn't going to sit around waiting for them to get what they wanted.

"Crying won't change anything."

I took a deep breath.

"Whoever did this wants me to give up."

I looked at Lily.

"I'm not giving them that."

She nodded.

"I'll find out who's behind this."

I wiped my tears one last time.

"No matter what it takes."