ThE LIE BETWEEN US

CHAPTER 2: The evidence

Kayla's POV

I looked at George, then at the phone in his hand, and finally at the woman standing beside him.

Nothing made sense.

"I... I..."

My voice failed me.

For a few seconds, none of us said anything. The music was still playing, and people around us continued laughing and talking, but I barely heard any of it anymore.

All I could focus on was George.

His expression had changed completely.

I'd never seen him look at me that way before.

"Do you really expect me to believe that?" he asked.

I frowned.

"Believe what?"

My voice came out weaker than I wanted.

"I honestly don't know what you're talking about."

He laughed but there was no happiness in it.

It made my stomach twist.

"You still want to pretend you're innocent?"

"Innocent?"

I was still looking at him.

"What did I even do?"

Before George could answer, the woman beside him folded her arms.

"You really are a good actress."

I slowly turned toward her.

"I'm sorry...?"

"I don't think we've met before."

She smiled.

"We haven't."

Her eyes were all over me.

"But I know exactly who you are."

I didn't know what to say.

"I don't even know your name."

"My name isn't important."

She took a few step toward me.

"What matters is what you've been doing behind his back."

I looked at George.

"Behind whose back?"

She didn't answer immediately.

Then she pointed her eyes toward him.

"His."

My confusion only grew.

"Can somebody please tell me what's going on?"

Neither of them answered.

George continued staring at me.

That silence hurt more than I expected.

I wished he would just yell at me. At least then I'd know what I was supposed to defend myself against.

Instead, he looked away.

"Sir..."

I swallowed.

"Please say something."

"You should be the one talking."

His voice was flat.

"I've already said enough."

"I haven't!"

The words came out before I could stop them.

"I don't even know why you're angry with me."

The woman gave a quiet laugh.

"I told you she would deny everything."

George sighed.

"That's enough, Tessa."

I froze.

Tessa.

So that was her name.

She looked around my age, maybe a little older. There was something about the way she carried herself that made me uncomfortable.

She turned back to me.

"You really don't remember anything?"

"I've never seen you before in my life."

She laughed under her breath.

"You'll remember soon enough."

"What are you talking about?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about."

"No, I don't."

I shook my head.

"I've never seen you before today."

She tilted her head.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Then maybe your memory isn't as good as you think."

I couldn't understand why she was accusing me of something I knew nothing about.

More importantly, I couldn't understand why George seemed to believe her.

I turned toward him.

"Sir, I don't know this woman."

"I swear."

He didn't even blink.

"I don't believe you."

Those words hit harder than I expected.

For a moment, I just stood there.

I looked around the room.

People were still laughing and enjoying themselves, completely unaware of what was happening a few feet away.

Nobody knew that I felt like my entire world was falling apart.

I turned back to George.

"I've never lied to you before."

My voice shook.

"So why won't you listen to me now?"

He said nothing.

The woman beside him smiled.

"Go on."

"Tell him."

I looked at her.

"Tell him what?"

"Tell him why you've been sending those messages."

My rose my brows in surprise.

"What messages?"

She gave a small laugh.

"You're still doing it."

"I'm not doing anything!"

I was beginning to lose my patience.

"I genuinely don't know what you're talking about."

"Should I tell him everything myself?"

"Tell him what?" I asked.

"I've done nothing."

"I'll give you one last chance."

Her voice became quieter.

"Confess."

I stared at her in disbelief.

Then I turned back to George.

"Please..."

My voice broke.

"Can you at least tell me what's going on?"

He stared at me for a few seconds.

Then, without saying anything, he reached into his pocket and brought out his phone.

He unlocked it.

I watched him carefully.

What was he about to show me?

I wanted to ask, but my throat felt too tight.

He looked at the screen for a few seconds.

His jaw tightened.

Whatever he was reading was clearly hurting him.

I looked at Tessa.

She wasn't saying anything anymore.

She just stood beside him with that same little smile.

It irritated me.

Why was she smiling?

What did she know that I didn't?

I turned back to George.

"If I've done something wrong, please just tell me."

My voice became softer.

"But don't look at me like this."

He finally raised his head.

"You still want to lie?"

"I'm not lying."

I shook my head.

"I swear."

"I don't even know what you're talking about."

He gave a bitter laugh.

"I gave you so many chances."

Chances?

"Then maybe this will help you remember."

He held the phone out to me.

I hesitated before taking it.

My fingers were trembling.

For a second, I was afraid to look at the screen.

I didn't know what I was about to see, but judging from George's expression, it couldn't be good.

I took a breath and looked down.

A chat was already open.

At first, I didn't understand what I was seeing.

Then my eyes moved to the number at the top.

I froze.

No.

That couldn't be right.

I looked again.

It was my number.

I zoomed in with trembling fingers.

Still my number.

My stomach dropped.

I slowly scrolled through the conversation.

Message after message.

They all looked like they had come from me.

But I hadn't written a single one.

Not one.

"This..."

The word barely left my mouth.

I looked up at George.

Then back at the phone.

"This can't be right."

My head began shaking before I even realized it.

"There has to be a mistake."

Tears gathered in my eyes.

"I swear, George..."

My voice cracked.

"I didn't send these."

He said nothing.

He only stared at me.

There was disappointment in his eyes, and somehow that hurt more than anger would have.

I looked back at the screen.

The words blurred as tears filled my eyes.

I swallowed hard.

Then, barely above a whisper, I said,

"...That's impossible."