After It Happened novel Chapter 6

Denise's pov.

The first thing I saw was Camille's petite figure marching towards me with a deep scowl on her face. I quickly figured her stepbrother was the cause.

The moment he walked through that huge door, I swear time froze. Memories came back like a painful punch. Betrayal, anger, hurt, insecurity, and every other thing I felt after my supposed to be other half left without as much as a goodbye. He left me alone at the worst stage of my life. All the 13 years of our friendship were thrown out the window.

He was really in front of me after 4 years. He had grown a lot taller and more handsome, but that wasn't the point. His eyes were different. They weren't those bright, innocent eyes that were always easy to read, but they were now dull. They looked like they had seen too much, like he had gone through enough. Maybe that's what he saw in my eyes too.

I waited for the remorse and regret to cross his eyes, but they didn't. I just saw a flash of pain and anger before he kept on his emotionless look. He might as well be a stranger, but I knew this was my Kelechi, not a doppelganger. He just didn't want my forgiveness or acceptance, and I wasn't ready to give them to him. So, I gave him what he asked for. I blocked all emotions I felt with him here. I couldn't be vulnerable. I didn't know this person.

I went up to him like a normal best friend to his stepsister would and introduced myself.