Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan) novel Chapter 479

The more I thought about it, the more fear clawed at my insides, setting my nerves on edge. I was so pent up with frustration that I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs.

Just then, my phone buzzed with Camilla's name flashing on the screen. I couldn't muster the energy to deal with her and ignored the call.

But Camilla was persistent. She called again, and with a sigh, I swiped to answer. Her voice came through, timid and hesitant, and it only served to irk me further. "What do you want," I said, my tone cold.

She must have sensed the iciness in my voice because her words stumbled out even more nervously.

"Um... Aaliyah, I... I..." she fumbled, and it was clear she was struggling to get to the point.

"Just spit it out, Camilla. You don't have to beat around the bush with me," I coaxed with as much patience as I could muster. "I'm no longer one of the Dawsons. There's no need to tiptoe around what you can or cannot say."

My blunt words seemed to stun her into silence before she finally spoke again, "Aaliyah, I know you and Jaylan have split, and I'm happy for you. And I know you hate me, but I..."

I cut her off, "No, you're still part of the Dawson clan, and there are some things beyond your control. I get it. If that's what you wanted to talk about, then don't worry. I have other things to..."

But she interrupted, desperate not to lose the connection. "No, it's not that. I know where Jerome is, and who he's with!"

I tensed, gripping the phone tighter, holding my breath as she rattled off an address. "He's with that woman there. I lied to you about him coming back because I was scared of him. He threatened me, and I felt powerless to leave him."

There was an authentic note of vulnerability in her voice. Living in fear of Jerome was her stark reality.