Her Sweetest Mistake (Amelia) novel Chapter 95

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Best friend Dad

A sharp growl rumbled in his chest as he turned and slammed his fist into the wall, his knuckles throbbing instantly from the impact. “F**k!”

Breathing heavily, he ran both hands down his face, trying to calm the storm raging inside him. But he couldn’t. He was done trying.

Reaching for his phone, he scrolled to Vanessa’s number and hit call.

She picked up after three rings. “Dad? It’s late-”

“Drop Cheryl’s address,” he interrupted, his voice raw and commanding.

A pause. Then, “Dad, what are you-”

“Now, Vanessa,” he demanded. “I need to see her.”

Silence stretched between them, but he knew Vanessa too well. She would hesitate, argue.

He didn’t care.

He was done running.

“Now.”

George wasted no time. As soon as Vanessa had given him Cheryl’s address, he booked the next available flight, barely stopping to think. The moment the plane touched down, he moved like a man possessed, checking into the house he’d arranged in the country before immediately heading out. The streets were unfamiliar, but he didn’t care. He was gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white.

He wasn’t sure what he would say when he saw her. He wasn’t sure if he would knock on her door, demand an explanation, or simply pull her into his arms and never let go. All he knew was that he had spent too long suffocating under the weight of missing her.

When he finally reached her street, he parked a reasonable distance away, his heart hammering against his ribs. His breath hitched when the front door opened.

Cheryl.

She stepped out of the house, and for a moment, he forgot how to breathe. She was as beautiful as ever, no, even more stunning than he remembered. Her dark hair was pulled into a sleek ponytail, revealing the graceful curve of her neck. She wore a red flared gown that accentuated her porcelain skin, and when she smiled, it was the kind of smile that had once made him feel invincible.

But then, it happened.

His stomach twisted violently as he watched her walk toward a sleek black car parked in front of the house.

A man sat in the driver’s seat.

She slid inside effortlessly, her movements natural, familiar. And then, she kissed him.

George felt like the ground had just been ripped out from beneath his feet.

The moment her lips touched the man’s, a sharp pain shot through his chest, as if someone had reached inside and crushed his heart with their bare hands. His fingers curled around the steering wheel, his jaw clenching so hard it hurt.

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He had come all this way. He had tortured himself with memories of her, drowned himself in alcohol and meaningless work, only to find her here, in another man’s arms, smiling like she had never missed him.

Like he hadn’t mattered.

A bitter laugh bubbled in his throat, but he swallowed it down. Without another second of hesitation, he turned the ignition and drove away.

Meanwhile, inside the car, Cheryl sat stiffly, forcing a small smile as Elliot pulled away from the kiss.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice gentle, concerned.

She swallowed, nodding. But she wasn’t.

Her stomach churned with guilt, her hands curling into fists on her lap. She had been avoiding this moment for weeks, unable to face the truth she had known deep down all along.

“Elliot,” she said quietly.

He glanced at her, eyes warm and patient. “Yeah?”

She took a deep breath. “I can’t do this anymore.

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His brows furrowed slightly. “What do you mean?”

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She hesitated, searching for the right words. “I agreed to date you because… because I wanted to move on from someone. I really tried. But I can’t.”

His face fell, the light in his eyes dimming. “Cheryl…”

“I’m in love with him,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s only unfair that I watch you try to fill up his space. You’re a good guy but it’s best I don’t waste your time anymore.”

Silence filled the car.

Elliot inhaled sharply, gripping the steering wheel as if steadying himself. “It’s him, isn’t it? The one whose name you always blurt out whenever you’re deeply asleep in my arms.”

She didn’t answer. She didn’t need to.

He let out a small, humorless chuckle, shaking his head. “I knew it. I saw it in your eyes every time you looked at me but were you really thinking about him. Who the hell is this guy even?”

Cheryl felt a lump rise in her throat. “I’m so sorry, Elliot. I never meant to hurt you.”

He exhaled slowly, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “At least you’re honest.”

She nodded, blinking away the sting behind her eyes. “I just… I can’t pretend anymore.”

Elliot sat in silence for a moment before finally nodding. “Okay,” he said, his voice steady despite the sadness in it. “Then I guess this is goodbye.”

She nodded, swallowing hard.

When she stepped out of the car, she felt both relief and sadness washing over her. She had done the right thing. But why did it still hurt?

As she entered the house, she saw her parents sitting in the living room. They looked up as she stepped inside, and without hesitation, she spoke.

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best fig Dad

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“I’m going back to the United States.”

The words hung in the air like a bomb waiting to explode.

Her mother’s eyes widened in shock. “What?”

Her father sat forward, his expression darkening. “To do what?”

She nodded firmly. “I have to go.”

They exchanged glances, clearly caught off guard.

Cheryl sat in the backseat of the car, gripping her hands together as she stared out of the window. Her packed bags rested beside her, each one filled with pieces of her life, yet she felt lighter than she had in months.

Her parents sat in the front, her father’s grip on the steering wheel tight, his knuckles turning pale, while her mother kept stealing glances at her through the rearview mirror.

The drive to the airport was tense, the silence thick with emotions none of them knew how to put into words.

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