I Walked Away And He Lost His Mind (Zephyra and Steven) novel Chapter 837

A familiar voice came through the line. “Zephyra, it’s me.”

Rachel?

My thumb instinctively moved to end the call.

“Zephyra, don’t hang up!” Rachel said quickly. “Please, just hear me out.”

I paused. Rachel's tone was a complete departure from the arrogant condescension of the past few days; now, it was almost pleading.

While I was still processing, Rachel continued, “I was wrong before. I was being too extreme, and I was so worried about Horace that I said a lot of terrible things to you. I didn’t really mean them.”

I pressed my lips together. I had assumed she’d gotten a new number just to curse me out again, but instead, she was apologizing.

“Zephyra, we've known each other for so long. We've been through so much together, supporting each other through thick and thin. Are you really going to throw away all those years of friendship?”

Of course I didn't want to, but the betrayal still stung. Rachel had conspired with Verna to deceive me.

Between me and Verna, Rachel had chosen to believe Verna.

Thinking about it, I couldn't help but wonder. Just a few days ago, Rachel and Verna were united in their hatred for me. Why the sudden change of heart?

I decided to test the waters. “Rachel, what do you want?”

There was a moment of silence on the other end, then Rachel’s voice dropped. “Zephyra, you haven’t forgiven me, have you? I know I messed up badly, but I was just so out of my mind with worry over Horace. Every time I think about his leg, I just…”

Rachel immediately jumped in. “Zephyra, I knew you were still mad at me! Verna completely brainwashed me! I see it now. She was just jealous of you and made all that stuff up.”

“I won’t be like that again, I promise. Please don’t hold it against me. Remember when you used to fight with your parents? I was the one who would pick you up in the middle of the night and bring you to my place. I'd make you all your favorite foods, and you'd bring me mine. We were so close back then. Are you really going to ignore me now?”

Hearing her say all that, my resolve began to soften.

My father had always favored Antonia, never showing me an ounce of fatherly love. And with Janice Lopez constantly stirring up trouble, my life at home had been anything but pleasant.

Through it all, Rachel was often the one who guided me, who kept me company.

When I didn't answer, Rachel’s voice grew anxious. “Zephyra, you really won’t even see me?”