Twenty-Six receipts of betrayal Novel novel Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Elara stood outside the studio, watching them. She didn’t say a word.

When it became clear they weren’t stopping anytime soon, she flagged down another photographer.

“Hey, mind taking a headshot of me? Black–and–white, Sunday–obituary style.”

The photographer wheeled her into a different studio, gently trying to talk her out of it. “Black and white’s kind of harsh, you know? Color

would be so much prettier-”

But Elara wouldn’t budge.

Because what she needed wasn’t a portrait.

It was a funeral photo.

The photographer gave up and took the shot.

By the time the print was ready, Nicholas and Valentina had finally finished their little photo session.

Valentina wandered over clutching a stack of photos, wearing an apologetic smile.

“Oh my gosh, I’m SO SORRY. We got totally carried away. Do you and Nick want to do a few shots together now?”

Elara looked past her at Nicholas, who couldn’t even meet her eyes.

She smiled and shook her head. “Nah. I’m good.”

Nicholas clearly knew he’d screwed up. The guilt was eating at him. He rushed over and grabbed the handles of her wheelchair.

“Let me make it up to you. There’s a jewelry store downstairs–I’ll get you a necklace or something.”

Valentina perked up. “Ooh, I’ve been wanting to check out their earrings anyway. I can help you pick something out!”

The three of them wandered through the mall. Then Nicholas’s phone rang–work call. It was too loud where they were, so he headed down to

the parking garage to take it.

Elara had zero interest in shopping. She told Valentina she wanted to leave.

Valentina started pushing her toward the elevators.

Then the fire alarm went off.

A massive crowd surged toward them from every direction. Total chaos.

The crush of bodies slammed into the wheelchair and tipped it over. Elara hit the ground hard. People stepped on her–her arms, her back, her legs–as they stampeded past.

She managed to grab onto a railing and pull herself up slightly, just enough to see Nicholas sprinting into the crowd, shoving people aside.

His face was pale, panicked. He reached Valentina and pulled her into his arms, his voice breaking.

“Valentina–thank God you’re okay. I thought-”

Valentina glanced down at Elara on the floor. Made eye contact. Then put on an embarrassed expression.

Twenty–Six Receipts of Betrayal: My Silence Was the Countdown to His Eternal Regret

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Chapter 6

“Nicholas… there were so many people. Elara fell.”

Nicholas followed her gaze.

When he saw Elara on the ground–bruises already forming on her arms and shoulders–he froze.

He let go of Valentina immediately and crouched down, lifting Elara back into her chair. His eyes were full of shame.

“Jesus–there were so many people, I didn’t see you. I’m so sorry. Elara, I’m so sorry.”

Elara said nothing. Her face was blank, like nothing had even happened.

The three of them walked out in silence.

As they passed a young couple, Elara overheard the girlfriend talking.

“Did you see that guy? Everyone was running OUT, and he went charging IN. Apparently his true love was stuck inside. When are you gonna love me like that? Risk your life for me?”

Elara’s hands trembled in her lap.

She remembered something from high school.

She’d been cornered in an alley by a group of guys with baseball bats. Nicholas had come sprinting around the corner–nothing but a switchblade in his hand–and fought them off to get her out.

He still had that same reckless courage. That same willingness to run headfirst into danger.

He just wasn’t running toward her anymore.

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