Strangers To Lovers

Chapter Fourty-Six

Following the realization that Troy had been manipulated a few days earlier, Levi and I concluded that it was time to tell him the truth. The weight of that knowledge sat heavily on my shoulders. I wasn’t sure how Troy would react. Though he wasn’t the type to harm others intentionally, his temper could be unpredictable, especially when blindsided by betrayal. Meeting in a public place like Starbucks seemed like the safest option. My stomach churned with a mixture of dread and guilt, knowing we were about to shatter his understanding of everything he thought he knew.

As Levi parked the Maserati in front of the café, my hands began to tremble. The sleek, expensive car contrasted sharply with the grim conversation we were about to have. The gravity of the situation hit me all at once—Troy, who had spent time in jail for a crime he didn't commit, was about to find out the truth. What if he lashed out? What if this broke him in ways I hadn’t anticipated?

Troy wasn’t a bad guy, and I knew he’d never willingly hurt someone. But this? This was different. This wasn’t just about his time in jail—it was about trust, family, and betrayal. My heart pounded in my chest as Levi gave me a reassuring glance, but even he seemed tense.

The moment we stepped out of the car, I felt the oppressive weight of what we were about to do. As we approached the café, I noticed Troy standing near the entrance, hands shoved deep into his pockets, an impatient expression on his face. My stomach lurched, and my palms grew slick with sweat. Levi walked beside me, but I could feel his own tension radiating off him. His typically carefree demeanor was nowhere to be found.

"Hey," Troy greeted us, his voice rough and laced with suspicion as he eyed Levi, then turned his gaze toward me.

Levi tried to keep things light as we approached the entrance, but the forced smile on his face didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Hey, man," he said, clapping Troy on the back a little too firmly.

Troy's sharp eyes flicked from Levi to me, as though searching for some clue about what this meeting was truly about. "What’s this about?" His voice was clipped, laced with barely concealed irritation. "I don’t have time for this."

I cleared my throat, willing my voice to remain steady. "We need to talk, Troy. There’s something important we need to tell you."

Troy narrowed his eyes, folding his arms across his chest. "Important? Like what? You two look like you’re about to confess to a murder or something."

Levi and I exchanged glances before heading inside the café. I could feel Troy’s gaze boring into the back of my skull. We grabbed a table near the window, the tension thickening around us like fog. Levi offered Troy a small smile, but it did nothing to soften the tension in the air.

I sat across from Troy, unable to shake the nervous energy coursing through my veins. Levi ordered drinks for us—iced macchiato for him, black and white latte for me, and plain black coffee for Troy. The silence between us was suffocating as we waited, and my hands fidgeted in my lap, desperate for something to do.

Troy leaned back in his chair, his foot tapping rhythmically against the floor. "So, what’s this about?" His voice was sharp, cutting through the awkward silence.

Levi cleared his throat, glancing at me before speaking. "It’s about the accident. The one that landed you in jail."

Troy’s brow furrowed, and his jaw clenched. "What about it?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

I swallowed hard, bracing myself for the storm I knew was coming. "Troy, you were set up. By Luke and Levi’s mother."

Troy’s eyes widened for a fraction of a second before narrowing into thin slits. He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "Set up? What the hell are you talking about?"

Levi leaned forward, his voice steady but urgent. "It wasn’t your fault, Troy. My mom... she framed you. She made it look like you were responsible for everything. But you weren’t."

Troy’s expression darkened, and he shot up from his seat, towering over the table as his anger erupted. "Framed me? What kind of bullshit are you two pulling?"

Levi stood as well, holding up his hands in a placating gesture. "I know it sounds insane, but it’s the truth. She was covering up something bigger, something that involved me. She used you as a scapegoat."

Troy’s fists clenched at his sides, his entire body trembling with barely contained rage. "So, what—you’re just telling me this now? After I’ve spent months in jail for something I didn’t do?" His voice cracked, and I could see the betrayal swimming in his eyes.

I stood up, my voice trembling as I tried to reach him. "Troy, I’m so sorry. We didn’t know how deep this went until recently. If I had known sooner, I would’ve told you. I swear."

Troy’s eyes blazed with fury as he turned his glare on me. "And you? You knew about this? You kept this from me, too?"

I shook my head frantically. "No, no! I only found out a few days ago. I would never have kept something like this from you, Troy. You have to believe me."

He turned his back to us, his shoulders heaving with every breath. "You think I’m just going to take your word for it? You think that makes this better?"

Levi stepped closer, his voice soft but insistent. "Troy, we’re trying to fix this. We want to clear your name, to make this right. I know it doesn’t undo what happened, but we’re going to do everything we can to set things straight."

Troy whirled around, his face twisted in anguish. "And what good does that do me now? You think that’ll erase the time I lost? The people I lost? The life I had before all of this?"

Levi faltered, his own guilt etched into every line of his face. "I’m sorry, Troy. I’m so, so sorry."

The three of us stood there, the weight of our words pressing down on us like a heavy fog. I could see the pain in Troy’s eyes, the betrayal and anger swirling within him like a storm. I didn’t know what to say, didn’t know how to make this right.

"I don’t know if I can forgive you," Troy said, his voice hoarse with emotion. "Either of you."

I took a step closer, my heart aching for him. "Troy, please. We’re not asking for forgiveness right now. We just want to help you. We want to fix this."

He stared at me for a long moment before letting out a shaky breath. "I don’t know if this can be fixed."

Levi stepped forward, his voice firm. "It can be, Troy. We’ll make sure of it. We’ll make sure she pays for what she did. You deserve that much."

Troy shook his head, his eyes filled with sorrow. "I deserve a hell of a lot more than that."

The weight of his words hung in the air, and for a moment, none of us spoke. We just stood there, staring at each other, three broken people trying to piece together something that had been shattered beyond repair.