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Chapter 14: Shifting Alliances
Phil and Nick strode down the busy street, their thoughts tangled in the upcoming conversation with Alex. The autumn chill bit through the air, forcing them to pull their jackets tighter. They had made up their minds: things needed to be set right between Alex and Lily.
As they neared the coffee shop, Phil’s gaze snagged on a familiar figure leaning against the storefront. His expression softened.
“Becca?”
She glanced up, meeting his eyes with a faint smile. Phil stepped toward her, his voice filled with gratitude. “Hey, thanks. If it weren’t for you, Lily wouldn’t have even talked to me.”
Nick’s smirk broke the brief warmth. “Becca helping out? Never thought I’d see the day.”
Becca rolled her eyes but couldn’t completely hide her smile. “Funny, Nick. I was just helping some old friends, that’s all.”
Her smile faded as she crossed her arms, her gaze sharpening. “So, you two off to talk some sense into Alex?”
Phil nodded. “We’re hoping to.”
Nick cut in with a raised brow. “You seem to know everything, Becca. Got any tips for us?”
Phil added, his tone more serious, “We looked into it, Becca. We didn’t find anything that proves Alex was cheating.”
Her expression turned icy, interrupting him. “What do you think, Phil? That just because I helped once, I’ll keep doing it? You’ve hurt me before. Don’t expect me to stand by every time.”
Phil’s face fell, his voice apologetic. “I didn’t mean it like that. Sorry, Becca.”
Nick, impatient, shot back, “We didn’t hurt you, Becca. You did this to yourself.”
“Whatever.” She shrugged dismissively, turning to walk away before pausing to throw one last warning over her shoulder. “Just so you know, Alex is cheating. You should take that seriously.”
Phil’s brows furrowed. “That doesn’t make sense…”
Nick remained calm, though his eyes narrowed. “We’ll keep that in mind. Thanks.”
As they walked away, Becca’s mocking voice echoed behind them. “Don’t stress too much about Alex breaking up with Lily again. He will. Just do your work and try to stay happy.”
Phil’s mind buzzed with unease, while Nick’s jaw clenched, his focus dead ahead.
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Later that afternoon, the two found Alex sitting alone on a park bench, his hands buried in the pockets of his jacket. The park was quiet, the wind stirring the trees, casting long shadows along the ground.
Alex looked up, his expression unreadable. “Hey. What’s this about?”
Phil sat down beside him, offering a small smile. “We need to talk.”
Alex leaned back, crossing his arms. “Go on then.”
Nick jumped straight to the point. “We spoke to Lily. She’s serious about you, Alex. I’m sure you know that.”
Alex’s eyes darkened slightly. “Yeah, I know. So what?”
Phil, trying a gentler approach, spoke up. “We’re just asking you to talk to her again. Give it another chance.”
Alex’s expression soured, his tone cold. “Why would I do that? First, you two show up, telling me to end it. Now you’re back, begging me to get back together? What do you think I am?”
Nick’s voice remained steady but firm. “No one’s calling you a fool, Alex. Look, I could force this if I wanted to, but I’d rather not. We want to settle this without a fight. Do you have someone else? You said you weren’t seeing anyone.”
Alex sat up, his frustration boiling over. “This isn’t about someone else. I just don’t want to get back with Lily. It’s over.”
Phil frowned, confusion creasing his brow. “Why? She cares about you.”
Alex looked away, his voice hardening. “I know. But I’m done.”
Nick leaned in, his tone more insistent. “Come on, Alex. We’re not asking for much. Just talk to her. If you really don’t want to be with her, fine. But at least give her the courtesy of hearing you out.”
Phil added softly, “She deserves that, man. Just one conversation.”
Alex’s fingers drummed against his knee, eyes flicking between the two men. Silence stretched, the wind whispering through the leaves, as he wrestled with his decision.
Finally, with a frustrated sigh, Alex rubbed the back of his neck. “Alright. I’ll talk to her. But I’m not promising anything.”
Phil’s face lit up with relief. “That’s all we’re asking.”
Nick nodded, satisfied. “Thanks, Alex. We’ll leave the rest to you.”
As they stood to leave, Alex watched them go, uncertainty still clouding his features. He had agreed to the meeting, but something unresolved lingered in his eyes.
Phil and Nick walked away in silence, the tension between them easing. Yet Becca’s cryptic warnings continued to gnaw at Phil’s mind, leaving him unsettled as the sun dipped lower on the horizon.
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Hey guys did you liked the chapter....the story has entered in the final arc...5 to 6 chapters are left hope you are enjoying the story and not getting bored 🥱
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DELUSIONAL HEART
Romance"When Phil's long-held crush on Lily finally seems within reach, a tangled web of secrets and lies threatens to destroy everything. As he struggles to distinguish reality from his own delusional heart, Phil must confront the ultimate question: how f...
