Love In The Shadows | Fred Weasley x OC

Chapter 82

Chapter 82: Let It Be

Fred wasn't sure how long he had been standing in the garden, but he knew one thing—he was still angry. 

The cool night air did nothing to settle the storm brewing in his chest. He had thought maybe stepping outside would help, that putting distance between himself and the overwhelming warmth of the Burrow would make things easier to process. 

But it didn't. 

Because she was still here. 

Because she had walked back into their lives like it was nothing. 

And worst of all—everyone had let her.

Mum, Dad, Bill, even George—they had all just welcomed her back like she had never disappeared for three years. 

Fred exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. The more he thought about it, the worse it got. 

"Still out here sulking?" 

Fred stiffened at the sound of her voice. His fingers curled into fists at his sides, but he forced himself to breathe through his nose, steady and slow. 

"Not sulking," he muttered. "Just... thinking." 

Adhara hummed as she stepped closer. "Thinking very aggressively, I see." 

Fred let out a sharp laugh, but there was no humor in it. "Is that why you're here? To analyze my thinking?"

Adhara sighed, crossing her arms. "No. I just... I don't want this to be like this, Fred." 

Fred scoffed. "Like this?" He finally turned to face her, his eyes dark with frustration. "And how exactly should it be, Adhara? Should I just pretend nothing happened? Smile and act like you never left?" 

She didn't flinch, didn't waver under his glare. "I don't expect anything from you." 

Fred exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "That's a lie. If you really didn't expect anything, you wouldn't be out here trying to fix things." 

"I'm not trying to fix things," Adhara said evenly. "I'm just... trying to make sure you don't let this eat you alive." 

Fred let out a bitter laugh. "Oh, that's rich, coming from you." 

Adhara frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?" 

Fred took a step forward, his voice low and sharp. "You're worried about me letting things eat me alive? That's hilarious, considering you're the one who disappeared without a word." 

Adhara held his gaze, her expression unreadable. "I left because I had to." 

Fred's jaw tightened. "Yeah? And yet, you're here now. So what changed?" 

She hesitated. Just for a second. 

And that was all Fred needed. 

"Yeah," he muttered, shaking his head. "That's what I thought." 

Adhara sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Fred—" 

"No." His voice was sharp, his patience gone. "You don't get to do this. You don't get to act like you care about how I feel when you didn't care enough to stay." 

Adhara's eyes flashed, her own frustration surfacing. "I never said I didn't care." 

Fred laughed harshly. "Really? Because leaving sure as hell felt like you didn't." 

Adhara clenched her fists at her sides, clearly trying to hold her temper. "I had my reasons." 

Fred let out a humorless chuckle. "Of course, you did. But you know what, Adhara? Reasons don't change the fact that you left. Reasons don't change the fact that I spent months wondering what I did wrong, wondering why you didn't even think I was worth an explanation." 

Adhara looked away, her jaw tightening. 

But Fred wasn't done. 

"And then you show up," he continued, voice laced with frustration, "and everyone just forgives you. Like you never left. Like you didn't just tear through this family and leave nothing but questions behind." 

Adhara exhaled slowly, trying to keep her voice even. "Fred, I never wanted to hurt you." 

Fred let out another sharp laugh, stepping back. "Well, congratulations, Adhara. Because you did." 

Silence hung between them, thick and heavy. 

For the first time since she arrived, Adhara looked... guilty.

But Fred didn't care. 

He couldn't care. 

Because guilt didn't change the past. 

Guilt didn't change the fact that she had left. 

Adhara finally met his gaze again. "I know you're angry. And I won't tell you not to be." 

Fred clenched his jaw. "Good. Because I will be." 

Adhara studied him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, finally, she sighed. "Alright." 

Fred blinked, caught off guard by her lack of argument. 

She wasn't pushing him to forgive her. 

Wasn't asking him to move past it. 

She was just... accepting it. 

And somehow, that pissed him off even more. 

Because if she could walk away from this conversation without a fight, then maybe she never cared as much as he thought she did. 

"Just like that?" he bit out. 

Adhara tilted her head slightly. "Would you rather I beg?" 

Fred clenched his fists. "I don't know." 

Adhara gave him a long look. "I don't want to fight with you, Fred." 

Fred scoffed. "Then you came to the wrong place." 

Adhara exhaled, her lips pressing together. "I meant what I said inside. I don't expect anything from you. I just wanted to check on you." 

Fred barked out a laugh. "Check on me? Merlin, Adhara, you left me three years ago. You don't get to come back and check on me like you're still part of my life." 

Adhara didn't respond right away. Instead, she turned her gaze to the night sky, as if searching for something in the stars. 

"I know," she said after a long moment. 

Fred's breath hitched slightly. He hadn't expected her to agree. 

"I know," she repeated, softer this time. "And I won't push my way back into your life if you don't want me there." 

Fred's heart twisted painfully, but he forced himself to glare at her. "Great. Then don't." 

Adhara nodded, and for a brief second, Fred thought she might actually listen. 

But then she said, "But I also won't pretend like I don't care about you." 

Fred's chest tightened. 

He hated her. 

He hated how she always knew the exact thing to say to get under his skin. 

He hated that despite everything, despite all the anger and bitterness, a small part of him still wanted to believe her. 

Adhara took a step back, her expression unreadable. "I'll leave you alone now." 

Fred didn't say anything. 

Didn't stop her. 

Didn't look away as she turned and walked back toward the Burrow. 

The door shut behind her, and Fred let out a shaky breath, his hands still clenched at his sides. 

He should have felt satisfied. 

He should have felt like he had won. 

But instead... 

Instead, he just felt worse.

And somehow, that pissed him off even more.