Love In The Shadows | Fred Weasley x OC

Chapter 85

Chapter 85: The Last Thing She Needed to See

Adhara left.

She didn't say goodbye to anyone, didn't linger at the Burrow or at Fred's house. She simply left.

There was no point in staying.

Fred had made it clear—this wasn't her home. And maybe he was right.

So, she did the only thing she knew how to do when the weight of her emotions became too much. She buried herself in work.

Adhara buried herself in work.

It was the only way to keep herself from thinking about Fred.

The moment she had returned, she had thrown herself into case files, reports, and paperwork—anything that could fill the hours, anything that could make her forget the argument, the house, and the way Fred had told her to go.

But no matter how much she worked, no matter how many distractions she forced upon herself, the memories followed her.

The house.

The unfinished dreams built into its very walls.

And worst of all—Fred's face when he told her to leave.

It had been days, and still, her chest ached whenever she thought about it.

Adhara sighed, rubbing her temples.

"This isn't working," she muttered under her breath.

She needed to do something.

Something that would truly put an end to this.

So she made a decision.

She was going to fix things with Fred.

If she couldn't change the past, if she couldn't erase the pain she had caused, then the least she could do was clear the air between them.

So she went to the joke shop.

She just hadn't expected to see her there.

Angelina Johnson.

Standing with Fred, laughing at something he said, her eyes full of warmth.

Fred didn't look away from her.

And Adhara felt like the air had been knocked from her lungs.

She had known about Angelina.

Of course, she had known.

But knowing was one thing.

Seeing it was another.

Because for the first time, Adhara wasn't just remembering the house, or the way Fred had looked so broken the other night.

She was seeing what came after.

Fred had moved on.

She had always wondered if he would.

And now she had her answer.

Her stomach twisted painfully as Angelina reached for Fred's arm, touching him like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Fred didn't pull away.

Adhara stepped back.

This was a mistake.

She shouldn't have come.

She had been so focused on fixing things that she hadn't stopped to think—maybe Fred didn't want things to be fixed.

Maybe he was finally happy.

Maybe he had finally let go.

She needed to do the same.

So she turned, slipping away before either of them could see her.

Before she could break all over again.

Fred forced a smile inside the shop.

He could feel Angelina's eyes on him, but his mind was elsewhere.

Something had changed in him ever since Adhara came back.

And he couldn't keep pretending.

Angelina was wonderful.

But she wasn't Adhara.

She had never been Adhara.

And she deserved better than a man who was still in love with someone else.

"Fred?" Angelina's voice was soft, her fingers brushing his wrist.

He snapped back to reality.

"Sorry," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

Angelina frowned. "You've been distant lately."

Fred exhaled. He had been dreading this conversation.

But it had to happen.

Now.

"Angelina, can we talk?"

Her expression shifted slightly, but she nodded. "Of course."

Fred led her to the back of the shop, away from prying eyes. He shut the door behind them and turned to face her, his heart hammering.

He knew what he was about to do would hurt her.

But dragging it out would hurt her more.

"I need to be honest with you," he began.

Angelina's eyes searched his. "Okay..."

Fred inhaled deeply. "I can't do this anymore."

A flicker of realization crossed her face. "Fred—"

"I care about you, I really do," he continued, his voice steady but firm. "You've been nothing but good to me. And I've tried—I really have. But I can't pretend anymore."

Angelina swallowed. "Pretend what?"

Fred looked down for a moment before meeting her gaze again.

"That I've moved on."

Silence stretched between them.

Angelina stared at him, her lips parting slightly as if she wanted to argue. But then something in her expression shifted.

She had known, deep down.

She had always known.

"You still love her," she whispered.

Fred's throat tightened.

He didn't answer.

He didn't need to.

Angelina took a shaky breath, nodding slowly. "I see."

Fred closed his eyes briefly. "I'm sorry."

Angelina crossed her arms, looking away. "I should've seen this coming. I think—I think I did, but I didn't want to admit it."

Fred ran a hand through his hair. "You deserve better than this. You deserve better than me."

Angelina let out a sharp breath, blinking rapidly. "Yeah. Maybe I do."

She squared her shoulders, forcing a small smile. "But so do you, Fred. And if she's the one you want... then don't waste any more time."

Fred's heart clenched.

He had wasted so much time already.

Angelina swallowed hard. "Goodbye, Fred."

And with that, she turned and walked away.

Fred stood there, staring at the closed door, feeling both relieved and heavier than ever.

Because even though he had finally done the right thing...

He still didn't know if it would ever be enough.