Chapter 10: Couldn’t Get Any Worse
EVANDER
The hum of the engine was the only sound in the car as I drove back to the company, gripping the wheel just tightly enough to keep my hands steady. Despite this, a small smile tugged at the corners of my lips.
She hadn’t changed.
Julia was still the same. The way she deflected my question with that laugh of hers. It was almost comforting.
Almost.
And she was still pretty, too. More than I remembered, even
I shook my head, forcing myself to focus on the road ahead. It was nothing. It didn’t matter.
Whatever feelings lingered–if they even existed–were relics of the past. I had a life now, responsibilities, plans that didn’t include her.
The smile faded as quickly as it had come, and by the time pulled into the underground parking lot o
company, my expression was unreadable again. Just as it should be.
of the
When I stepped out of the car, Rui was already waiting by the elevator, arms crossed and a slightly annoyed look on his face.
“You weren’t responding to your calls, sir,” he said, his tone professional but stained with impatience.
“Sorry,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair as I joined him in the elevator. The doors closed with a quiet chime, and for a moment, it seemed like he wanted to say something. He was fidgeting with his fingers–a habit I’ve picked out.
However, I didn’t call him out for it. Instead, a question slipped out of nowhere.
“Do you think it’s possible to have a doppelganger?”
Rui frowned, glancing at me like I’d just started speaking in another language. “A doppelganger?”
“Someone who looks just like you,” I clarified, my tone as casual as I could make it, though my grip on the briefcase in my hand tightened.
Rui didn’t hesitate. “You should’ve killed him.”
“What?” I blinked, caught off guard by his response.
“Only one person shall remain,” Rui said firmly like this were a universally accepted rule. “Don’t you know about that rule, sir? You love watching horror movies! A doppleganger is someone placed in the world to replace you. You should have offed his head right away. Or, do you want me to do that for you, sir?”
I sighed, shaking my head. I forgot that Rui was crazy at times.
“He’s a kid, Rui.”
Just then, the elevator dinged and its doors opened.
“Oh,” Rui said, leaning back slightly. “Then there’s only one explanation to that. He must be your son.
“A son?” I exclaimed, much louder than I expected.
Before I could even process it, let alone respond, the elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. My father stood in the hallway, arms crossed and a curious look on his face.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 10: Couldn’t Get Any Wik
“A son?” he said, raising an eyebrow. “You have a son?”
“I don’t, Dad,” I said immediately, sighing as I stepped
Then, I glanced back at Rui, who had a sheepish look on his face. “Your dad moved the meeting earlier, sir,” he whispered “That’s why I kept contacting you.”
JULIA
The apartment was quiet except for the muffled sound of the TV in the background. Andy was asleep in the bedroom, looking like an angel straight from the heavens.
But I couldn’t relax.
1 paced back and forth in the small living room, running a land through my hair as I muttered to myself. My thoughts were a tangled mess, and the more I tried to sort them out, the more they seemed to spiral out of control.
“Fuck him and his perfect face!” I muttered. “I haven’t changed? I’ve changed a lot! How can he say that straight to my face? 1 swear–1 should have trashed his car when I had the opportunity to.”
Seriously, Julia, you’re going to wear a hole in the carpet, Sarah said from the couch, her feet propped up on the coffee table as she munched on a bowl of popcorn.
“Why do you even care?” I snapped, sounding annoyed. I had just come to my senses after the interaction with Evan, and it hit me how stupid I must have looked.
“Because this is way more interesting than the show,” she said, gesturing to the TV with her popcorn bowl.
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t stop pacing.
The nerve of him.
“Better.”
Who says that? And that smirk. That stupid, infuriating smirk. Who gave him the right to appear in front of me, looking all put–together and–ugh–handsome?
And then there was the way he just walked away. Like nothing had happened. Like I was nothing but a piece of gum under his shoe.
“Arrogant jerk,” I muttered under my breath.
Sarah chuckled, clearly enjoying my mini meltdown. “Oh, don’t hold back. Tell me how you really feel.”
I glared at her, but she just grinned, popping another piece of popcorn into her mouth.
I turned back to my pacing, my mind racing. I’d already imagined a dozen scenarios where he came back, apologizing, begging even, to fix what he broke. But reality? Oh no, it had to go the complete opposite direction.
“Could this day just get any worse?” I said, throwing my hands up in frustration.
On cue, my phone buzzed on the coffee table. I grabbed it, more out of habit than actual curiosity, but when I saw the subject line of the email, my stomach dropped.
It was from Mrs. White, the email I’d been dreading all day. The pairings for the project.
With a deep breath, I opened it and scrolled through the list, my eyes scanning the names. And then I saw it.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 10. Couldent Get Any Witer
Julia Johnson Heather Elodi Maison
The bowl of popcorn Sarah had been holding fell to the floor with a loud clatter, scattering kernels everywhere.
“Oh, it just got worse,” I muttered.
