Free Web NovelChapter 59: Chapter 59: Georgia, Don’t Avoid Me
In the first three years after Justin Sullivan abandoned her, the only people who loved her were herself and Selena. Jared Thorne ignored her, Hayley Sullivan saw her as a thorn in her side, and Amanda Thorne just mocked her. She spent many tear-filled nights during those three years.
In the last three years, she met Elliot Sheridan.
He was the one who brought stability to her once-drifting, uncertain fate.
Elliot Sheridan was the one who brought her warmth when she was at her lowest.
Elliot Sheridan...
Every time she thought of his name, Georgia Thorne felt a headache coming on.
She had a good impression of him. Even though he could be harsh with her at times, she still thought he was a good man.
He had rescued her time and again. If it weren’t for him, Georgia Thorne didn’t know what would have become of her.
’Perhaps I would have just killed myself back when there was no escape.’
A living person would have been sent in, but a cold corpse would have been carried out.
She gathered all the letters and locked them away, along with the portraits she had drawn in the past.
’From now on, I probably shouldn’t open this again.’ freēwēbnovel.com
For the next week, Georgia Thorne threw herself into her work, trying her best not to think about Justin Sullivan.
’I’ll just pretend he hasn’t returned.’
’Am I just lying to myself?’
But over the course of the week, Selena Sheridan called her three times, wanting to take her out for a meal.
Georgia Thorne refused every time. She still hadn’t collected her thoughts.
’Once I’ve sorted everything out and completely given up on Justin Sullivan, then I’ll see her.’
Georgia Thorne’s excuse for turning down Selena Sheridan’s invitations was that she was busy with work.
So busy she wished she could become a spinning top that could never stop.
However, what she couldn’t guard against was that while she was avoiding Selena Sheridan, she had forgotten about someone else.
On Friday, she was summoned back to the Thorne family residence.
It was Amanda Thorne who had called. "Did you know Justin Sullivan is back?" she had asked.
"Oh, right. I forgot Justin Sullivan is Selena Sheridan’s boyfriend now. You must at least know that Selena Sheridan is back, right?"
Her words dripped with mockery.
Georgia Thorne was used to hearing such things from her. It would be a cold day in hell before Amanda said something normal to her.
"Georgia Thorne, stop dreaming about Justin Sullivan. He’s your best friend’s man now. If you try to seduce him, you’ll be nothing but a homewrecker—the shameful kind who stabs her best friend in the back."
With a sneer, Amanda Thorne hung up.
The humiliating words rang in Georgia Thorne’s ears, but she usually paid them no mind.
This time, however, was different. The words still made her feel a pang of discomfort.
When Georgia Thorne headed home after work, it was peak rush hour, and the bus was packed.
Georgia was squeezed so tightly she felt dizzy, and she twisted her ankle when the driver slammed on the brakes.
She barely made it to her stop. After a few deep breaths of fresh air, the tightness in her chest finally eased.
The bus stop wasn’t far from the Thorne residence—only a ten-minute walk.
As she neared the front gate, Georgia Thorne saw a black car parked outside.
It wasn’t just familiar—she recognized it. It was Elliot Sheridan’s car.
She took a few steps closer, saw the license plate clearly, and confirmed her suspicion.
’Amanda invited Elliot again!’
She had just drawn a clear line with him not long ago, wanting no more entanglements.
So, instinctively, Georgia turned to leave.
What Georgia Thorne didn’t expect was to be caught between a rock and a hard place, unable to advance or retreat.
Her feet froze. She stared, transfixed, at Justin Sullivan as he walked toward her.
This was the second time they had met since his return, and the second time they had seen each other in six years.
An unspeakable awkwardness spread between them.
Georgia lowered her head and took a deep breath.
When she looked up again, a brilliant smile was plastered on her face. "Justin, you’re back!"
As if this was how their first meeting should have gone.
Welcoming him back with the most brilliant of smiles.
That had been her plan, but alas, things were no longer the same, and neither were they.
Truly, there are so many things in life whose outcomes you can never predict.
For example, she had thought Justin Sullivan would never abandon her, but he did, leaving for Breccon.
And for example, now.
"Georgia, we’ve already met," Justin Sullivan said, his gaze dark as he stared into her eyes.
His words were an undeniable reminder of what had happened between them recently.
’So much for pretending to have amnesia. He won’t even let me do that.’
"Oh, right! I haven’t had a chance to congratulate you. Congratulations on your engagement to Selena! Selena’s my best friend, you know. You’d better not hurt her. If you dare, I swear I’ll never let you hear the end of it!"
Georgia thought she had put on a great performance, her smile as bright as a blooming flower.
In reality, he had seen right through her.
Justin Sullivan remained silent, watching Georgia force a smile and babble on by herself.
After rattling off her congratulations, Georgia ran out of things to say.
She gave a hollow laugh, her mind on Elliot Sheridan inside the house. She just wanted to get away as quickly as possible.
"Sorry, I have something I need to do. I should get going!"
As Georgia tried to pass him, the man’s powerful hand shot out and gripped her elbow.
He pulled her to a halt, stopping her in her tracks.
She turned her head. The man beside her had turned to face her.
His dark eyes blazed. "Georgia, are you avoiding me?"
"Why would you think that?" Georgia laughed awkwardly.
"I didn’t know Selena was your best friend. If I had, I never would have started dating her!"
"Enough!" Georgia cut him off, aware that her emotions were getting the better of her.
She took a few deep breaths, her tone evening out. "Selena is my best friend. Have you even considered her feelings? She’s serious about you!"
Georgia Thorne and Selena Sheridan truly were the best of friends.
Back in their school days, plenty of boys had pursued Selena.
Selena Sheridan came from a good family and was beautiful besides; she never had a shortage of admirers.
But out of everyone, Selena only had eyes for Justin Sullivan.
Georgia struggled in his grip. "Selena is a good person," she said, her tone exceptionally serious. "She would be devastated if she heard you say that."
The two of them stood there, Justin’s hand clamped firmly around her wrist, refusing to let go.
He knew how wonderful Selena was; he didn’t need Georgia to remind him.
If Selena had been less kind to him back then, maybe their relationship wouldn’t have turned into this, and things with Georgia wouldn’t be so awkward.
"Georgia, don’t avoid me," Justin finally said after a long silence. "When you act like this, I don’t know what to do."
"...I’m not avoiding you. I’m just..."
Georgia blinked wearily, but before she could finish, Hayley Sullivan interrupted them.
Hayley Sullivan had happened to see the scene of Justin and Georgia tangled up together from a window in the house.
Fearing trouble, she had rushed outside.
"Jean, what are you doing standing outside? Hurry and get in here!" Hayley Sullivan called out, making her presence known.
Justin turned to look at Hayley standing in the doorway, and in that moment of distraction, Georgia seized the opportunity to wrench her arm free.
Everyone in the Thorne family knew that Georgia liked Justin Sullivan.
Justin Sullivan had no idea that the letters he had written to Georgia in the past had never reached her. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
Amanda Thorne had kept them all. By the time Georgia finally saw them, it was far, far too late.
So late that they had already missed their chance at love.
