Lost the Bet on Our Anniversary, Ended the Relationship She Scripted Chapter 08

Lost the Bet on Our Anniversary, Ended the Relationship She Scriptted Chapter 08

After that day, Evan searched everywhere he could think of for Aria. 

Then he saw a photo she’d posted with Lake Tahoe tagged as the location. 

He booked the first flight he could get to Reno and drove straight to the lake. 

When I caught the familiar scent of his cologne, I stopped. 

For a second, I told myself plenty of people wore the same fragrance. 

Then his voice came from behind me. 

“Aria, how have you been?” 

I stepped back instinctively. 

His voice sounded rough, but I felt strangely calm. 

He had helped turn my life upside down. 

He had no right to show up and ask whether I was okay. 

I took a breath and turned away. 

“We’re done. How I’m doing is none of your business anymore.” 

He caught my wrist before I could leave. 

“Aria, I know you hate me. I know you never want to see me 

again. Just let me finish, okay?” 

I stopped. 

I’m not here to ask you to drop anything. What I did was 

wrong, and I’ll accept whatever happens with the case. I deserve that.” 

“So why are you here?” 

I crossed my arms and looked at how wrecked he seemed. 

“If you came for forgiveness, don’t waste your time. I’m not giving it to you.” 

My voice stayed cold. 

“I may hate you for the rest of my life.” 

Evan went still. 

His eyes filled with tears. 

“Aria, I’m sorry. I know you don’t have to accept it, but I still 

need to say it.” 

“I can’t sleep without replaying everything. I keep thinking 

that if I’d never made that post, never agreed to those stupid 

tests, maybe none of this would’ve happened.” 

I didn’t answer. 

I turned and kept walking. 

He followed a few steps behind me. 

I know saying sorry doesn’t undo anything. I…” 

A violent crash sounded behind me. 

I spun around. 

Evan had been struck by a car. 

I called 911 immediately and contacted his family before leaving. 

He spent more than ten days in the ICU before doctors were able to stabilize him. 

The crash left him with fractures in both legs and a severe traumatic brain injury. 

When he finally regained consciousness, doctors said his 

cognitive functioning had been significantly impaired. 

He could manage only simple words and basic tasks, and the 

people he consistently remembered were his parents and me. 

The civil case continued separately. 

Sienna was ultimately found primarily liable for the 

defamatory campaign and ordered to pay substantial damages. 

Prosecutors did not pursue separate criminal charges, but the 

judgment and legal fees wiped out most of what she had, 

My own life slowly began moving forward again. 

I had known from a very young age that I was different. 

Faces never stayed in my memory the way they seemed to for everyone else. 

So when I was little, Mom wore the same oversized bow pin on her clothes every day. 

Whenever I saw that bow, I knew it was her. 

I never got it wrong. 

For years, I thought my condition meant I simply wasn’t built for romantic relationships. 

I had planned to work hard, make a good living, and build a peaceful life with Mom. 

Evan made me believe I could want more. 

Then he became the person who hurt me most. 

Losing him taught me something I should have understood long ago. 

My life could not depend on whether someone else chose to 

believe me, recognize my worth, or stay. 

For the first time in a long time, the future felt like mine again.