Page 39 of From Us, Forever

I tried to act nonchalant to their presence as I paid for the groceries and quickly shot a text to Jay and Tyler because his call wasn’t going through. The apartment was a good thirty minutes’ walk from here, and getting a taxi at this hour would be like winding a thread through a needle.

My arms tightened around the brown bags. The only thought in my head was that I had to get out of there. I counted about six of them. I could easily evade them if I got out and mixed in with the crowd on the street.

My ears buzzed with a low ring as I stepped outside. It was only then I realized my mistake. A bundle of paparazzi was lined up on the curb, all waiting for me to leave. My feet took an automatic step back, but the first flash went off, shooting a tingle at the back of my neck.

The sound was almost blaring, like a sharp snap cutting straight through me.

My panicked eyes met the paps that followed me to the store, crowding the entrance.

I was screwed.

Only a moment of silence before all the flashes went off in rapid succession, blinding me. I willed my feet to move, but I was rooted on the spot as they closed in on me.

Then the questions started, each one of them so twisted that it pierced through my soul.

“Ms. May, any comment on your relationship with Mr. Jameson?”

“Evelyn, how does it feel to be a cheater?”

“Ms. May, there are claims that you ruined J.J. and Cece’s relationship?”

“Ms. May, is it true that you’re only with Mr. Jameson for his money?”

“Evelyn, how did you seduce J.J.? Aren’t you ashamed of breaking a loving relationship?”

“Ms. May, do you have anything to add on how you met Mr. Jameson?”

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I couldn’t move an inch as the name-calling started. I couldn’t take it anymore. I wanted out of here. It was smothering me, like a heavyweight trapped over my heart.

I could see nothing through the flashes and the pain of their questions flooded like burning fire through my veins.

I had to get out.

I had to get out.

I had to get out.

Through the flashes, I could see a gap in the far corner, a street sign peeking out. It was so close, yet it felt so far away, but I had to get there.

I stumbled my first step forward, clashing with the man who thrust the camera at my face. Their voices screaming in my ears, their breaths on the back of my neck, and the sting of their touch on my skin were all getting too much for me.

The only thing on my mind was to get to the gap, crashing with all the bodies as I squeezed to find my way out. Latching onto the grocery bags as my lifeline, I held them like a shield over my chest. I was almost at the end when someone pushed, and my clumsy self went hard on the ground with a thud. My knees folded over, and my chin hit the gravel, rattling my teeth.

That hurt.

But they didn’t stop crowding in on me with their shutter of white flashes or their jarring questions.

A packet of strawberry milk from the bag rolled over, spilling like blood on the ground. I bit through the pain on my chin and wrists as I shot off to my feet and fought through the bodies; the gap drawing nearby.

A gasp of breath left my lips as I squashed my way out. But they were still looming behind me.

I didn’t think as I ran, but so did they, chasing me around like hounds chasing their prey.

“Ms. May, since you haven’t said anything, are the allegations against you true?”

“Evelyn, are you running because you’re ashamed?”

“Is it true that you’ve been Mr. Jameson’s mistress for two years?”

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