Chapter 0158
Leah takes a sip of her water, looking thoughtful. “Abby, you might have to make a choice here—

between your best friends who have stood by you, or the man who’s ruined everything for you over and

over again.”

“I really think he can change, Leah,” I say, my voice tinged with a desperate hope. “People make

mistakes, right?”

She puts down her fork, her eyes locking onto mine. “You thought he would change before. Look where

that got you. How many more chances are you going to give him? And at what cost?”

My chest tightens, as if it’s being gripped by an invisible hand. I know where this is going. “No,” I

murmur, shaking my head as tears threaten to spill out. “Don’t leave me too, Leah.”

Leah glances at her watch and starts to get up. I can see that her eyes have misted over as well, but

she’s trying to hold herself together. “I’ve got to go. But Abby, you need to decide. It’s either us or him.

You can’t have it both ways.”

And just like that, she’s gone, leaving me alone in a restaurant full of people. The irony isn’t lost on me.

that relies on my guidance, patrons who love my food, and

never felt more

and I lock the front door behind them, flipping the sign

that is my office,

phone’s screen glows accusingly at me from my desk.

and each call

is pretty clear: “You can leave all of the voicemails you

this. I’m not speaking to you until

wakeup call, Abby.”

under my breath, my frustration peaking as I throw the phone onto

my computer screen, bringing back

my eyes skim the text again, discussing the rarity of black truffles

season is

I needed

like I’m stuck between a

and I can’t say I blame them. Karl,

my gut screaming it’s a bad idea. Meanwhile, my

unless I’m close with

I need to master, one that

expensive it’s almost laughable.

this time, and rake my hands through my hair, clutching at the strands as

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