Stories Hidden in Shadows By Julian Blake 3

Stories Hidden in Shadows By Julian Blake 3 Summary

 

The morning after, Mila arrives at a coffee shop with Liley and finds three women from Ryker’s department waiting anxiously. Penny, one of the women, cautiously approaches Mila and reveals that Ryker has been openly involved with another woman named Layla Moreau at work. The women share details about Ryker’s daily coffee runs for Layla, their public displays of affection, and how obvious their relationship has been to everyone around them.

 

Mila is devastated as Penny shows her photos from Layla’s Instagram, including a picture of Ryker and Layla kissing and celebrating their one-year anniversary, directly contradicting Ryker’s claims about his whereabouts. The women also expose Ryker’s lavish spending on Layla, including expensive designer bags and a white Tesla, while deceiving Mila about the authenticity and cost of similar gifts he gave her.

 

The revelation shatters Mila’s trust, especially when she learns that Ryker lied about attending a three-day wedding event, which was actually just one day, and that he misled colleagues about their marriage. Despite the pain and humiliation, Mila’s resolve hardens. She asks the women if they will support her by testifying if she needs proof for a divorce, determined not to let Ryker’s betrayal go unchallenged.

 

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Chapter 3

The following morning, just after nine, I stepped into the cozy coffee shop with Liley walking closely beside me. The air inside was warm and smelled faintly of roasted beans and cinnamon.

Already seated at a corner table were three women from Ryker’s department, their faces a mix of concern and urgency. Penny sat front and center, her posture tense but composed.

We had shared a few murder mystery nights before, and I’d always enjoyed those evenings filled with suspense and laughter.

“Mila, I hope you don’t mind us reaching out like this,” Penny said softly, her voice carrying a hint of hesitation.

She poured me a cup of coffee, her eyes reflecting a strange blend of pity and something bordering on guilt.

I shook my head gently. “No, I appreciate you coming to me. Just please, tell me what’s going on.”

With a sigh, Penny pulled out her phone and swiped to a photo. In the image, Ryker had his forehead pressed tenderly against a young woman’s, both of them grinning like fools completely lost in each other’s company.

“That’s Layla Moreau,” Penny explained quietly. “She works in the department next to ours. Mila… they’re basically an open couple at the office.”

Gabby, another woman at the table, added, “Open? What do you mean?”

I felt a sharp stab in my chest, as if someone had plunged a knife right through.

Penny nodded. “Matching clothes, couple lunches, and every single afternoon without fail, Ryker fetches her coffee. Just her. It’s so obvious, we couldn’t keep pretending we didn’t see it.”

He gets her coffee every day. And yet, when I asked him to get me that ‘first coffee of fall’ thing everyone was talking about online, he brushed me off, telling me not to act like some childish girl on the internet.

“Mila, you’re a good person,” Cassie said softly, pouring me a cup of tea. “Remember that murder mystery night when I unexpectedly got my period? You ran to the mall next door and bought me pants. I’d have been lost without you.”

“You’re too good for this,” Penny added. “We just couldn’t sit back and let you stay in the dark.”

All three women looked at me as if they had more to reveal, their expressions heavy with unspoken truths.

Beside me, Liley clenched her fists tightly, her whole body tense, ready to explode with anger.

“Is there more?” I asked, taking a steadying breath. “Just tell me everything.”

Penny hesitated for a moment before opening Layla’s Instagram profile on her phone.

My heart caught painfully in my throat.

The cover photo was a picture of Ryker and Layla kissing at some art gallery, their faces glowing with happiness. The caption read: “My dear husband.”

I scrolled down, each post a painful reminder of their shameless display of affection.

The latest was from just two days ago—the very second day Ryker claimed he was at his boss’s wedding.

In the photo, they were seated at a trendy restaurant, a candlelit dinner spread laid out before them.

The caption declared: “Celebrating our one-year anniversary.”

One year?

This betrayal had been unfolding for an entire year, hidden in plain sight.

“Mila, look at this bag,” Gabby pointed to another image on Penny’s phone. “It’s the latest Chanel Classic Flap. Over twenty grand. We checked—it’s authentic.”

“And there’s more,” Penny said, her voice tight. “Designer bags, luxury brands—he’s lavished her with expensive gifts.”

My head spun, the room feeling suddenly smaller, suffocating.

Just last month, for my birthday, Ryker had given me the exact same bag. But he told me it was from some ‘replica dealer’ and cost only two thousand dollars.

He’d even hugged me and said, “Babe, real or fake doesn’t matter—it’s about who’s carrying it. We have to save money, you know?”

I had always thought his frugality was one of his good qualities. Sure, his income wasn’t much, but at least he seemed responsible with money.

Now I realized he was just funneling the savings from me into another woman’s hands.

“What about the wedding?” I asked, my voice rough and hoarse. “He said it was a three-day event.”

Penny’s words crushed my last flicker of hope. “The wedding was just one day. No three-day celebration. He took two days off and told everyone he was going on a trip with you.”

I gripped the cold teacup tightly, feeling exposed and humiliated, like a clown under a harsh spotlight.

“And no one at work said anything?” I asked, biting down hard on my trembling lip.

“We tried,” Gabby said helplessly. “But Ryker told people your marriage was falling apart anyway. And Layla? She actually said the one who isn’t loved is the real mistress.”

A bitter laugh escaped me.

Then I asked, “Does she have a car?”

“Yeah, a white Tesla,” Penny replied without hesitation. “Ryker paid the down payment, apparently. When she picked it up, Layla posted all about it on Instagram. Here—this one.”

She showed me a photo of Layla leaning against a sparkling white Tesla, clutching a bouquet of flowers.

I stared at the license plate, searing the number into my memory.

Swallowing every emotion, I looked up at the three women and asked one final question.

“I’m not going to let that bastard get away with this. If I need proof for the divorce, will you testify for me?”

Conclusion

 

The weight of betrayal settled heavily on Mila’s shoulders, the truth laid bare by those who had once been mere acquaintances but now stood as her unexpected allies. The warmth of the coffee shop felt distant, overshadowed by the cold reality of Ryker’s deceit. Yet, amidst the pain and humiliation, there was a quiet resolve beginning to take root within her—a determination fueled not by bitterness, but by the courage to reclaim her dignity and confront the shadows that had long concealed the stories of her heartbreak.

 

In this moment of fragile strength, Mila found solace in the solidarity of Penny, Gabby, and Cassie, whose compassion and honesty illuminated a path forward. Though the journey ahead promised to be fraught with challenges, the bonds forged in this shared vulnerability offered a glimmer of hope. It was a reminder that even in the darkest chapters, the human spirit can find resilience, and that the stories hidden in shadows are ultimately stories waiting to be told and overcome.

 

What to Expect in Next Chapter?

 

The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the tangled web of betrayal and secrets that Mila is only beginning to unravel. As the weight of Ryker’s deception settles heavily on her, expect to witness her grappling with a storm of emotions—anger, heartbreak, and a fierce determination to reclaim her dignity. The support from Penny, Gabby, and Cassie may become a crucial lifeline, but will their involvement bring clarity or further complications?

 

Tensions are likely to rise as Mila confronts the reality of Ryker’s double life and the painful truths hidden behind his facade. The emotional fallout could lead to difficult decisions and unexpected alliances, especially as she begins to gather the evidence she needs. Yet, beneath the surface, there may be more shadows lurking—questions about Ryker’s motives, Layla’s role, and the true nature of the relationships involved. Prepare for a chapter filled with raw vulnerability and the first sparks of a fierce fight for justice.