Chapter 160 | The Daughter Of Ezra | The One That Escaped

                                    

                                          
Timeline - August 23rd - Earlier that morning.
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The tension in Matthew's office was suffocating, the air thick with the echoes of Charlotte and Jesse's shouting match. Mya clung to Jesse's arm, trying to calm her down as Richie stepped between the two women, his frame a physical barrier attempting to stem the escalating fury.
"I just need to know where he is, that's all!" Charlotte's voice cracked, louder than Jesse's, the desperation in her tone cutting through the room like a blade.
"Far away from you," Jesse spat back, her words laced with venom.
"Enough!" Mya interjected, her tone sharp yet pleading as she turned to Charlotte. "Charlotte, listen, Toni is not here. That wasn't a lie, okay? But you cannot keep showing up here. This is Allegiant. We've told you—countless times—you're not welcome."
Charlotte's hands trembled at her sides as she tried to keep her composure. "I just need to talk to him. Tell me where he is, so I can explain things."
"No!" Jesse's voice rose to a near scream, her finger pointing accusingly at Charlotte as she lunged forward. "No! That's not happening. He doesn't want to see you."
Charlotte took a shaky breath, her voice faltering as she pushed through the wall of resistance. "Then why did he send me a comms piece, huh? Why did he tell me to come here, to meet him? He asked to see me!"
The room fell silent, the chaos of their argument momentarily stilled by the weight of her words. Richie, Mya, and Jesse all turned to her, their expressions mirrors of confusion and disbelief.
"W-what?" Richie asked, his voice tinged with suspicion. "He contacted you?"
"No," Jesse shook her head vehemently, her eyes narrowing. "No, that's not true. That's not happening. He's coming home tomorrow, and you're not seeing him. Over my dead body."
Charlotte's lips trembled, her frustration bubbling over. "But he wants to see me!" she yelled, though the conviction in her voice faltered. Inside, she hated herself for pushing this hard, hated that she had to do this. But she had no choice. There was never a choice.
"Get. Out!" Jesse screamed, her voice raw, her body trembling with rage. "I will fucking punch your in the god damn squinty ass, if you don't leave!"
Charlotte stumbled back a step, her entire body shaking under the weight of Jesse's fury. She opened her mouth to respond, but Richie grabbed Jesse by the upper arm and pulled her away, dragging her toward the window. Their heated whispers filled the air as they argued in harsh, clipped tones.
Mya, stepping into the void left by Jesse, turned back to Charlotte. Her ginger hair fell over her face, her recent sharp-edged fringe highlighting the dark honey in her eyes. The intensity in her gaze was unwavering.
"Yes, Toni's coming back tommorow," Mya said firmly, her voice cutting through the chaos like a blade. "And no, you can't be here. You need to turn around and leave, Charlotte. Now."
"You don't understand," Charlotte protested, her voice shaking, her bottom lip trembling as she bit down on it, trying to hold back tears.
"I don't need to understand," Mya snapped, her tone cold, final. She waved her hand dismissively, as if brushing away the lingering ties between Charlotte and Toni. "Whatever you two were, whatever you thought you were—it's over. And do you know why? Because you supplying him with oxy and God knows what else didn't help him. You spiraled him, and that's not okay."