NOVEL: From Bully to Begging

What happens when a mysterious stranger starts sending heartfelt letters to a woman with a painful past?💔 But as secrets unravel, will she find healing… or heartbreak?

CHAPTER 03

The days that followed were a blur of conflicting emotions for Evelyn. She tried to focus on her work at the bookstore, but her mind kept drifting back to Liam. His face haunted her thoughts the guilt in his eyes, the way his voice cracked when he spoke about the past. It was hard to reconcile this version of him with the cruel boy she remembered from high school.But no matter how much he claimed to have changed, one truth remained: he had hurt her deeply. And forgiveness wasn’t something she could give lightly not after everything she’d endured.

Still, there was another part of her a quieter, more vulnerable part that couldn’t stop thinking about the letters. Those words had meant something to her. They had made her feel seen and understood in ways she never had before. Was it possible that Liam truly regretted what he’d done? That he wanted to make amends?

Evelyn spent hours replaying their meeting at the park in her mind. The way he stood there, exposed and vulnerable, as if he expected her to lash out at any moment. The sincerity in his apology. The pain etched into every word he spoke.It didn’t make sense. Why would someone like Liam someone who used to mock her, humiliate her, destroy her confidence go through so much effort to reach out now? What did he hope to gain?She wanted to believe that people could change. That redemption was possible. But trust wasn’t easy to rebuild, especially when the wounds ran so deep.

One afternoon, while sorting through a box of donated books, Evelyn found an old copy of Pride and Prejudice . Her heart skipped a beat. This was the same book Liam had snatched from her hands during that cafeteria incident years ago.Her hands trembled as she opened it, half-expecting to find some kind of note or message inside. Instead, she found herself staring at the first page, where Mr. Darcy’s pride clashed with Elizabeth Bennet’s prejudice.The parallels weren’t lost on her.Liam had been proud once arrogant even. He thought he was better than her, just like Darcy initially believed he was superior to Elizabeth. And Evelyn? She had judged him harshly, refusing to see him as anything other than the bully he used to be. But life wasn’t fiction. People didn’t always get happy endings.

That evening, Evelyn sat by her window, watching the sun dip below the horizon. The sky turned shades of purple and gold, casting long shadows across her room. She picked up the stack of letters again, rereading them slowly, searching for answers she hadn’t noticed before.And then she saw it.In almost every letter, Liam had hinted at his identity not just in vague references to the past, but in the way he wrote about regret, guilt, and second chances. He wasn’t just apologizing for being “A Reader”; he was apologizing for being himself.

Do you think holding onto anger keeps us safe? Or does it keep us trapped?I’ve made mistakes in my life big ones. Mistakes I’ll regret forever.You inspire me to hope, Evelyn. To believe that maybe, just maybe, redemption is possible.

Each sentence carried layers of meaning, hidden beneath poetic phrasing. He had been trying to tell her all along who he was, what he felt, how sorry he was.Why hadn’t she noticed sooner?

The next morning, Evelyn woke up restless. She couldn’t stay cooped up in the bookstore anymore. She needed fresh air, space to clear her head. Grabbing her coat, she stepped outside and wandered aimlessly through the streets until she found herself standing in front of the park.The fountain gleamed under the pale sunlight, its waters shimmering like liquid glass. The bench where she’d met Liam was empty, but the memory of that night lingered heavily in the air.She hesitated, unsure why she had come here. Did she expect him to show up again? Was she hoping for closure or something else entirely?

As she sat down on the bench, she realized something unsettling: despite her anger, despite the pain he had caused, she missed him. Not the Liam who had bullied her, but the person behind the letters the thoughtful, remorseful man who seemed desperate to make things right.Was it possible to separate the two versions of him? To forgive the present without forgetting the past?

Later that week, Evelyn received another letter. It wasn’t tucked into a book or left on the counter it was slipped under the door of the bookstore early in the morning. Her heart raced as she picked it up, recognizing the familiar handwriting immediately.

Dear Evelyn,

I know I promised not to contact you again until you were ready, but I couldn’t stay silent any longer. I owe you the truth the whole truth and I hope you’ll let me share it with you.After graduation, my life fell apart. My friends turned their backs on me. My family struggled financially. I hit rock bottom, and for the first time, I understood what it felt like to be invisible, to be treated like I didn’t matter. It made me realize how much I had hurt others including you.Writing to you gave me a purpose. A chance to prove that I’m not the same person I used to be. That I want to be better for myself, for you, for anyone who deserves kindness instead of cruelty.If you never forgive me, I’ll understand.But please know this: I will spend the rest of my life regretting what I did to you. And I will do everything in my power to ensure no one else ever feels the way I made you feel.

Yours always,

A Reader (Liam)

Tears streamed down Evelyn’s face as she read the letter. His words cut straight to her core, stirring emotions she didn’t know how to process.Anger. Sadness. Confusion.But also… hope.

That night, Evelyn wrote her reply carefully, choosing each word with precision.

Dear Liam,

Your letter today made me think about forgiveness not just for you, but for myself. Holding onto anger has kept me trapped for years. It’s shaped the way I see the world, the way I see people. Maybe it’s time I let go of some of that pain.I’m not saying I forgive you yet. I don’t know if I ever will. But I do believe that people can change. And I want to believe that you’re trying.Let’s take this slowly. One step at a time.

Yours truly,

Evelyn

When she finished, she folded the letter neatly and placed it on the counter, knowing he would find it.

Over the next few weeks, their exchanges became tentative but meaningful. Liam continued to write, sharing pieces of his life his struggles, his regrets, his hopes for the future. Evelyn listened, responding cautiously but honestly.For the first time in years, she allowed herself to imagine what it might be like to trust someone again. To open her heart, even if it meant risking pain.But deep down, she knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy. Forgiveness wasn’t a switch you could flip; it was a journey filled with uncertainty and doubt.And Liam? He waited patiently, respecting her boundaries, giving her space to heal.Because he knew he would never deserve her forgiveness. But he hoped, against all odds, that someday she might give it anyway.

The air in the bookstore felt heavier than usual. Evelyn stood behind the counter, absently rearranging a stack of novels that didn’t need rearranging. Her mind was elsewhere on Liam, on the letters, on the fragile connection they had started to rebuild.It had been weeks since their last exchange, and though she tried to focus on her work, her thoughts kept drifting back to him. She wondered what he was doing right now. Was he thinking about her too? Did he regret reaching out?She glanced at the counter, half-expecting another letter to appear. But it remained empty, untouched.

She glanced at the counter, half-expecting another letter to appear. But it remained empty, untouched.For the first time in days, she felt uneasy not because of Liam, but because of herself.

Evelyn had always prided herself on being strong, independent. She didn’t need anyone; she didn’t want anyone. Books were her companions, her safe haven. People only brought complications, pain.But Liam… he was different.His words lingered in her mind long after she finished reading his letters. His apologies weren’t just empty promises they were raw, honest admissions of guilt. He didn’t try to justify his actions or make excuses for who he used to be. Instead, he owned them, carrying the weight of his past like a burden he couldn’t escape.And yet, despite everything, she still struggled to trust him.

How could she forgive someone who had caused her so much pain? Someone who had laughed at her tears, mocked her dreams, made her feel worthless?But then there was the other side the part of her that wanted to believe in second chances. That wanted to see the good in people, even when it was hard to find.

That evening, as Evelyn locked up the shop, she noticed something unusual. A figure stood across the street, partially hidden by the shadows of a lamppost. Her breath caught in her throat. It was Liam.He looked hesitant, unsure whether to approach her. When their eyes met, he took a step forward, then stopped, as if waiting for her permission.“Evelyn,” he called softly, his voice trembling. “Can we talk?”Her heart raced. She hadn’t expected this not here, not now.“What are you doing here?” she asked, keeping her tone neutral.

“I needed to see you,” Liam admitted, taking another cautious step closer. “I’ve been thinking about what you said in your last letter. About taking things slowly. I want to respect that I do. But I also need you to know how serious I am about making things right.”Evelyn crossed her arms, trying to steady her nerves. “You don’t have to prove anything to me, Liam. What’s done is done.”“But it’s not done,” he insisted, his voice cracking with emotion. “Not for me. Every day, I wake up thinking about what I did to you. How I ruined your teenage years. Your chance to be happy. I can’t undo that, Evelyn. But maybe… maybe I can help you heal.”“Heal?” she repeated, her voice sharp. “You think you can fix this? You think a few letters and apologies will erase the scars you left on me?”

“No,” Liam said quickly, shaking his head. “I don’t expect forgiveness. I don’t deserve it. But I’m asking for a chance a chance to show you that I’m not the same person I used to be. That I want to be better. For you.”Evelyn stared at him, her chest tightening. His words sounded sincere, but sincerity wasn’t enough. Trust wasn’t built overnight it took time, effort, consistency.“I don’t know if I can give you that chance,” she admitted quietly. “What you did… it changed me, Liam. It shaped the way I see the world, the way I see people. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to look at you without remembering the pain you caused.”

“I understand,” Liam replied, his shoulders slumping. “I don’t blame you for feeling that way. But please… don’t shut me out completely. Let me earn your trust, even if it takes years.”

They stood there in silence, the distance between them both physical and emotional. Evelyn wanted to walk away, to retreat into the safety of her bookstore where no one could hurt her. But something held her back a flicker of hope, however small, that maybe Liam truly had changed.Finally, she spoke.“Why now?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “Why reach out to me after all these years?”Liam hesitated, as if searching for the right words. “Because I saw you,” he said finally. “I saw how strong you’ve become, how beautiful your life is now. And I realized how much I ruined. You deserved happiness, Evelyn. Confidence. Dreams. And I took all of that away from you.”

Tears welled in Evelyn’s eyes, blurring her vision. She hated crying in front of him it felt like giving him power over her but she couldn’t stop herself.“You’re right,” she choked out. “You did ruin those things for me. But you didn’t just take my confidence or my dreams. You took my trust. My ability to believe in people. And I don’t know if I can get that back.”“I know,” Liam said, his own voice thick with emotion. “And I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to make up for it. Even if you never forgive me, I’ll never stop regretting what I did to you.”

The conversation ended there, with neither of them knowing what to say next. Evelyn turned and walked away, leaving Liam standing alone under the lamplight.As she climbed the stairs to her apartment, she felt torn. Part of her wanted to shut him out completely to protect herself from the pain he represented. But another part of her a deeper, quieter part wanted to believe in redemption. In the possibility that people could change.

That night, Evelyn sat at her kitchen table, staring at a blank sheet of paper. She picked up her pen and began writing slowly, letting her thoughts flow without overthinking them.

Dear Liam,

I don’t know where we go from here. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to forgive you or if I even should. Forgiveness isn’t something I can give lightly, not after everything you put me through.But I do believe in second chances. Not because I owe you one, but because everyone deserves the opportunity to grow, to learn, to become better.If we’re going to move forward, it has to be on my terms. Slowly. Carefully. No pressure, no expectations.Let’s see where this takes us.

Yours truly,

Evelyn

When she finished, she folded the letter neatly and placed it on the counter of the bookstore the next morning, knowing he would find it.

Over the following days, Evelyn waited anxiously for a response. Would Liam respect her boundaries? Or would he push too hard, too fast?Finally, a new letter appeared.

Dear Evelyn,

Thank you for giving me this chance. I won’t waste it. I’ll take things as slowly as you need, respecting every boundary you set. This isn’t about me it’s about you. About helping you heal, in whatever way I can.I’ll wait as long as it takes.

Yours always,

Liam

Evelyn read the letter three times, her heart pounding with each word. For the first time in years, she allowed herself to imagine what it might be like to trust someone again. To open her heart, even if it meant risking pain.But deep down, she knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy. Forgiveness wasn’t a switch you could flip; it was a journey filled with uncertainty and doubt.And Liam? He waited patiently, respecting her boundaries, giving her space to heal.Because he knew he would never deserve her forgiveness. But he hoped, against all odds, that someday she might give it anyway.

Do you think Evelyn is right to give Liam a second chance, even though it’s difficult and painful? Why or why not? Or Do you think Evelyn should continue communicating with Liam, even though it’s difficult and painful? Why or why not?

To Continue the Story CHAPTER 04