Chapter 12
That night, I went home.
A few days later, I met with my professor privately to say goodbye and discuss future opportunities.[]
Once everything was settled, once I had a clear plan, I let go of the past completely.[]
I didn’t have time to think about anything else. I spent my days looking for a house, setting up a dance studio, and finalizing every detail of the move.
For a month, I worked tirelessly.[]
Finally, I boarded the plane with my parents without any hesitation.[]
As the plane took off, my parents could not hide their excitement. Their long–cherished dream of retiring in a warm, peaceful place was about to become a reality.[
From now on, their lives would be full of comfort and Goll:
And I
I would make sure they had no worries.]]
[Leo Sullivan sent you a friend request. 1
[Verification message: Where have you been? ]]
[Verification message: I heard that you moved. That can’t be true? –
[Verification message: Please accept my request…]]
I felt annoyed.
I blocked him without hesitation.[]
Thirty minutes later, my mom hesitated and handed me the phone.
“It’s Linda,” she whispered, looking conflicted.]
Of course.]
Leo called from his mom’s phone.
ar.]
I sighed and answered, pressing the phone to my ear.
“My mom said you moved. That can’t be true, right?“[]
His voice was so familiar yet so distant that it felt like a ghost from another world.[]
There was an eager urgency in his tone, as if he needed me to deny it.[]
“You lived there for decades,” he added quickly, as if reasoning with himself. “And, my mom and your mom–aren’t they supposed to be best friends for life?[]
“This has to be a misunderstanding? Maybe you were just traveling?”
I kept my voice calm. “There’s no misunderstanding. We moved. ”
I didn’t go into detail.]
I didn’t tell him that we were currently renting and that our new home was being renovated. We would settle in before the holidays.[]
None of this mattered to him.[]
So I told him nothing.]
TAM BAP th This Neverbur My literad State His Fmoniya To Calin Mo!
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Chapter 12
There was silence between us.[]
I thought he might have
up.0
“Then I’ll hang up now,” I said calmly.
“Wait a minute-“)
He stuttered the word twice, his voice, small and almost hesitant.]
“That night, about Leila…” He hesitated, thened, “I apologized in the group chat. You didn’t respond–didn’t you see it?”
Of course, I saw it.]
The moment I posted the recording, the group that explo
People called him out.
The pressure forced him to tag me and write some forced apology.
He even mentioned buying me a gift to make amends and promised that we would talk in person.[]
I ignored it.
Now, he asked me directly, and I simply responded, “I saw it.“]
Before he could say anything else, I asked, “Anything else?”
Leo was silent.
I could almost hear the disappointment in his breath.[]
He was used to me filling the silence, used to me always being the first to bridge the gap between
But I wasn’t that girl anymore.]]
After a long silence, he finally spoke.]
- 115.
“Are you still mad at Layla?” His tone changed–gentle, almost coaxing. “I know you made up that boyfriend thing just to piss me off. Now, moving away–it’s just another way to get back at me, right?”
I didn’t answer.
“Chloe, I thought about this while you were gone. Layla was just… a fleeting thing. She wasn’t important. But you–“[]
“Leo.”
I interrupted him, my voice calm. Unwavering.
“Aren’t we just ‘temporary partners“?”
Silence
“I hope you can find someone better,” I said softly, as if we were just acquaintances who had just broken up.
“But don’t contact me again.” ”
Before he could answer, I added, “It’s funny, isn’t it? You deleted me without hesitation when you saw fit. But now, all of a sudden, you can’t seem to let go.“]
I let the words sink in, then delivered one final blow.[]
“It’s exhausting ”
With that, I hung up
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Chapter 13
Chapter 13
I wasn’t sure if it was retirement or the warm climate, but my parents looked healthier than they had in years.
If it weren’t for the need to finalize the paperwork for our old home, they probably wouldn’t have wanted to return at all.]
“I can handle it myself,” I said, flipping through a stack of documents. “I’ll take care of everything.“[]
My parents exchanged a look.
“No, we’ll come with you,” my mom decided. “Besides, the Sullivans invited us over for a pre–New Year gathering. We’ll have dinner, wrap things up, and still make it back in time for New Year’s Eve.“]]
It had been nearly six months since I last saw Leo.]
Funny–once upon a time, I thought I couldn’t
without him.
Turns out, I could.
Chloe, you’re here! You look even more beautiful!“]]
Mrs. Sullivan greeted me with her usual warmth, grabbing my hands the moment I walked in.[]
“Look at you, so graceful! You’ve always carried yourself so well–confident, elegant, just like a real lady.“||
I smiled, polite but distant.]
Leo, however, was a stark contrast to his mother’s enthusiasm.]
For the first time, he looked… uneasy.
He stood a few steps behind her, dressed in a simple white shirt, his hands stuffed into his pockets.[]
When he finally spoke, his voice was hesitant, careful. Chloe, you’ve lost weight. Have you been overworking yourself?”
I could see the concern in his eyes, reflecting my own image–still radiant, still composed.
I returned his gaze briefly, then let my eyes drop. “Not really. I’ve just been mindful of my diet.‘
Dinner passed in a blur of small talk and reminiscing.
Wine flowed, old friendships rekindled, and emotions ran high.[]
Mrs. Sullivan clutched my mother’s hand, tears pooling in her eyes.[]
And then, the conversation shifted.
“D
“Melanie,” she said, her voice thick with emotion, “you know how much I adore Chloe. I’ve always thought of her as my own daughter.“[]
She took a deep breath, lowering her voice slightly.[]
“That girl, Layla… She was never good for Leo. From the start, she manipulated him. Back in college, she knew he had a crush on her, so she played hard to get, left the country, waiting for him to chase after her.”
Mrs. Sullivan scoffed, shaking her head. “But he didn’t. He stayed, graduated, and built a life–with Chloe.“[]
She paused, squeezing my mother’s hand.[]
Then she came back, jealous, scheming. And well, you know how that ended.“[]
Her chuckle was bitter.[]
They say the best hunters disguise themselves as prey.“[]
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Chapter 13
She glanced at Leo. “And my son walked right into it.“]
Leo stiffened.
“But at least he knows now,” she continued, waving a hand. “After you left, he drank himself sick–ended up in the hospital with a bleeding ulcer, calling your name in his sleep.“]
She sighed dramatically.[]
“But it’s not too late. Neither of you are married yet. There’s still a chance.”
Then, she gestured at Leo.“Go on, apologize to Chloe.“]
Leo stepped forward, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed.[]
His features were still sharp, still devastatingly handsome, but there was something different now–a certain weariness, a weight he hadn’t carried before.
His voice was hoarse.
“Chloe… I messed up. I never appreciated you the way I should have. I—“|
–
Mrs. Sullivan,” I interrupted, turning toward her with a bright smile. “I actually have a boyfriend now.”
Silence.
Leo froze.]
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3AM Betrayal With The Neighbor My Childhood Stule Hia Exentre 74 Claim Me!
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Chapter 14
Mrs. Sullivan’s expression stiffened as she darted a glance at her son.[]
I continued smoothly, “He’s wonderful. Kind, considerate… He treats me better than I could have ever imagined.”
I smiled. “I’ll make sure to introduce him next time.”
Mrs. Sullivan looked heartbroken.]
Leo, however, looked like he had just been punched in the gut.]
“No. That’s not possible.”
His voice cracked.]
He shook his head, almost desperately.
We–We always said we’d get married. Remember? We promised each other when we were kids–when we promised each other, you were always the mom, and I was always the dad. We-“]
His voice faltered, his composure unraveling.
“We spent almost a year together, Chloe. We were happy. You can’t tell me that didn’t mean anything.”[]
His voice was raw, thick with something close to pleading.
“We were so close to getting married, weren’t we?“[]
His control slipped entirely, his breath uneven.[]
Tell me you’re just saying this to get back at me. Tell me you don’t mean it.“[]
My father slammed his hand onto the table.
“Are you implying my daughter is lying? That our entire family is lying to you?”
He glared at Leo, his voice thundering with disapproval. “Quinn is a good man. He’s respectful, mature. Chloe only recently agreed to date him, but we already see them going far.”
I quickly moved to my father’s side, placing a hand over his chest, calming him down.[]
Then, I looked at Leo, my voice steady.
“Leo, stop bringing up childhood promises. We were just kids. Those weren’t real commitments.”
I held his gaze.
“You said that yourself. Have you forgotten?“]]
The dinner ended on a sour note.
By the time we stepped outside, snow had begun to fall, soft and silent.]
I had just climbed into the car when I saw him.]
Leo stood in the cold, his frame slightly hunched, his breath visible in the winter air]
His eyes were red, locked onto mine.[]
“I was a fool,” he whispered. “I was stupid and reckless. I didn’t realize what I had until it was gone.”
His voice trembled.]
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“Please, Chloe. Just one more chance.”
Before I could respond, my attention was drawn to another figure under the streetlamp.
Tall, poised, his dark hair dusted with snowflakes.
Quinn.
My breath hitched slightly.
He had been in meetings late into the night, yet somehow, he had caught a flight just to be here.
For me.
“You once said the first snowfall should be shared with the person you love.“]
His lips curled into a small smile. “So, I came.‘
:“0
Warmth bloomed in my chest.[]
Last night, I had thrown that line out as a passing joke.[]
Yet here he was, standing in the snow, just to fulfill a fleeting wish.[]
He reached for my hand, brushing his fingers over my furrowed brow.
“You’re frowning.” His voice was gentle. “What’s wrong?“]
I shook my head. “Nothing.“]]
Quinn turned toward my parents, bowing slightly. “Mr. and Mrs.Sullivan I haven’t had anything to drink. I’ll drive.“]]
The scene was so warm, so effortlessly natural, that for a moment, we all forgot Leo was still standing there.
He watched, motionless, his expression unreadable.
And then, in a voice so quiet it was almost lost to the wind, he murmured-[]
“I’m sorry.“]
Maybe he thought I didn’t hear him.
But I did.
And in my heart, I whispered back-
“It’s okay.”
Not for my sake.
me.[]
But for the boy he used to be–the one who, once upon a time, truly cherished me.
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