Chapter 10
He looked up, and the second our eyes met, his smile froze midair.
He shot to his feet, practically sprinted over, and started signing in a panic: “Patricia’s heel broke. I just happened to be nearby, so I brought her here to get new shoes. Her dress is super tight, so it’s not easy for her to bend down. I was just helping her out…”
I shook my head and signed back, calm and steady.”
“You don’t have to explain. We’re already over.”
He stared at me, completely thrown. “Elise, when did we break up? We just argued yesterday–every couple fights! But breaking up over that? Isn’t that a little much?”
Clearly, he hadn’t gone home last night, so he never saw the note I left in the kitchen.
1 pulled my lips into a tight, almost mocking smile.
Then I took out my phone and opened the photo–the one of him kissing Patricia. “We’re already at this point. Let’s just end things on a decent note, okay? No need to make it ugly.”
We’d been together for five years. I didn’t want a public blowup if I could avoid it.”
He rushed to explain, voice earnest, eyes wide. “Last night, my friends dragged me to a party. It was just a game–truth or dare, that’s it! I didn’t even kiss her, it was just the camera angle. Elise, you have to believe me. I’d never do anything to hurt you!”
Jared kept trying to grab my hand, but I dodged him every time.
Patricia came over, her new shoes clicking on the tile. She was as gorgeous as ever, even though her neck was red with anger–a smug little smile still playing on her lips.
She gave me a breezy wave. “Elise, long time no see! If I’d known you’d get so worked up about this, I wouldn’t have played along.”
Juno didn’t hesitate for a second. “Seriously, Patricia? You knew he had a girlfriend and still had to get all cozy, and now you’re playing the innocent card? Is your family in the drama business or do you just grow tea leaves at home, because you’re the definition of ‘tea girl.”
Patricia’s face went from smug to crimson in a heartbeat.
I couldn’t help laughing, but I gave Juno’s sleeve a little tug, shaking my head.
It wasn’t worth it.”
If a relationship falls apart, the real blame isn’t with some outsider–it’s with the one who betrayed you. That’s who deserves it.
Juno wasn’t exactly quiet, so it didn’t take long for people to start staring, the whole mall buzzing with whispers. Jared’s face turned stormy as he grabbed my arm, trying to pull me away.
I shook him off and signed, sharp and clear: “I left you a note at home. We’re done. I’m not joking. I’ve already moved out.”
“Elise, are you seriously breaking up with me?”
J
Jared’s voice shot up, tight with anger–and, if you looked close, maybe even a hint
I nodded and glanced over at Patricia.
of
relief.
“You two look pretty good together. But don’t expect me to wish you happily ever after–I just can’t.“@
I signed one last time, then grabbed Juno’s hand and turned to go.
Jared blocked my way, desperate now, repeating again and again, “Elise, do you really want to end this? I never cheated on you. I only ever loved you. I promised I’d marry you–I’m not someone who goes back on his word. So, after all this, are you really leaving me?“}
i nodded. “I’ll never regret it.“2
09%
Five years together–gone, just like that.
It didn’t even hurt as much as I’d expected.
Maybe I was numb. Or maybe I just felt a little sick, realizing how blind I’d been to fall for someone so lacking in character.
Juno never left my side, always finding ways to cheer me up.
She’d known from the start that my lost voice was only temporary. She’d scolded me for making so many decisions for love, called me out for being love–crazy more than once. Back then, I thought it was just what you did for someone you cared about. Looking back, I can’t believe how naïve I was.
I stayed silent for five whole years, just to protect a man’s fragile ego.
And what did I get for it?
The second he was back to normal, he decided I wasn’t good enough anymore.
“Everyone’s got to be dumb about love at least once in their life,” Juno said. “But hey, you’re not as sharp as me–you went all in, got your heart stomped on, cried your eyes out, but you’ll move on. After a good night’s sleep, tomorrow is a new day
“Elise, you’re still young. Don’t waste another tear on someone so not worth it.”
Juno was genuinely trying to pull me out of it.
I nodded. “I’m working on it. And I swear, I’m not going to regret this.”
The days after the breakup were surprisingly calm.
Other than Juno popping by every now and then, I mostly hung out at the cottage with my grandpa. He seemed cold and tough, but more than once, when I got up for water in the middle of the night, I’d hear him quietly crying in his room across the hall.
I peeked in once. My mom’s photo was right by his pillow, like it was the most precious thing in the world.
Grandpa missed her so much.
Chapter 10
Sometimes he’d talk to me about love, about heartbreak.
“You take after your mom, you know–just as bad at picking men. But she did a little better than you. At least Aaron really loved her. But don’t worry. Once we go abroad, I’ll help you find as many boyfriends as you want, all of them better than Jared.”
He was dead serious–he’d already started calling people overseas about “finding me a new boyfriend.”
I quickly changed the subject to Grandma, hoping to distract him.
The second he talked about her, all his hard edges softened, and there was so much love in his eyes he couldn’t even hide it.
“She would’ve loved you, you know. You look just like your mother. When you meet her, be extra sweet, make her happy. She’s never had it rough in her life–the only thing she ever wanted was to see her daughter again… In the end, parents shouldn’t have to bury their children.”
He sighed, turning away to quietly wipe his tears.
He thought I didn’t see, but then he turned around and started cursing his “ungrateful daughter,” insisting he didn’t even miss her, that he’d forgotten what she looked like.
I just smiled at him–and got scolded for it.
“Just as foolish as your mother!”
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