Chapter 8
I nearly choked up at the end of the sentence.
Jake paused and then reassured me. “I’ll be there in ten minutes. Don’t be afraid.”
His voice gave me a bit of courage. After hanging up, I steadied my pace and continued forward.
But the farther I went, the darker it became, and the fewer people I saw.
By the time I remembered to find a store for temporary cover, I had already passed the bustling commercial area and entered a quiet residential neighborhood.
The streetlights stretched our shadows, making it hard not to notice the figure following me.
At this point, it all depended on his mood.
He could enjoy my fear for a while, or he could strike right then and there.
I didn’t dare turn back, nor did I want to give up without a fight. I gathered all my courage and ran forward.
The person behind me also started running. We were physically unequal, and he soon caught up with me.
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When he grabbed me, I screamed with all the strength I had, “Help!”
He immediately covered my mouth, and I bit his hand, tasting the sharp, metallic flavor of blood.
“Ahh, it hurts. Amy, what are you doing? It’s me!”
Still shaking, I turned my head in disbelief. It was Luke.
Fear turned to anger in an instant. I broke free from his arms, slapping him hard across the face.
“Luke!” I snapped.
My voice was hoarse and tinged with raw emotion.
His cheek swelled, and blood dripped from his nose.
He said, “Amy, what are you doing? Why did you hit me?”
All my grievances burst as tears welled up uncontrollably.
I cried, “Do you even see what you’re doing?
“Following me for no reason, trying to amuse yourself at my expense?”
Luke didn’t see any fault in his actions.
He said, “I wasn’t teasing you. I saw that the place you’re living
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in recently isn’t safe, and I wanted to protect you.
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“If you didn’t want to see me, I had no choice but to follow you. You don’t appreciate it, but why take your anger out on me?”
I panted as I listened to his unreasonable excuses, and I couldn’t help but laugh, though the laughter quickly turned into sobs.
He would never understand the struggles women face.
Lost in self–pity and a desire to rescue me, he thought he was doing something good.
He couldn’t see my pain, disillusionment, and rejection.
After laughing enough, I stood up straight and stared at him.
If the words I spoke at the hospital weren’t enough, this would be the final time to make him wake up.
I said, “Luke, on what grounds do you think I need your protection?
“Since the day I almost died in the delivery room, I didn’t need you anymore.
“To put it more bluntly, I don’t love you anymore.”
Luke was shocked. His entire face stiffened.
I continued, “Your salary is lower than mine. You’re lazy with the housework, and you never understood me during my
“I was foolish back then, thinking I could live well without your mental support, but you didn’t even want to give me love.”
I pulled out the screenshots and held them in front of him.
I said, “Even now, you’re still weighing me against Jessica, choosing which one is more profitable.
“Why should I love a selfish and incompetent man like you?”
I laid bare all his inadequacies and calculations.
He staggered back, collapsing to the ground.
He avoided my gaze and stammered, “Amy, I was wrong. Please give me another chance. I promise I’ll change.
“I know I have many flaws, but I want to be loved.”
He covered his face with both hands, breaking down in tears.
I watched him, expressionless, as everything he had used to deceive himself shattered before my eyes.
I said indifferently, “I’m not obligated to wait for you.
“If you still want to salvage a bit of dignity and grace, how about signing the divorce papers now and letting us both go?”
Luke sobbed uncontrollably, like a boy who had just become
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aware of the world.
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In the end, he signed the divorce agreement, his face pale as he disappeared from my sight.
It was then that Jake appeared from the corner.
He said, “Congratulations on your divorce, and welcome to the world of singles.”
I glanced at him sideways. “Is this what you meant by ten minutes?”
He didn’t feel guilty. “I arrived in ten minutes. When I saw you slap him, I didn’t come over.
“I believe that since you’re so excellent at your work, you can also handle your personal matters.
“If anything happens, I can make sure I get to you before any danger.”
I felt somewhat comforted, as he respected my privacy but also cared about my safely.
Had Luke run into him, with their instinctive male competitive drive, the divorce might not have been as smooth.
I said, “Thank you. As a return gift, let me give you something.”
Jake smiled, “I didn’t do anything.
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“If you really want to thank me, send me a proposal.”
I immediately returned to work mode. “That’s not possible. Work is work, and this is one thing I won’t budge on.”
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He laughed heartily and invited me into the car. “Not bad. This is the Amy I know. The jokes are over. Let’s go. I’ll take you home.”
Luke kept his promise and disappeared from my life.
Two years abroad passed smoothly. Jake and I returned as planned.
At the celebration dinner for our return, our colleagues teased us as the best team, and we were showered with streamers.
He smiled without saying anything, even going along with everyone’s teasing and playing a cup game with me.
As we shared a taxi home, I asked him, “Weren’t you all about the single life? Why are you acting so open today?”
He stared at me and removed the streamers from my hair.
He said, “I used to not believe in love, but after drifting for so long, I found a port I want to stay in.
“What about you? After all this, do you still want to establish a close relationship with someone?”
I tilted my head, thinking for a moment. “I haven’t decided. I’ll
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go with the flow.”
He smiled softly, “Then do I have a chance?”
I didn’t respond, but my heartbeat quickened.
Time would give us the answer.
