Chapter 12%
In the middle of our conversation, my mother’s teasing voice came through the phone.) “So, how is Ryan now? Are you immediately interested in him?“X
I groaned. “Mom, I already told you–I want to get to know him first. Don’t push it.”
That was the promise I had made to her.
Even though Ryan and I had known each other since childhood, I could not imagine jumping into marriage with him so suddenly Not when there was still a fraction of Leo lingering in my mind.
My mother sighed dramatically. “Jocelyn, love will come after marriage. Trust me
I rolled my eyes. “You always say that.”
Because that was her story–how she and my father had come to love each other!!
My father had fallen first, completely devoted to her from the start, even when my mother had no intention of marrying because she had been focused on her career!!
But my father had been persistent and supportive. So, in the end, she had given
Ryan’s mother had been the first to get pregnant, and my mother had followed two o years later–only after she had truly given her heart to my father
Their love had been built over time, not at first sight. But I was not sure I could do the same.
“Mom,” I sighed, “not every love story has to be like yours.”
She laughed softly. “Okay, okay, I just hope you feel at home there. If you need anything, you do know who to go to, right?“)
I rolled onto my back, staring at the ceiling. “Ryan, right?“%
“Bingol” she chirped. “It’s late over there, isn’t it? Good night, sweetheart”
I smiled despite myself. “Night, Mom.”
Ryan had been acting strange all moming.
During breakfast, he kept smirking at me like he was up to something, but when I asked, he only hummed in amusement. Then, just as we were about to head outside, he suddenly stepped behind me, placing his hands over my eyes
“Ryan! What are you doing?” I yelped, instinctively grabbing his wrists.)
“Relax” he chuckled. “It’s a surprise.“%
Thuffed, “What kind of surprise requires me to be blindfolded?
“You’ll find out in a second,” he said playfully. “Now, walk forward Slowly
I followed his lead, feeling the warm moming breeze as we stepped outside!
“What if I trip and fall? I swear, Ryan, if I hit a wall
“You won’t” he said, amused. “I’ve got you.”
After a few more cautious steps, Ryan stopped me.
“Alright, on the count of three. I’ll let go.
I exhaled, half nervous, half excited
“Three two. one. I
The moment his hands lifted from my eyes, I blinked against the sunlight, my vision adjusting, and then I saw it
A sleek, brand–new car parked right in front of me. The exact model I had once casually mentioned wanting.
My mouth dropped open, “Is this….7′′X
“A graduation gift” Ryan said simply.
For a second, I was speechless.
Then, without thinking, I turned and launched myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck
“Ryan! Oh my Godd
He laughed, steadying me as I practically bounced in excitement
“I take it you like it?” he teased.
“Like it? I love it!
Ryan handed me the keys, then walked to the passenger side, casually opening the door and slipping in.!!
“I’ll be your passenger princess today” he said with a smirk. “Drive so you can get used to it,”
I grinned, opening the driver’s side. “Sure,” I said, sliding in. “But fasten your seatbelt–because I won’t be driving slow.”
Ryan chuckled, buckling up. “Bring it on, Jocelyn”
That day, we drove everywhere
From the university campus to the mall, to Melbourne’s famous tourist spots
For hours, we laughed, talked, and explored like carefree kids again.
From the university campus to the mall, to Melbourne’s famous tourist spots.
For hours, we laughed, talked, and explored like carefree kids again i
And for the first time in a long time, I forgot about Leo.
For a moment, Ryan was the only thing on my mind.
During that time, Leo finally discovered my letter
It needed him a full day after I had already left, since by the time he just returned from taking care of Sara at the hospital.
As he felt the apartment was eerily quiet, he started to look for me.
But as he walked into my room, he finally saw it. My belongings were gone!
The closet doors were left slightly ajar, revealing nothing but bare shelves. The faint scent of my perfume lingered, but there was no trace of me
And then, he saw the small envelope and a card he gave to me left on the nightstand as he came to his room.
The moment he opened it, his breath caught. A breakup letter.
By the time he reached the last line, something inside him snapped.&
“Not
The paper crumpled in his grip.X
His chest heaved, and without thinking, he tore the letter apart, the pieces fluttering to the floor like dead leaves.X
He pulled out his phone, his fingers moving fast as he dialed my number. But the call never went through
His hands clenched as he stared at the screen.”
Blocked.X
A sinking realization settled in. “Since when?” he muttered, gripping his phone tighter.
His mind raced, trying to piece together every moment I had avoided him, every time I had responded to his touch with cold indifference.
I had been pulling away, and he had been too arrogant to notice.
Slamming his phone down onto the table, Leo ran a hand through his hair, his breathing uneven.
He refused to believe this was the end.
Picking up his phone again, he called his secretary
“Find someone for me, he ordered, his voice rough, desperate. “But don’t let my parents know
“Yes, sir.”
Leo exhaled, forcing himself to think rationally.X
He glanced at the bank card I had left behind. The amount of money he had given me was still untouched
That realization sent him spiraling even deeper
“What was the reason, Lucy?” he whispered to himself, his voice hoarse.”
He thought everything had been fine. He had assumed I had forgiven him.X
And yet, I had left him without him even realizing
Before he could get an update from his secretary, his parents had come to the apartment.
Leo’s expression darkened the moment he saw them. They finally dared to come to his sanctuary
His father stepped inside first, exuding authority. “Go back home. Your playing time is over”
Leo sat on the couch, beer in hand, his knuckles white around the bottle.
His mother sighed when she saw his state. She strode over, snatching the drink from his grasp
“Yes, Leo,” she said firmly. “You’re getting married soon. You should be at the Manor, preparing for your future.”
But Leo barely only muttered silently, shaking his head, “No, I’m staying here.”
He continued in his heart, ‘So that if she comes back. I have to be here.
12
