Everyone started chanting “Say yes! Say yes!“]
Even my parents were getting all teary–eyed.[]
“Lorraine, sweetie, Arthur really does loves you. You two are gonna be so happy together.“]
Nobody gave a damn about how badly I’d been hurt before.[]
Arthur was basically emotionally blackmailing me, getting down on one knee in front of all the family elders and refusing to get up.
I let out a long sigh and shook my head.]]
“Why are you embarrassing yourself like this in front of everyone?”
I couldn’t understand his logic.
When I was desperate to marry him, he treated me like garbage.]
Now that I’d moved on like he wanted, he was making this huge scene.]]
He lowered his voice to respond.
“Lorraine, everything before was totally my fault. I realize how wrong I was. I’ll never let Cynthia mess with us again. Just give me one more chance. I want everyone to witness our love.“]
Everyone started throwing Cynthia under the bus like they’d never been part of tearing me apart.
I couldn’t take it anymore and called out my parents, who were talking the most trash.
“You never believed your own daughter before, so why the hell are you putting on this show now?”
“If it wasn’t for the business deals, you wouldn’t give a shit where I am right now, would you?”
My mom panicked and started insisting they’d always loved me.[]
But in over twenty years, I’d never actually felt any love from my parents.]
I was more like a tool for the Omelas family–had to be perfect at everything, look flawless in public, and never have my own damn opinions.
They never once asked if I actually wanted that kind of life.]
“Give me a break. If you really gave a damn about me, you’d at least know I’m allergic to flowers.“]
Both my parents‘ faces changed, and they actually looked ashamed.[]
Arthur made me this a serious promise.[]
Chapter 12
“It doesn’t matter if your parents don’t love you. You’ll have me from now on, and I’ll give you everything.“]
“How fucking pathetic is that?” The words just flew out of my mouth.[]
Arthur froze completely, his eyes filling with tears.
He’d said the exact same thing when he confessed to me seven years ago.]]
But in the end, all I got was him openly favoring someone else.]
“You never wanted to love me anyway, and I don’t want it.“]
I turned to leave.
Arthur immediately jumped up and stumbled in front of me, his voice was choking up.
know I’ve fucked up so bad, but I swear I’ll spend the rest of my life making it right.“[]
“Trust me, from the very beginning I only wanted to marry you. Even without the fucking family business stuff, I would’ve chosen you.”
His tall frame was hunched over in front of me and looked at me so carefully, terrified of being rejected again.[]
After a long pause, I finally spoke.
“You’re probably the only one who believes that bullshit. I don’t care what’s in your head–I only believe what I’ve seen with my own eyes.”
“We’re completely done. Stop fucking messing with my life.“[]
Maybe he really did want to marry me.[]
But so what? He stili chose to mess around with Cynthia.[]
Even if he got played, he willingly ate up every lie she fed him.[]
All these years I kept giving in, and all it got me was them treating me like shit.
If he couldn’t pick me without hesitation, then what was the point of getting married?]
In my eyes, he was just like my parents.
When he tried to follow me again, I’d already called the community police.]
All those dozens of family and friends who wanted to speak for him got escorted off the property.
My parents still wouldn’t give up, saying they realized they were wrong.]
But that didn’t stop them from telling everyone they’d disowned me–their reputation mattered more than loving me.[]
Arthur finally stayed in London alone.
Chapter 12
I got a restraining order–he could only get within a certain distance of me, mostly just watching from way across the street.[]
We lived like that for a while, not interfering with each other.[]
Two weeks later, he texted me.]
“My visa’s about to expire, and my parents won’t let me apply for a green card. I have to leave.“[]
The Espersons only had one heir, so they wouldn’t let him do whatever he wanted.[]
I felt this huge relief and said goodbye.[]
He desperately asked if I’d meet him at the airport one last time.[]
Against my better judgment, I actually went.[]
In the VIP lounge, I saw how exhausted he looked–he’d lost a lot of weight.]
He handed me a glass of water, then we sat in this awkward silence for a long time.[]
I finally broke the tension. “So how have you been lately?“]
He gave this bitter smile but didn’t really answer.
“You seem pretty happy here. Maybe I’ll come visit you again sometime.“[]
I just said “oh” flatly, but shut that down pretty quick.]
“Actually, don’t. You shouldn’t come back.“]]
He hung his head and started talking like he was talking to himself.
“On the wedding day, Cynthia was the one who ran up to me first. I didn’t realize it.“[]
“I thought you’d jump in to stop and get jealous.“[]
He glanced at me, looking so regretful.]
But he didn’t finish whatever he was gonna say.[]
I kept quiet too, didn’t respond to any of it.]
He probably never expected that one stupid moment would change everything.
They announced his boarding call.
I watched him walk away, remembering all the times I’d watched him leave like this before.
But from now on, I just wanted to focus on loving myself.
I’d been running from myself for so long that Ha
Chapter 17
Time to figure that out. []
The London College of Fashion offered part–time courses in jewelry design. Within a week, I’d enrolled in their advanced program.[]
My natural talent surprised even me. Within months, my collection “Phoenix Rising” was getting noticed by galleries.[]
That’s when I met Jasper Hale and back to New York.]
Green eyes, perfect suit, dangerous smile. He owned a jewelry company and had been following my work.[]
“I’d love to discuss a collaboration,” he said, his handshake lingering just a beat too long.
I should have said no. Instead, I heard myself saying, “I’d like that.“]
Over the next few months, Jasper became my constant companion. He’d bring me lunch when I was working late, surprise me with flowers on random Tuesday afternoons, take me to galleries and museums where we’d spend hours discussing art and design.
He made me feel brilliant and beautiful and worthy of love.
Jasper was persistent in the most intoxicating way. After asking me out seventeen times, I finally said yes.
I thought I’d finally found my happily ever after.[]
I thought I’d learned to recognize real love.
I was wrong.]
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