emotions.
“You should have seen what was on the table.
I wish you and Anya happiness. Don’t call me again.”
“Are you crazy? Katie, work is exhausting. I don’t have time to always appease you. Anya didn’t even hold your previous offense against you; yet you’re pushing it.”
I frowned, “Mr. Collins, you can read, right?
“The engagement ring is in the envelope. We’re over.”
I heard him sigh on the other end; he sounded
tired.
“Katie, I’ve given you an out, don’t test my patience. After this call, I won’t call again.” I scoffed. I’d been so insignificant to him; I should have been grateful for the “out” he
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offered.
“So you…”
I hung up before he finished.
Moments later, I received a text.
[Since you want a getaway, be careful. But
Katie Summer, you have to tell me where you
are.]
[Be good, don’t worry me.]
Disgusting.
I blocked the number.
If it weren’t for this number being used for so
long, connected to friends and colleagues, I would’ve canceled it the day I left the
country.
A few days later, a friend called, saying Chad was looking for me.
He’d gone crazy, calling everyone connected
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to me.
I found it amusing; if he’d checked my
company, he would have known I’d gone
abroad.
But he didn’t; he didn’t even know where I
worked.
Because my job was inconsequential to him. But besides those friends, few knew I’d left. I told her to ignore him.
But Chad’s friend called, urgently, “Sister–in- law, Chad was in a car accident. It’s serious. “He’s in the hospital; come quickly!”
My heart tightened. “Go find your little sister- in–law.
“Chad and I broke up; his problems are none of my concern.”
I loved Chad and respected his friends; I
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treated them sincerely.
But they deceived me, laughed at me.
They played with me.
The person on the other end stuttered.
“Sister… sister–in–law, I was joking.
“You used to value Chad more than your life. I know you’re still angry, but take this
opportunity to make peace; it’s over.”
- it.
He spoke presumptuously, as if I should be
grateful for this chance.
“Mark,” I calmly said, “He canceled the
engagement to appease Anya. We broke up, and I have a new boyfriend.”
“Impossible,” he blurted out, “Everyone knows you’re Chad’s…” he corrected himself, “…I
didn’t mean that.”
He realized his mistake.
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“Katie, I… I didn’t mean anything by it.”
I laughed, casually finishing his unfinished
sentence. “Everyone knows I’m Chad’s
lapdog. So he cheated with impunity, and you
all tolerated it, deceiving me together?”
A loud crash came from the other end, like
something shattering.
“Come or don’t! Don’t ever come back.”
It was Chad’s voice.
Mark tried to calm him, “Chad, don’t get
worked up. Katie’s just angry; she always
makes up with you.”
“Tell her, if she doesn’t come back tomorrow,
she’ll never come back.
“I can forgive her once, twice, but too many
times is unappreciative.”
“Chad, don’t be angry. Summer just wants
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you to care more about her.”
I laughed, “Can’t you understand plain
language?”
I told Mark, “Check my Instagram.”
6
My Instagram showed a picture of me with a
blond, blue–eyed, handsome colleague. He
was cold–looking, but his personality was
warm.
“Katie Summer, you dare!”
Chad’s face turned dark.
Anya tried to comfort him, but he pushed her
away.
He realized something and said softly, with Anya staring at him, “It’s late. Go rest.”
The photo of me and my colleague, smiling brightly, haunted him.
Katie Summer you’re bold! Don’t come
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Katie Summer, you’re bold! Don’t come
crawling back!
He asked Mark to discharge him.
“Chad, your wounds aren’t healed.”
“I’ll live.”
He’d had a car accident, just not as serious as they said.
Chad changed clothes, Katie Summer, you’ll regret this.
He had my card canceled.
In his mind, my job was inconsequential, my earnings negligible, a way to pass the time. My entire existence was dependent on him. He’d given me a limitless credit card.
“Let’s see how you’ll live without me.”
But if he’d checked the ring and letter I left, he would’ve seen I hadn’t touched the card.
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he would’ve seen I hadn’t touched the card.
It was untouched.
My parents were the happiest since I came
abroad.
Finally, we were together again.
But the more they cared for me, the guiltier I felt.
I’d abandoned the parents who raised me for twenty years for a man.
I worked diligently.
I unexpectedly saw a familiar face–Finn-
abroad.
He was my client.
In the office, he was professional, as if he’d
never known me.
I did my job.
After the meeting, I saw them out. “Mr. Ford,
hawn a good day!!
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door, stepping closer. “Ms. Summer, you had
your fun and now you don’t recognize me?” He leaned close to my ear, his warm breath on my neck. “You called me Finn back then.” “You!” He clearly implied something back then.
The memories flooded back; his words filled me with shame and anger. I tried to hit him. He grabbed my hand, pulling it to his chest. His eyes fixed on mine.
“Why did you block me?”
His voice had a vulnerable quality–hurt and
defiant.
Why?
I remembered him leaving silently that day.
I said, “To relieve Mr. Ford’s worries. To avoid
you thinking I was clinging to you.”
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His intense gaze softened. He whispered,
“You were never a worry.
“Katie, I waited so long for you…”
I laughed. “Mr. Ford ran faster than a rabbit
that day.”
“Who ran?” He suddenly panicked. “I went to
buy you breakfast and came back to an
empty house!”
I was stunned. That was the reason?
“You really pissed me off.”
I was speechless.
His eyes were red as he asked, “Who’s the
guy in your Instagram post?”
He could still see my Instagram, even though
I’d blocked him.
Finn saw my question, “I saw it when Sarah was scrolling.”
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