Chapter 39 The Final Farewell
“You found time to meet me–did Maverick wake up?”
Yrian’s tone was as gentle as ever when he spoke to me.
I nodded. “Yeah, he’s awake.”
I slid the plate of cut steak toward him. “You always used to cut my steak for me–so let me return the favor today.”
Yrian didn’t refuse. He quietly ate the beef in front of him.
After a long pause, he looked up at me. “Are you here to say goodbye, Stephie?”
Yrian was always clear–headed and composed. In all the years I’d known him, I’d never seen him lose control.
His emotions were steady–even when I’d called off our wedding. Even now, meeting me again, his attitude remained just as tender.
Feeling a pang in my heart, I lowered my head and kept cutting the steak.
“Yrian, thank you for taking care of me all this time. You’re a good man. You’ll meet someone better than me -someone who knows how to love you the way you deserve to be loved. Also, please apologize to your parents and grandfather for me. I’ve let them down.”
“I understand. You don’t have to apologize. If my mother hadn’t pressured you into marrying me that day, we probably wouldn’t have made it to the altar in the first place. So, Stephie, you don’t owe me any apologies.”
Yrian forced a smile, then turned to look out the window.
See? That’s the typical Yrian. No matter what happened, he never blamed me.
But the more he acted like this, the guiltier I felt.
“Stephie, the sunset is beautiful tonight.”
The sun was setting, and the sky really was stunning–streaked with hues of twilight.
We sat there in silence, listening to the melancholic music overhead, watching the painted sky outside, for what felt like an eternity.
As always, Yrian walked me home after dinner.
Before heading upstairs, I pulled a resignation letter from my bag and handed it to him.
“Can you give this to your brother for me?”
“You’re quitting?”
Yrian looked surprised. “Stephie, you don’t have to resign because of me. My brother keeps work and personal matters separate.”
“No, it’s not that. I just don’t plan to stay here anymore.”
In the end, I told him. Yrian was my closest friend, and I wanted him to know so I could leave with a clear
1/3
10:12 PM
Chapter 39 The Final Farewell
+5 Free Coins
conscience.
“You’re leaving the city? Where will you go?”
“Probably back to my hometown.”
We weren’t locals. I’d grown up in a small, remote town.
Later, my father moved here for business, and when his company took off, he brought me to the city.
That was how I met Maverick, Yrian, Mabel, and Reagan.
I’d experienced everything–the good and the bad.
Now, there was no one left in this city worth staying for. It was time to go.
I missed that little town–the quiet streets, the sparse houses.
But there were so many trees, so many flowers, the air was clean, and I loved the peace of it.
Yrian was silent for a long time before finally taking the resignation letter.
“I respect your decision.”
Then he asked, “If I ever need a break, can I come find you?”
“Of course.”
I gave hirn a bright smile. “You’re always welcome.”
That night, after getting home, I got a call from Maverick.
“Stephie, where are you?
“Are you feeling better?”
Hearing Maverick’s voice finally eased some of the tension in my chest.
“No, not at all. I woke up and you weren’t there. I waited all day, and you never came. Everyone else visited- why didn’t you?”
Maverick’s words, his tone–they mirrored exactly what I’d once said to him.
Funny how things had changed. Now he’d become who I used to be–and I’d turned into the person he once
was.
“I had work, so I left.”
I lied. There was no point in honesty now.
Anyway, I wasn’t planning to see him again–so what I said didn’t really matter.
“What about after work? Why didn’t you come then?”
Maverick sounded like a child, relentless with his questions.
“I was too tired after work, and I needed to rest.”
2/3
+5 Free Coins
Chapter 39 The Final Farewell
I answered Maverick patiently while scrolling through the website on my computer.
I’d already picked my ticket–the earliest flight tomorrow. Soon, I’d be leaving this city that had brought me
so much heartbreak.
But Maverick didn’t know. And I wouldn’t tell him.
“How about tomorrow? Will you come see me tomorrow, Stephie? I miss you, I really miss you.”
Maverick was pleading now, his voice raw with longing.
I could tell he really wanted to see me.
But I didn’t want to see him anymore.
“I have work tomorrow. I’ll visit when I have time.”
“Really?”
He sounded doubtful. “Then I’ll wait for you.”
“It’s late now, get some rest. Goodbye, Maverick.”
I hung up, hovered the cursor over the confirmation button, and booked the flight.
I was leaving, and I wasn’t coming back.
Mabel had already left for her honeymoon. I’d seen her post on Facebook about it.
She said she was traveling the world, having a honeymoon on the go, and would be off the grid for three months.
I envied her. Her love was simple, but it was happy.
Mine had been passionate, dramatic–and in the end, tragic.
