Chapter 24
“You’ve been losing sleep these past few nights… Were you afraid I’d run off with Ben?”
Summer’s playful tone made Caleb Stone flush red.
She watched his reaction with amusement and feigned grievance.
“But what can I do? Ben has a girlfriend now. He doesn’t want me anymore. He came back this time
just to see me one last time and say goodbye.”
Caleb looked at her in shock, then suddenly lit up inside.
He even let out a soft breath of relief.
“His girlfriend? Where is she? Why didn’t he bring her around?”
Summer arched her brow, teasing, “Why are you so interested in another man’s wife? What, am I
not living up to your standards? Got complaints about me now?”
“No! Absolutely not!” Caleb blurted out, quickly pulling her into his arms.
Summer chuckled and dropped the teasing.
They had dinner together, then took a walk along the riverbank.
For the first time in a long while, they both felt completely at ease.
The breeze was gentle, as if it had carried away all the heaviness from Summer’s heart.
She shared stories about her past with Wilder–things she had never dared to speak of before.
With each memory she told, it was as though she were turning a page in her life.
Those once–painful memories, now, were just fragmented echoes.
What Summer wanted most was to thank Caleb.
It was him who had helped her walk out of that painful, unending tunnel.
If not for him, she might have died in that doomed love story.
Suddenly, she stopped walking and looked at him seriously.
“Caleb… let’s get married.”
He froze in place, stunned—but then quickly nodded without even thinking.
Summer smiled and rose on tiptoe to kiss his lips.
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This time, it was just the two of them.
No witnesses.
No grand speeches about love.
All she ever wanted was something simple.
A quiet, steady life..
Just a bowl of soup, a plate of stir–fry, a modest home—
Just one person, and a little world they could call their own.
Caleb said nothing for a long while.
Then suddenly wrapped his arms tightly around her.
No one knew how long he had waited for this moment.
From the first time he saw her-
From the moment she reached out and said her name-
He had been locked on her, unable to look away.
She told him once that she was married, that she had someone who loved her.
He had been disappointed, but he also thought-
A woman like her deserved to be cherished.
Only later did he learn that the man she loved never treated her right.
Caleb had been angry.
But somewhere deep down, he had also felt hope.
Maybe… just maybe, that meant he’d get a chance.
His love for her didn’t need words.
He just wanted to show it through his actions.
He rearranged his work schedule.
Finished everything early.
Then he and Summer traveled across several countries.
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And finally, in the city they both loved most, they held a small, private wedding ceremony.
Summer sent Ben Carter a postcard.
She also texted him dozens of photos-
Most of them were of her in her wedding dress, radiant and smiling.
He hadn’t seen her this happy in a long time.
Ben had a wall covered with photos of her.
These new ones joined the rest.
At his feet, a corgi barked and nudged him for attention.
“Girlfriend, you’ve had way too many bones today. Aren’t you worried about bursting your little belly?”
The corgi wagged her tail, whining and begging for more.
Ben chuckled and tossed her another one.
He never told Summer-
His girlfriend was a dog.
Chapter 24
