Chapter 7
Chapter 7
After my parents left, it was just me, Kaden, and Harper.
I pointed at the door.
“You can leave too. I don’t want to see you ever again.”
Kaden’s eyes were swollen from crying.
In all our years together, I’d never seen him cry this much.
Were those tears real?
Was he actually sorry?
Maybe.
But what was the point?
Cora… I’m not giving up on you.”
That’s all he said before leaving too.
Watching him walk away, I felt this weird sense of déjà vu-like I was back to the first time we met. All that
ntense love I’d held onto for ten years, and it still ended up going nowhere.
Harper patted my shoulder.
This too shall pass.”
When one door closes, another opens. Maybe there’s someone even better waiting for you.”
nodded.
That evening, Harper and I went back to my parents’ house.
The smell of home cooking hit me the second we walked in.
Mom and Dad were still bustling around the kitchen. When they saw us come in, Mom immediately came over with a plate of fresh fried mozzarella sticks.
“Dinner’s almost ready. Made your favorite BBQ ribs and Harper’s favorite garlic butter salmon.”
14:49
Walgreens Noufled Me Alou His Plan 1o Dunechase
Howwadad Wim to ‘Plan Wankrintové
90.7%
Chapter 7
I let out a long breath.
Turns out everything wasn’t so bad after all.
I’d just lost the wrong person, while the people who loved me still loved me.
I still had a chance to start over.
After dinner, Harper and I decided to grab some drinks.
We found a random bar and ordered a whole bottle of wine.
Harper was leaning against me, getting tipsy.
It’s been forever since we hung out like this.”
Ever since you moved in with Kaden, you went full housewife mode-coming home from work thinking bout groceries and cooking instead of just chilling.”
Every time I wanted to grab drinks, you had ‘something to do.’ I knew you had to stay home with Kaden. He lidn’t like you going out with us.”
You changed so much for him. I worried you were gonna lose yourself.”
But now it’s good. Endings are new beginnings. Things are gonna get better.”
Harper squeezed my fingers like when we were kids.
My eyes welled up and I started crying.
Halfway through the wine, my stomach started doing flips. I stumbled to the bathroom and threw up everything.
Splashed water on my face at the sink, and when I opened my eyes, someone was holding out a tissue.
‘Cora, what are you doing here?”
That voice made me freeze.
I turned around and saw a familiar face.
“Mr. Blackstone…”
It was Damien Blackstone from the company I’d been working with.
“What a coincidence…”
14:49
Walgreens Notified Me About His Plan B. Purchase So 1 Upgraded Him to “Plan BankrupICV’
90.9%
Chapter 7
He nodded.
“Sure is. Which table are you at? Want to join us for a drink?”
At that point, I couldn’t really say no.
I brought him back to our booth. Harper’s eyes instantly went wide.
“Where’d you find this hottie?”
I shot her a look.
‘He’s the director I work with.”
He politely extended his hand to Harper.
Nice to meet you.”
We ended up drinking together for the next two hours.
Games, music-time flew by.
Damien could really hold his liquor-still looked completely sober by the end.
He even called a rideshare to take me and Harper home.
The car stopped outside my building. Harper stumbled out first.
But Damien grabbed my arm.
I need to talk to you.”
waved for Harper to go up without me.
Sitting in the car, my head was spinning like I was floating underwater,
‘Cora, why didn’t you come to the meeting last week?”
‘Mr. Blackstone, I got transferred off the project…”
I was getting annoyed. Why was he talking work right now?
“You requested the transfer?”
I nodded groggily,
14:49
Walgreens Nouified Me About His Plan B’ Purchase… So I Upgraded Him to ‘Plan Bankruptcy’
91.1%
Chapter 7
I’d been working on this project for six months and gotten pretty attached to it.
Normally, I would’ve seen it through to the end.
The only reason I requested a transfer… was because I could tell Damien was interested in me.
Every time a meeting ended, he’d drive me home.
If I yawned during meetings, he’d have his assistant get coffee for everyone.
When I posted about having a fever on Instagram, he immediately had medicine delivered.
I was an adult. When someone showed me that kind of attention, I knew what it meant.
But I wasn’t like Kaden. When I was with someone, I wouldn’t let myself get distracted for even a second.
Love should be all or nothing.
So I requested the transfer.
‘Cora, say something.”
14:49
Walgreens Notified Me About His Plan B Purchase… So I Upgraded Him to Plan Bankruptcy
91.2
