Chapter 8
to someone else?”
“Seriously? I wasn’t even gone five minutes and you’re already cozying up to
“Did you
cheat on me while we were together? Otherwise, how could you move on so quickly?”
I answered slowly, “That’s none of your business.”
“Just remember this,” I said with a cold voice, “no matter who I’m with, I will never be with you.”
With that, I hung up, letting Gavin scream and rant on the other end of the line.
Maybe the Instagram post had really stung him, because he went silent for a long time and didn’t show up in front of me again.
Mfocused on my research and ended up publishing a paper in a top–tier journal. I also won an award for my academic achievements.
When my professor heard the news, he clapped me on the back, looking very pleased.
“Vera, I knew you had a talent for this. You were born for academic research. When you left because of your marriage, I was so disappointed and heartbroken, but I couldn’t do anything about it. I’m just glad you’re back.”
I didn’t say anything, just smiled and nodded in agreement.
At our graduation ceremony that year, I was the obvious choice to give the valedictorian speech.
The auditorium erupted in applause when I finished.
Then the spotlight suddenly swung to one corner of the room, drawing gasps from the crowd. I turned–and there was Gavin.
Dressed in a sharp suit, n
it stole my breath.
roses in hand, his eyes holding the same tenderness that had once made me fall for him. The scene mirrored our past so perfectly
He stepped forward, offering me the bouquet, watching my reaction with nervous care before speaking
“Vera, I’m back,” he said softly.
Then, he pulled out a jewelry box and, with reverence, took out a diamond ring.
It was the same ring I had unce made for him
He choked up as he spoke again.
“I’ve brought the ring back to you. Come back to me, please.”
The crowd, not understanding the full story, started chanting, “Say yes.”
But I just smiled slightly and walked off the stage without a word.
Gavin rushed after me, grabbing my hand. “Look, this is the ring you made for me. Don’t you want it anymore?”
I simply replied, “You forgot, didn’t you? I said I would never be with you, no matter who I was with ”
“I quit my job for you! If you say the word, I’ll stay abroad!”
Gavin suddenly lonelt down in front of me, loolding up at me with pleading eyes.
“I’ve already sent Lilla away, I’ve completely cut ties with her. She will never appear in our lives again.”
“Just say the word, and we can be happy toget
together,
“I’m sure no one else will treat you as well as I do,”
“Why not give it a try and be with me, Vera?”
He spoke quickly, desperate, as if afraid I would slip away before he could finish
I coldly shook him off. “Leave, and don’t block my way.‘
* you keep bothering me for one more minute, I’ll call the police for harassment.”
With a thud, Gavin collapsed onto the ground
He looked like his heart had shattered, staring at me with wide eyes, his breath coming in shaky sobs.
“I chased after you for ten years, and we could’ve had a good lile together. What happened? How did it all turn out like this?”
