Chapter 8X
Days turned into weeks, but Kevin still waited
At first, he convinced himself it was temporary–Isabella’s silence, her disappearance, the complete absence of her presence in his world.. He remembered the first time she tried to walk away years ago. Back then, she’d returned after a week, standing at the doorway with tears in her eyes, whispering that she couldn’t live without him.
He thought this would be the same
But it wasn’t
Now, the silence grew louder. And as the days passed, it started to echo with memories–of her. Of them
He sat alone in his office, the glow of his phone screen fading as another unanswered call went to voicemail. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the desk, but his thoughts were far away.
He remembered waking up late one moming, exhausted from working through the night. The scent of coffee had drawn him into the kitchen. She was there, wearing one of his old shirts, humming quietly as she plated breakfast
“You didn’t have to do this,” he had said groggily.
“You don’t eat unless someone reminds you, Isabella replied with a soft smile. “I just want to take care of you. She always did.
He remembered the way she’d press his suit jackets, write little notes on napkins inside his lunchbox keep his medicines organized when he was sick. She remembered the small things. His favorite songs. His aversion to strawberries. The way he always fell asleep when it rained.
And he? He took it all.
He took her for granted, always assuming she’d be there. When she said she was tired, he dismissed her. When she needed comfort, he gave excuses. And yet, she stayed.
“You’re too good to me,” he told her once, brushing her hair from her face while she lay next to him.
Isabella had chuckled lightly. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.
“I don’t deserve you
“No,” she had whispered, looking at him with a tendemess that twisted something deep in his chest. “But I love you anyway? Now that love is gone.
Kevin leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chest where the ache had settled like a dull weight. He realized it wasn’t just guilt–it was absence. The sharp, biting kind that comes only when you’ve lost someone who made you whole.
Meanwhile, Jasmine basked in the limelight. She appeared in public with Kevin, clinging to his arm at charity events and social dinners as if they’d always belonged together. And the world–at least the press–ate it up. Especially after she arranged a press conference claiming that Isabella had abandoned Kevin, sabotaged the family business, and broken down under pressure.!
“This isn’t about hate,” Jasmine told the cameras, dabbing at fake tears as the flashing lights of reporters surrounded her. “It’s about finding love in the ashes. Kevin and I… we’re just trying to move on.”
With a sorrowful voice, she continued, “We didn’t mean to hurt anyone. But Isabella… she tried to ruin everything. That scandal? It wasn’t share it was love, Real love. And she couldn’t stand that ”
Headlines exploded within hours. “Jasmine Claims Isabella Destroyed Her Chance at Happiness” “A Scandal of Love, Not Betrayal?” People were quick to take sides. Some sympathized with Jasmine’s tearful confession, calling her brave. Others questioned her timing. But the story stuck)
Jasmine painted herself as the victim of a jealous woman who couldn’t accept the end of her marriage. “She exposed us,” Jasmine said in one interview. “She turned something beautiful into something dirty. But we’re not ashamed of loving each other. Actually, we’re gonna get married soon. And Isabella, she’s just nothing. No one.”
But when she thought Kevin would love it, she was wrong
Kevin slammed the paper down after reading the headlines: “Love Wins After Scandal. Jasmine and Kevin’s New Beginning?“%
“What is this?” he barked, marching into the living room where Jasmine was sipping tea like nothing was wrong. “Who told you to say all
Jasmine looked up, blinking “I only said the truth. You’re with me now, aren’t you?“X
“I never said I was marrying you” Kevin snapped. “I never even agreed to that conference
Her smile dropped “You said it yourself, when she left–you’d be with me. We just needed to wait until she was out of the picture.”
“I thought she’d come back” His voice cracked despite himself. “I thought she’d call, yell at me, anything. But she didn’t
“You said you didn’t love herk
“–” Kevin paused, jaw tightening 1 don’t know what I feel anymore. But I know I can’t let her go like this.”
Jasmine’s expression shifted. From disbelief to desperation “Don’t do this. Don’t you dare go chasing after her now. If you leave me, I’ll
“You’ll what?” Kevin cut her off sharply “Cry? Threaten to hurt yourself again? I know your tricks, Jasmine. I know what you’ve faked just to make me stay. But it’s not going to work anymore “I
“I’m not lying this time!” she cried out suddenly, clutching her stomach. Her face twisted in pain. “Something’s wrong–Kevin!”
But Kevin hesitated. His eves stayed cold. “I can’t tell anymore. Jasmine. I don’t know what’s real with you.”
4:15 PM
But Kevin hesitated. His eyes stayed cold. “I can’t tell anymore, Jasmine, I don’t know what’s real with you.”
He tumed, grabbing his coat. “I’m going to find her, And when I do- fix everything.”
“Kevin!” she screamed behind him, staggering forward. “Please, wait!“}
But the door slammed shut behind him.
Inside, Jasmine collapsed onto the floor, her breathing shallow. Her cries weren’t theatrical this time. Pain twisted through her, sharp and undeniable. Her fingers clutched at the rug, lips trembling.
She wasn’t pretending anymore.
