Chapter 5
Chapter 5
As soon as the plane landed, Elijah and Alex finally decided it was time to head home. But just as they started to gather their things, Elijah‘ s phone buzzed. He answered it, still in a good mood, joking with Rachel by his side.
“Did you see Nina‘ s post?” the voice on the other end sounded urgent. “She actually got married!”
Elijah laughed, waving it off. “Married? Seriously? She’s probably just trying to mess with us because we forgot to pick her up last time. She came back on her own, didn’t she? No way she’d go that far.”
But the person on the line was persistent. “I
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“Did you see Nina‘ s post?” the voice on the other end sounded urgent. “She actually got married!”
Elijah laughed, waving it off.
“Married?
Seriously? She’s probably just trying to mess with us because we forgot to pick her up last time. She came back on her own, didn’t she? No way she‘
she’d go that far.”
But the person on the line was persistent. “I just sent you the photo. Take a look.”
Curious, Elijah opened the message, and when the image loaded, his laughter died instantly. There I was, standing next to William, both of us dressed in simple, matching white shirts, our smiles bright and genuine. The marriage certificate‘ s date was unmistakably today.
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genuine. The marriage certificate‘ s date was
unmistakably today.
A wave of dread washed over him, crashing through the denial he’d been clinging to.
Only now did he realize that all the times I’d said, “It’s fine” and acted
“understanding” had been my way of slowly stepping away, creating a distance he hadn’t noticed until now.
Noticing Elijah‘ s suddenly dark expression, Alex leaned over, holding a piece of fruit for Rachel. His hand froze as he took the photo, and his face was blank with disbelief.
Rachel, however, didn’t bother hiding her delight. She looped her arm through Elijah’s and gave a playful pout.
“Oh my, Nina actually got married! How
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“Oh my, Nina actually got married! How cute!” she said with a smirk. “Now she has someone to lean on. I only wish I had that kind of support. Right, Elijah?”
Elijah jerked his arm out of her grasp, anger flashing in his eyes. Without a word, he stormed to my room. But when he threw open the door, he was met with Rachel’s things piled everywhere, not a trace of mine in sight. Rage boiling over, he yanked her belongings off the shelves, tossing them onto the floor before rushing up to the attic, desperate to find any piece of me that might’ve been left behind. But the attic was empty–no clothes, no makeup, nothing.
It finally dawned on him.
This was the reason I’d resigned. I‘ d
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It finally dawned on him.
This was the reason I’d resigned. I’d already planned my goodbye.
Defeated, Elijah dropped to his knees, pounding the floor in frustration. His gaze landed on a small book lying nearby.
It was a diary labeled to him and Alex:
His hands trembled as he picked it up, and when he opened it, the first line blurred his vision with tears.
[Elijah and Alex, I should already be abroad with my husband by the time you read this. Do you remember? This diary was a gift from you both. Back then, I joked I’d never actually write in it.]
[But now, every page is filled with my words. I’ve lost track of the times you left me
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I’ve lost track of the times you left me behind for Rachel. I can’t help but remember when you followed me
everywhere, promising you‘ d always protect me. I believed you two.]
[But in the end, you betrayed me and hurt me over and over again. I’m so tired. I can’t hold on to this anymore. I’m leaving this diary for you and all the memories it holds.]
[I wish the three of you happiness together.]
By the time Elijah finished reading, his eyes were bloodshot, and tears streamed down his face. Clutching the diary to his chest, he stormed downstairs, his gaze blazing with fury.
Rachel stepped forward, trying to cozy up to him, but before she could even open her
mouth he clanned her sending her cnrowling
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Rachel stepped forward, trying to cozy up to him, but before she could even open her mouth, he slapped her, sending her sprawling to the floor.
Elijah’s voice shook angrily as he said, “This is all your fault! Every bit of it! It’s all because of you!”
Meanwhile, Alex, now panicked, was frantically dialing my number, but each call went unanswered. His face twisted with frustration and fear, and finally, he snapped. He grabbed Rachel‘ s jar of fireflies and smashed it against the floor, then seized her by the collar, his voice low and filled with rage. “Damn it, Rachel! If you hadn’t begged us to go out and catch those fireflies for you, Nina would still be here!”
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for you, Nina would still be nere!
Losing control, Alex went on a rampage, tearing through the room in a frenzy. Glass shattered as he knocked an ashtray to the floor, sending shards flying and slicing
Rachel‘ s ankle.
She cried out, stumbling back, her expression darkening with scorn. With a sneer, she spoke in a venomous tone. “And you two think you‘ re any better than me?”
