Chapter 6
I switched off my phone and opened the research materials I’d brought.[]
When I’d decided to come home and get married, Caspian had no idea what I was giving up for him.]
Now that I was skipping the wedding, I could focus on my research career.
The new project required so much preparation that I had no time to wonder what was happening at the wedding venue.]]
After landing, my advisor and lab mates greeted me with a group welcome:[]
“Welcome back, Posey!“]]
They held banners and flowers, celebrating my return to Cambridge.[]
People kept turning to look, probably thinking I was some celebrity.[]
“You guys really went all out with the ceremony.”
My advisor wrapped an arm around my shoulders with paternal warmth:]
“Posey, we’ll always be your family, your support system!”
From witnessing Caspian’s proposal to Ruelle until now, I’d been desperately controlling my emotions.[]
But my advisor’s words broke the floodgates, and all my hurt came pouring out.]
My lab mate handed me tissues she’d prepared, comforting me with genuine concern:[]
“Girl, Caspian’s loss is his blindness. Our princess Posey deserves the absolute best!“]
“Exactly! If you want revenge, I’ll fly back right now and beat his ass!”
I pressed my face against my lab mate’s shoulder and sobbed.]
After Mom died, Caspian had walked me through my darkest times.]
When Ruelle and her mother abused me and manipulated Dad into thinking I was a bad kid, it was still Caspian who protected and comforted me.]
Before leaving for England, I’d told Caspian clearly:]
“If you ever stop loving me, just break up with me straight up. I’ll wish you both happiness.“]
He’d cried like a baby but didn’t dare ask me to stay.]
“Posey, I could never love anyone else. Go chase your dreams–I’ll work and wait for you to come back and
Those promises still echoed in my ears, but the man who’d made them had changed his heart.
“arry me!”
Chapter 6
I’d thought we’d weather life’s storms together.[]
- e.
Instead, he’d turned and abandoned me.
After my crying session, the crushing weight in my chest finally lifted.[]
The bone–deep, soul–tearing pain had dulled considerably.[]
My advisor and lab mates took me home and cooked to celebrate my return.]]
Surrounded by their warmth, I felt grateful that fate hadn’t been entirely cruel.[]
When the celebration wound down and I lay in bed, I finally dared to turn my phone back on.[]
At this hour, Caspian was probably having his wedding night.]]
As soon as I powered up, I saw over a hundred missed calls from him.]
More than he’d called me during our entire two years of long–distance.]]
Messages and texts flooded in immediately.[]
I couldn’t handle the bombardment and was about to shut off my phone when he called again:]
“Posey, you finally picked up…”
“Where did you go? You wouldn’t answer my calls or texts–I thought something happened to you.“]
“And why did you move out?“]
I frowned in confusion. What was his deal?
He’d let Ruelle object at our wedding, and I’d moved out and skipped it didn’t that clearly show we were done?
珍珍
Now he was putting on this act of worrying about me. Did they think their objection stunt wasn’t fun without me there as contrast?
“Caspian, congrats on the wedding, but I didn’t want to be the clown who gets objected to.”
Caspian was breathing hard on the other end:]
“Posey, what are you talking about? What objection? Are you misunderstanding something?”
“I waited for you at the wedding venue all day, and you never showed. I couldn’t reach any of your friends either–like you planned to disappear together…“]
He was really committed to this act.]
Even learned to mimic my shaky voice when I got emotional.
I guess he was genuinely pissed–mad that I’d bailed and made him and Ruelle look like fools.
all
Chapter 6
Scrolling through the wedding videos my friends had sent, I found Caspian absolutely disgusting.]
“Caspian, you and Ruelle could plan to object at my wedding, but I couldn’t skip it myself?“[]
“Consider the wedding my gift to you for getting me through those dark times.“]]
My cold tone seemed to deflate him, but mostly he sounded angry:]]
“Posey, what the hell are you talking about? Why would I let Ruelle object? Besides, I’m your husband–she couldn’t steal me if she tried!”
“I know you resent her deeply, and maybe I shouldn’t have tried to get you two to reconcile, but I did it for your own good. Stop being so paranoid!“]]
His denials just made me feel tired.
“I saw you propose to her.“]
“The ring wasn’t defective–it already had an owner.“]
“You didn’t have time for our wedding photos so you photoshopped them, but you had time to take real ones with her on a yacht.”
“You never once visited me in Cambridge, but you flew thousands of miles for her every month.“]
“I know you only married me to keep a promise. I stepped aside and gave you both a wedding–shouldn’t you be happy?“[]
“Why are you forcing me to spell it all out? It’s just embarrassing for everyone.“]
“Or do you think I should have played along with your charade to prove your true love?“]
(0)
(0)
Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Caspian stammered frantically:]
“Posey, it’s not like that–please come back, okay? Just come back and I’ll explain everything.“[]
What did he want to explain?]
That I should apologize to his wedding guests for skipping out?
That I shouldn’t have made Ruelle–who wore a bridesmaid dress but outshone any bride–look like a fool?]
When he wanted to start his business from scratch, I let him patent my research under his name.]
When he needed funding, I gave him Dad’s inheritance to tide him over.
When he became successful and I wanted to get married, he said to wait a little longer.]
So I kept studying and researching, successfully earning my PhD in Cambridge just to be his asset when I returned.[]
He said he was too busy to visit me in Cambridge, so I’d fly thousands of miles to see him.[]
But what about him?
Sixty miles from where I was, he was being romantic with Ruelle.[]
Taking her to see all the places he’d promised to show me.]]
Making her eternal promises of devotion.[]
Forgetting that he’d once prayed that we’d never be separated in this life or the next.]
Even now, his first instinct was to beg me to come back.]
How worthless did he think I was to assume I was some dog he could call and dismiss at will?[]
“Posey, I know these things hurt you, but I was just joking around with Ruelle. I never would have actually let her object!“]]
“You must be in so much pain right now. Tell me where you are and I’ll come get you. Let’s go home, okay?“[]
I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.[]
“Caspian, stop lying to yourself.“[]
He just couldn’t accept that I’d been the first to pull away from this relationship.[]
“Posey, I’m not lying to you. Where are you? If you won’t tell me, I’ll tear the earth apart to find and marry anyone but you!“]
you
mar
you! I’ll never
“I’ll set up a proper proposal for you, get you a massive diamond, do destination wedding photos with you, give you the dream
Chapter 7
wedding you want, take you to see the northern lights…“]
When he said the word “marry,” his voice cracked with tears.[]
After ten years together, only my complete heartbreak had motivated him to follow through on his marriage promises.]]
But I didn’t need them anymore.[]
I wouldn’t spend my life with a man who didn’t love me.
Especially not one who’d fallen for the person I hated most and lied to me countless times.]
He’d always known what I wanted.]
But he’d never delivered on any of it.[]
“Caspian, thank you for walking part of this journey with me, but we’re over. This desperate clinging is really undignified. I was wrong to hold onto you before–now I’m letting go. I wish you happiness.”
“Posey, I’ll find you and apologize and beg your forgiveness! Wait for me!”
His persistence only made me feel tired:]
“Ruelle is perfect for you. Cherish her.“]]
“You and I don’t need to see each other or stay in touch anymore.“[]
I hung up directly and blocked him.
- 5.
After being kept in the dark for two years, I refused to keep being the fool chasin
♡ (0)
