Chapter 7
When he spotted me shopping with Jasper, Charles stormed over without hesitation.
“Who is he?”
“I’ve been looking for you everywhere. You didn’t answer my calls or messages. I even went to your workplace and they told me you quit.”
“You‘ re still jealous of Elsie and me, aren’t you?”
Jasper‘ s eyes met mine, silently seeking confirmation of his place in my life.
I flashed him a smile, then took his hand firmly. “This is my boyfriend. Charles, we‘ ve been over for a long time. I made it very clear when I ended things with you.”
“You‘ re married to Elsie now. Go live your life with her.”
Charles stumbled back in shock, muttering to himself, “I didn’t agree to break up! It
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doesn’t count! It doesn’t count!”
“You promised you’d love me no matter what,” he continued, his voice breaking.
“You‘ re just saying this to make me angry, right?”
I shook my head.
Everyone had to own up to their choices. I had already let go of my past feelings and I wasn’t about to fall into the same trap again.
“Charles!” A voice called out, snapping Charles‘ s attention away from me.
Elsie stood there, her entire presence radiating despair. Her face was bruised, evidence of their last encounter.
I understood then. Of course, Charles wouldn’t come to find me while Elsie was still in need of his attention.
Elsie walked over and grabbed Charles‘ s arm. “Look, she already has a new boyfriend. She doesn’t care about you
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anymore. Come home with me.”
To my surprise, Charles shook off her grip and, with a roar, lashed out, “It’s all because of you! If it weren’t for you, Cecile and I wouldn’t have broken up!”
Elsie snapped, her temper flaring.
“Weren’t you the one who agreed to marry me in the first place? Now you regret it? Too late!”
“My parents already know about us and are planning our wedding. Are you really going to humiliate them too?”
The words hit Charles like a physical blow and he staggered, his face wracked with. anguish. He opened his mouth as though to speak but only shook his head in torment.
“I’m sorry, Elsie. When Cecile left my life, I realized I couldn’t live without
her.”
“We’ll go file for divorce tomorrow.”
“I don’t want to let go of Cecile.”
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“If you hadn’t lied to me, I would‘ ve never married you!”
“Get out of my way!”
We stood in silence, watching Charles spiral further into his self–pity, still clinging to his impossible fantasy. A small crowd had gathered, intrigued by the drama. As they overheard his words, they turned their attention to me.
“She looks decent enough, but how could she interfere in someone else‘ s marriage?”
“Yeah, did you hear him? She’s even demanding he divorce his wife. These days, mistresses are so bold.”
“His wife seems sick, too. How could she just leave her like that?”
Gossip swirled around us and I knew I
needed to clear things up before I dragged Jasper away from the mess.
“The moment you got that marriage
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certificate with Elsie, it was over between us.”
“I hope you won’t interfere in my life
anymore.
“Let’s end this here. I don’t want to see you again.”
“You disgust me.”
“And if you keep pestering me, don’t think I won’t find someone to deal with you every time you show your face!”
With that, I grabbed Jasper‘ s hand and quickly made my exit, leaving the drama behind us.
