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I responded to her. [Only the powerless yell like that. Don’t forget to come to the wedding tomorrow. Maybe you’ll find a bargain.]
The next morning, I met with Mr. Brooks and the rest of the team. After boarding the plane, I took a photo of the
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Seven Years of Love Lost, After the Stand–In Left He Went Mad
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blue sky and white clouds outside the window and posted it on my social media: [From now on, my journey will be the stars and the sea.] After posting, I turned off my phone.
Once I arrived abroad, I threw myself fully into my work and studies. During this time, some colleagues from the head office mentioned Cody’s situation.
They told me that on the day of the wedding, he was frantically searching for me, that he went to the company every day to wait for me, hoping to find out where I was and that after losing track of me, he resorted to drowning his
sorrow in alcohol…
They also shared some gossip about Brittany. Because my escape from the wedding had gained a lot of
attention online, both Cody and Brittany became familiar faces on the internet. Someone even recognized Brittany as a notorious ‘third party‘ and dug up her past.
It turned out that Brittany hadn’t gone abroad to study as she had claimed. Instead, she had become the mistress of a wealthy older man.
After years of living comfortably as a mistress, Brittany’s greed grew and she secretly got pregnant with the rich
man’s child. Planning to take over as his legitimate partner, she was caught by the man’s wife, who forced her into a
miscarriage. In shame, she returned to Utah.
Upon discovering that Cody still had feelings for her, she saw him as a potential ‘rescuer,‘ hoping he would take
her back.
When Cody learned about this, he was furious and started making things difficult for her. Hearing all this, I felt no
more than a faint stir in my heart.
I knew that the seven–year love, which had begun with the hope of redemption and ended in the death of my
heart, had long since faded from my life.
I thought I would never have anything to do with Cody again. But to my surprise, six months later, he showed up
before me once more.
That day, I had just finished work and was about to turn a corner when someone suddenly appeared from behind and hugged me tightly. I struggled and screamed.
But then, I heard him choking with emotion as he said, “Elise, I finally found you. I’ve been looking for you so desperately these past few months.”
I shoved him away with all my strength. It took me a long moment to confirm that the unkempt, weary man before
me was indeed Cody.
I looked at him with cold eyes, my voice flat as I asked, “Cody, I believe I’ve made myself very clear before. We’ve
broken up.”
Cody’s emotions flared up, “No, I don’t agree with this breakup.”
I responded firmly, “I don’t need your agreement. Cody, go back. Don’t come to disturb me again.”
He then pulled a bracelet from his pocket and handed it to me, it was the family heirloom bracelet, the one his family had passed down to future daughters–in–law.
He said, “Elise, I’ve brought the bracelet back. I know you’ve always wanted it. I’m giving it to you now. Don’t be
angry anymore.” He reached out to put it on my wrist.
I clenched my fist tightly and spoke sharply, “Cody, let go. I don’t love you anymore and I don’t want this
bracelet.”
At my words, Cody froze, his face full of disbelief, “You said you don’t love me anymore?”
I shook off his arm and repeated, “That’s right. I don’t love you anymore.”
Cody immediately shook his head in denial, “I don’t believe it. Elise, you loved me so much before. I don’t believe you could suddenly stop loving me. You’re just lying to me. You’re lying to me …”
