But the moment I turned away, his so–called love surged up like a tidal wave.
I took out my phone, edited a quick Facebook post, and uploaded the photos and videos of Jasper and Nora’s affair, along with the audio of him making our relationship official.
Every piece of truth was exposed, showing Nora as the real intruder and Josie’s words for the lies they were.
Once I hit “send,” I exhaled slowly, then walked toward the kneeling man.
The crowd parted without a word.
Jasper lifted his head, eyes filled with the warmth he once gave only to Nora.
“Hallie, you finally came. Didn’t you always want a romantic proposal? I’m giving it to you now. Please, marry me.”
His voice carried a kind of conviction that might’ve once moved me.
But my face didn’t flinch.
In my eyes, late affection was no more valuable than a dying weed.
I raised my hand and slapped him hard. A bright red mark bloomed across his cheek.
“Jasper, you’re not worthy.”
I lowered my eyes, staring down at him from above like a cold judge handing down a final verdict. My voice was flat, stripped of all warmth.
“It’s over. Entirely. If you truly feel any guilt, then stop enabling your mother and your fiancée to smear my name. Their lies are exhausting. And now, I’ve started to regret it all. Regret meeting you in that alley years ago, regret snatching that wine glass from your hand when you were bleeding out, regret foolishly standing by your side for seven long years.”
“Jasper, don’t make me regret anymore.”
I didn’t wait for his reply. I turned and melted into the crowd.
No footsteps chased after me. No voice called out.
A moment later, someone approached.
“Miss Hallie Granger, this is from Mr. Camden. He said to give it to you.”
I took the envelope and opened it. Inside was a bank card, and a letter written with painstaking care.
“I’m sorry, Hallie. I know nothing can undo the pain I’ve caused, but please don’t reject this. I promise I won’t bother you again. May your life be filled with happiness.”
I tore the letter into shreds and donated every last cent to an orphanage. Then, without looking back, I stepped into the lab.
Six months later, campus whispers carried one name again: Camden. I unlocked my phone, and the headlines hit like a wave of déjà vu.
פופ
900%
16:05 Mon, 19 May G
[Former Fiancée Nora Accused of Matricide]
[Camden Group Declares Bankruptcy; CEO Jasper in Coma After Cliff Crash]
So it was true. Nora had only come back to the U.S. for his money.
She had quietly sabotaged internal contracts, bleeding the company dry from within.
When the damage surfaced, Josie snapped. Enraged, she attacked Nora, but in a chaotic blur, Nora fought back with a vase and killed her.
Before her arrest, Nora sold off every classified document the company had. One by one, competitors tore Camden Group apart.
The empire crumbled overnight.
Jasper, behind the wheel when the news broke, never made it far.
Overwhelmed, he lost control of the wheel and drove off a cliff.
Though he was dragged back from the brink of death, the doctors said he might never open his eyes again.
I set my phone down in silence, no ripples in my expression.
Just then, my professor’s aged face lit up with delight. With a twinkle of pride, he pulled a document from behind his back as if unveiling a treasure.
“Hallie, congratulations. Your patented technology has been officially approved. Westbrook Corporation is incredibly impressed; they want to bring you on as their R&D Director, with a generous salary.”
“Seven years ago, and even now, I’ve never doubted you. You’re the most gifted student I’ve ever taught.”
Tears stung my eyes. I took the file with both hands, then instinctively stepped forward and hugged him tightly.
“Thank you, Professor.”
And thank you to the version of me who never gave up. To rise as my own sun and fill my world with light.
