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The Bride Who Walked Away 10
Two years later, the Southport branch was upgraded to a regional center.I was promoted from branch manager to regional director.The day my parents made their final repayment, Mom called.Her voice sounded years older."Your father's health isn't good. Vivian moved out of town. There's nobody left at home to even talk to."Come home for dinner over the holidays."I'll make your favorite dishes."I didn't refuse outright."We'll see. I might not have time."She was quiet for a while."Gracie, I always thought you could handle everything on your own, so there was no need to look after you.""I only realized later that the child who never complains can still be hurting."Belated understanding couldn't change the past.But I no longer needed resentment to keep my distance."Take care of yourself."I hung up and removed her number from my blocked list.I just didn't reach out first.Dad was hospitalized once after that.Mom texted me the address, without demanding I come."Your father's ge
The Bride Who Walked Away 9
"Grace."Julian handed me a sealed plastic bag.Inside was the engagement ring."You left it on the console table that day. I couldn't bring myself to touch it."I'm giving it back to you now."You can sell it. Or throw it away."I took the bag."Anything else?"He shook his head.I walked down the steps.There was no sound behind me for a long time.When I finally looked back, he was still standing in the same spot, eyes rimmed red, but he hadn't followed.He'd learned to respect my decision to leave.Just too late.Southport saw its first snow before winter had begun.I sold the ring and used the money to enroll in a furniture design course.It wasn't about remembering anyone.The money had always been mine. I wanted to spend it on myself.At the final exhibition, my piece won first place.After the show, I saw Julian outside the entrance.He hadn't gone into the gallery. He was standing at the bottom of the steps."Passing through?"I asked."No."He was honest."I saw your name on
The Bride Who Walked Away 8
My parents didn't repay the money on schedule.After my lawyer sent a formal demand letter, Mom left me dozens of voice messages.She said I was heartless, said family matters shouldn't be aired in public, and said Vivian had fallen ill because of me.I didn't reply to a single one.A month later, mediation began.I brought my bank transfer records and screenshots of text conversations to the session.Dad was still fuming."What kind of daughter takes her own parents to court?"The mediator finished reviewing the materials."Mr. Bennett, you stated on multiple occasions that these funds were for Ms. Grace Bennett's down payment."In reality, sixty thousand dollars was transferred to Ms. Vivian Bennett's account and used to pay her study-abroad agency fees."This constitutes misrepresentation of the loan's purpose."I froze.Vivian had never studied abroad.She'd never even told me she'd applied to any school."Where did the money go?"Vivian couldn't meet my eyes.After a long silence,
The Bride Who Walked Away 7
The day the Southport branch opened, Mom and Dad showed up with Vivian.Mom carried a box of pastries, as though nothing had happened."Your sister came specifically to apologize."Vivian kept her head down."I'm sorry, sis."I shouldn't have moved into the apartment. I shouldn't have tried on your wedding gown. And I shouldn't have kept bothering Julian."I've just always envied you."You had great grades, a great career. Everyone called you the reliable one. I was so afraid of being worthless that I couldn't stop leaning on all of you."Colleagues passed by.Mom took my hand."See? Vivian apologized. We're family. You can't hold this against her forever."I pulled my hand free."What's the apology for?""To bring you home, of course.""I'm not going back."Dad's face darkened."We took a three-hour train ride to see you. What more do you want?"The apartment's been sold. Julian sent you the money. You didn't lose a thing."Your sister lost her job and her engagement fell through. Wha
The Bride Who Walked Away 6
Julian stayed in Southport for two weeks.He didn't approach me again. Every day, he simply sat in the coffee shop across the street.However late I worked, that shop stayed lit.One night, my stomach flared up so badly I could barely stand by the time I reached the lobby.He sprinted across the street and steadied me.I smelled coffee on his clothes and saw the panic he couldn't hide.For one unguarded moment, my hand closed around his sleeve.His whole body went rigid. Even his breathing went shallow."The medicine's in the car. Let me get it."He started to lift me, but I let go and gripped the railing by the sidewalk instead."Don't touch me."He stopped where he was.A few seconds later, he took off his jacket, spread it over a bench for me to sit on, then went to get the medicine.When he came back, he set the water and the pills within my reach and stepped about three feet away."I won't touch you.""Take the medicine. Then I'll go."I swallowed the pills without looking at him.
The Bride Who Walked Away 5
He grabbed my wrist."All this because Vivian moved in?""No."I pried his fingers loose, one by one."It's because for over twenty years, I've been waiting for any of you to choose me. Just once.""I'm done waiting."That night, I accepted the transfer to the Southport branch.Before dawn, I packed my bags, deleted all the wedding files, and left the family group chat.I'd been in Southport for two days when Julian showed up at my office.Through the glass wall of the conference room, I saw him standing at the front desk.His suit was a wrinkled mess. Dark circles under his eyes made it look as if he hadn't slept all night.A colleague asked, "Ms. Bennett, do you know him?""I do.""Should I show him in?""No."I went back to reviewing the opening checklist.Half an hour later, the receptionist brought me a paper bag.Inside were a dark chocolate cake, a can of antiseptic spray, and the repaired emerald bracelet.Julian had also left a note."I used to remember everything. I only got
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