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หน้าหลัก / When the Waiting Turned Quiet / Chapter 6

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Chapter 6

ผู้เขียน: Joey Joe
It took Colsen a second to realize Bella had already dragged him onto the dance floor.

When the music started, he put an arm around her waist.

But his eyes kept drifting to Elise.

She stood by the buffet, eating tiny bites of cake, looking like she couldn't care less about any of this.

Bella noticed and frowned.

"If you're that worried about her, go find her. I'll dance with someone else."

She let go of him and headed toward a guy in a white suit.

Owen.

Her college friend.

The guy who'd always been into her.

The second she walked over, he eagerly held out his hand.

Bella slipped her hand into Owen's, and they headed onto the dance floor.

Colsen stayed put, watching them laugh together.

His face darkened.

Bella seemed to notice.

Then she moved even closer to Owen.

Too close.

She leaned in and whispered something in his ear.

Owen laughed, dipped his head, and kissed her cheek.

Crack.

The wineglass shattered in Colsen's hand.

Wine and blood ran over his fingers, but he didn't even react.

He stormed across the floor, grabbed Bella by the wrist, and yanked her away.

"Colsen! What are you doing?! Let go of me!"

Bella struggled against him.

Colsen said nothing.

His face was furious as he practically dragged Bella out of the ballroom and onto the empty balcony.

He backed her against the cold railing.

"Bella, do you seriously have no shame?"

Bella froze, then snapped.

She ripped her hand free. "No shame? I'm single. So is he. We both wanted it, so what's your problem? Who are you to tell me what to do, Colsen? My ex? Or someone else's husband?"

"You—!"

Colsen's eyes went red.

Something in him snapped.

He stared at the woman he'd loved for years as jealousy, anger, and emotions he couldn't even name tore through him.

Then he grabbed her and kissed her.

Hard.

Nothing sweet about it.

Just angry and possessive.

Bella froze at first.

Then triumph flashed in her eyes.

Instead of pulling away, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.

The balcony doors were frosted, hiding them from the party.

But Elise stood at just the right angle to see through a gap.

She saw everything.

Colsen kissing Bella.

Bella's arms around his neck.

The two of them completely lost in each other.

Elise felt nothing.

Just numb disbelief at how ridiculous it all was.

The kiss went on until they were both out of breath.

Then Colsen suddenly shoved Bella away, like he'd snapped out of it.

He stared at her red lips and dazed expression.

Panic hit him.

Then disgust with himself.

"Sorry." He looked away, his voice rough. "I... I drank too much.

"I thought you were Elise."

Bella clearly didn't buy it.

She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his waist, her voice shaky.

"You've never loved Elise. How could you possibly mistake me for her? Stop lying to yourself, Colsen. You still love me. You can't let me go!"

She looked up at him.

"Can we stop doing this to each other? Divorce Elise and come back to me. I swear I won't be selfish like before. I'll love you. I'll be a good Mrs. Locke. Okay?"

'Divorce Elise? Get back together?'

The words hit Colsen like a punch.

He shoved Bella away like she'd burned him.

"What are you talking about? I'm not divorcing Elise!"

"Why? Because she's followed you around like a puppy for five years?" Bella snapped. "How long are you gonna keep running from how you really feel?

"If you seriously don't love me anymore, if you don't care about me at all, then I might as well die!"

She spun around and rushed for the edge of the balcony like she was actually going to jump.

"Bella! Are you crazy?!"

Colsen's face changed. He lunged for her.

Then the huge crystal chandelier overhead creaked.

And dropped.

Straight toward Bella.

"Watch out!"

Colsen's eyes went wide.

Without thinking, he threw himself over Bella and rolled them out of the way.

Crash!

The chandelier slammed into the floor, crystal exploding everywhere.

Several large shards sliced across Colsen's back.

Blood poured from the cuts, soaking his expensive suit.

"Colsen! Oh my God, you're bleeding!" Bella cried.

The crash sent everyone rushing over from the ballroom.

Instant chaos.

Someone called an ambulance while others crowded around to help.

Elise stood at the edge of it all, completely unmoved.

The whole thing just felt ridiculous.

She didn't go over.

Didn't ask if he was okay.

Didn't stay another second.

As ambulance sirens wailed outside, she quietly turned and walked away.

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  • When the Waiting Turned Quiet   Chapter 24

    The message ended, then started over."Colsen, it's your birthday. I made you a cake. Come home and have some."No matter how late it gets, I'll wait for you."Again. And again.On all those birthdays he'd forgotten, she'd sat alone beside the cake, waiting through the night until dawn.In the end, all she had was melted frosting and cake gone dry and stale.Tears kept slipping from Colsen's dry eyes.He stared at the ceiling as his vision slowly faded, a faint smile touching his lips.Like he'd remembered something good.With the last of his strength, he whispered to the empty room, the cold frame in his arms, and the message that would never get an answer."Elise... I'm home..."The words barely made it out.The frame slipped from his arms and dropped onto the blanket.From the old phone, Elise's gentle voice kept playing."...I'll wait for you... I'll wait for you..."Cold moonlight spilled through the window, washing over the bed, the fallen wedding photo, and the ol

  • When the Waiting Turned Quiet   Chapter 23

    Several years later.On a private island in the Mediterranean.Golden sun, sandy beaches, bright blue water, white buildings. The whole place looked straight off a postcard.Elise got married there.The wedding was small and intimate, with only their closest family and friends.She wore a simple, elegant white dress with no long train. The cut hugged her slim waist and showed off her graceful shoulders and neck.Her pale champagne veil glowed in the sun.Elise stood beneath a flower-covered arch, a bouquet of white lilies of the valley in her hands. Her smile was bright and real.For once, there was no shadow in her eyes. Just peace. Just happiness.Timothy stood beside her in a white suit, watching her like she was the only person there.The officiant began."Elise Emery, do you take Timothy Tyrrel to be your husband, to love, care for, honor, and stay faithful to him, for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?"El

  • When the Waiting Turned Quiet   Chapter 22

    Another year flew by, and late fall hit.A huge charity gala packed the ballroom of the fanciest hotel downtown.Elise showed up as a special guest and honorary advisor.Colsen's Elise Foundation was one of the organizers.Backstage, the halls were already buzzing with staff, guests, and reporters.Elise quietly went over her upcoming speech with the foundation director as they headed for the lounge.They rounded a corner just as someone came from the other direction.He was thin, dressed in a fitted but slightly worn black suit, his hair neatly combed. He held a document and kept his eyes on the page as he walked.The hallway was tight.Then they were face-to-face.He looked up.Their eyes locked.Time stopped.Colsen froze.The document slipped from his hand and hit the floor.He stared at her, like he was trying to burn the sight of her into his memory.After all these years, she was even more beautiful.Not soft and fragile like before, but confident now. Poised. G

  • When the Waiting Turned Quiet   Chapter 21

    Several years later.The world's leading translation forum was held in Switzerland, bringing together leading interpreters, scholars, and dignitaries from across the globe.As the youngest honorary board member and chief simultaneous interpreter, Elise gave the opening keynote.Under the spotlight, she wore a fitted pearl-white suit, her long hair swept up.She stood before a packed audience and a wall of flashing cameras, completely at ease.She switched effortlessly between languages, making sharp arguments and offering impressive insights.Confident. Elegant. Brilliant.All eyes were on her.When her speech ended, the hall erupted in applause that seemed to go on forever.A young scholar in a charcoal suit stepped onto the stage with a bouquet of white lilies of the valley and handed them to her.They smiled at each other, easy and familiar.Cameras flashed nonstop.He was one of Europe's top young linguists—smart, charming, from a respected academic family, and one of t

  • When the Waiting Turned Quiet   Chapter 20

    In the ambulance, paramedics worked on Colsen and monitored his vitals.Elise sat nearby, her hands and jacket covered in his blood. Warm, sticky, metallic.She looked at him on the stretcher, his face ghostly pale, eyes shut.Her face gave nothing away. Only her tight lips showed any tension.Even unconscious, Colsen kept mumbling."Elise... I'm sorry..."Our baby... I'm sorry..."Don't go... Don't leave me..."His broken voice sounded desperate, almost like he was dying.Elise turned to the window and watched the city lights streak past. The shifting light sharpened her cold expression.At the hospital, Colsen was rushed straight into surgery.The operating light flicked on.Elise sat on a bench outside, the blood on her hands and jacket already dried dark red.She didn't wipe it off.She just sat there, staring at the closed OR doors.Time crawled by.Finally, the doors opened, and a doctor stepped out looking grim."He's badly hurt. One stab wound damaged his splee

  • When the Waiting Turned Quiet   Chapter 19

    Evan gripped the phone and looked toward the hospital room.Colsen was gaunt, his eyes hollow, living on nothing but memories and IV fluids.Evan's throat tightened. He couldn't speak.A year later.After crushing it at her job, Elise was transferred back to Santoria to interpret at a major international conference.It was held at the city's most prestigious convention center.Colsen was in a meeting when he got the news.Evan leaned in and whispered in his ear.Colsen's hand froze, his pen dragging a long line across the page.After a long pause, he motioned for the meeting to continue.But he was distracted the whole time, his eyes constantly drifting toward the window.Afterward, he locked himself in his office and smoked an entire pack of cigarettes.Then he bribed someone on the venue staff.On the day of the conference, Colsen sat in the far corner of the back row, hidden beneath a cap and mask.He didn't dare go near her. Didn't dare interrupt her.All he could do

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