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Semua Bab Love Showed Up, Then Left: Bab 1 - Bab 8

8 Bab

Chapter 1

My mind went blank. I stared, eyes wide in disbelief.In the office, Nick sat smiling gently at a photo in his hand. "Three years, and Casey is still just as lively as before. Looks like Jacob's been good to her. She must be happy now."Nick's secretary, Bryan Connelly, adjusted his glasses, a faint smile on his face. "If Casey weren't happy, you wouldn't have stayed so calm these three years. Sir, are you really planning to fake this illness for the rest of your life? Madam's miscarriage this time… the damage was severe. The doctor said she may not be able to conceive again. If she ever finds out—"With a sharp smack, Nick flung the photo aside. His eyes darkened. "Then make sure she never finds out."Then came a sigh. He sounded almost helpless."When I lost Casey back then, I was out of my mind with rage. That's the only reason I lashed out at Linda. The first time she asked for a divorce, I panicked. Lied. Said I had mania. These past three years, watching her worry about me e

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Chapter 2

Three days ago, Nick had an episode. He kicked me in the stomach.I was four months pregnant. The baby didn't make it.Because of that one blow, my uterus was damaged. The doctor said I might never be able to conceive again.That day, Nick knelt at my hospital bed for a long time, crying. He swore he'd control himself from now on, swore he'd never hurt me again.But over the past three years, I'd heard that promise too many times. It stirred nothing in me anymore.I thought about it for three days before finally deciding to persuade him to seek special treatment abroad.And now, today, I ended up hearing the biggest lie of all."Honey? Why aren't you saying anything? Can't hear me?"I wiped the wetness from my cheeks and replied as if nothing had happened. "I hear you. The ward felt stuffy. I just stepped out for a bit."Nick let out a sigh of relief. His voice softened, coaxing, like he was talking to a child. "My fault. Work's been too hectic—I've been neglecting you. Linda,

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Chapter 3

Seeing my calm expression, Nick frowned, but said nothing.I watched him pick up his pajamas and head toward the bathroom. After a long hesitation, I called out to him."Nick, why won't you go abroad for treatment? Do you really love me? Or… is there someone else in your heart? Have these past three years just been one long lie?"For the past three years, I'd reshaped myself into something unrecognizable—someone soft, quiet, without sharp edges. I became a gentle imitation of a person, just to keep his emotions steady.I never got angry in front of him. I didn't even allow myself the smallest flicker of unpleasant emotion.Somewhere along the line, I'd forgotten I was still human, that I needed release, too.Nick's face darkened. For a fleeting second, guilt flickered in his eyes.He crouched in front of me and took my hand, his voice low and soothing. "I'm sorry, Linda. I thought I could control myself. I didn't expect it to happen again and again. But please, believe me—I do l

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Chapter 4

The sound of running water from the bathroom stopped abruptly.I quickly marked the messages as unread. I hadn't even had time to set the phone down when a force slammed into me from behind. My head struck the corner of the nightstand with a sharp thud, and a wave of pain surged through me.Then came Nick's furious voice, laced with disbelief and rage. "Who said you could touch my phone? Linda, do you even understand what personal privacy means?"Nick's expression was dark. His brows were tightly drawn together, eyes cold and fierce.The way he looked at me made my skin crawl. I instinctively shrank back.His expression shifted. He reached out toward me. "Baby, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—""Don't come near me." I raised a hand to shield my head, my voice trembling with fear.His hand froze in midair. The room fell into a terrible, suffocating silence.Three years. I'd dodged that same hand more times than I could count. Pleaded with him, begged him not to lose control.But my

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Chapter 5

"Divorce? What divorce?" Nick frowned, stunned, the disbelief on his face unable to mask the growing hollowness in his chest.He ended the call with Bryan and immediately dialed my number.It rang once, then disconnected. He tried again. And again. Until eventually, the line wouldn't even connect.The room seemed to spin around him. He felt like he was falling—straight into a deep, endless whirlpool, the kind that pulled you under before you even realized what had happened.He paced back and forth, restless, not even noticing when Casey came out of the exam room."Nicky, I'm done with the checkup," she said cheerfully, holding out the ultrasound printout. "Look, here's the baby. Still so small, but I can already feel it growing inside me."Nick brushed her hand away without a word.Casey stared at him, eyes wide with disbelief. She never thought he'd push her away like that.Three years ago, when she worked as his assistant, she'd noticed a softness in him—something he never sh

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Chapter 6

I didn't rise to Casey's provocation. I blocked her instead.Then, I sent my flight information to my brother, Lucas.According to the time, boarding should've already started. But the announcement never came. My heart, which had been calm until then, started to stir uneasily. I was about to get up and check when several men in black suits swept into the gate area and surrounded me.I blinked, confused.And then, in the next second, Nick's tall figure appeared before me.His face was unreadable, but somehow, I could tell he was angry.He reached out a hand, lips curved into a smile that sent a chill down my spine."Baby," he said, voice smooth and unnerving, "going on a trip without me? That's not very nice. Come here."My heart sank like a stone. Instinctively, I took two steps back.The smile froze on his lips. A shadow crossed his face, and there was something helpless in his eyes."Linda, do you have to make this into a fight? Divorce? Have you even thought about what thi

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Chapter 7

Nick shook his head, like a man clinging to a spark of hope. Desperation leaked from his voice as he tried to explain."Linda, you've misunderstood. The child isn't mine—it's Jacob's. I only ran into Casey by chance after she came back. There's nothing between us, I swear. I've always felt guilty… for what I did to you, for the child you lost. I helped Casey because I wanted her to give the baby to you—to make up for the pain I caused."These past three years, I've regretted everything, over and over again. I never should've faked being sick. And I never should've blamed Casey's death on you. But I was afraid that if you knew the truth, you'd leave me. So I kept lying, kept making it worse."I'm sorry, baby. What I had with Casey—it was just a fleeting curiosity. It's long gone. I don't feel anything for her now. I was wrong. Please… let's go back to how things used to be. Can't we?"I shook my head, my voice cold. "No, Nick. I will never forgive you. I won't pretend none of this h

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Chapter 8

Nick shot me an apologetic glance, then turned and headed for the study without another word. The door slammed shut behind him.The moment it closed, I bolted toward the front door.I was so close. I couldn't let him catch me.My fingers had nearly reached the handle when his cold voice sounded behind me."Linda, where do you think you're going?"The next second, I was pulled into a crushing embrace. No matter how I struggled or screamed, those arms held fast, unyielding, like iron walls."Nick, I hate you. I hate you!"His face pressed against mine, his voice quiet and resigned. "Hate me. That's fine. Better than feeling nothing at all. Linda, I know I can never earn your forgiveness. So let's just live like this. I promise I'll love you, take all your bad temper. Whatever you throw at me, I'll take it. But I won't let go. Never."Those final words came through clenched teeth, forced out from deep within.My eyes blurred as I bit down hard on his arm.I didn't understand how

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