All Chapters of Love That Came Too Late: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

I came home and drew the curtains tightly shut.Not a sliver of light could seep into the living room. The dimness calmed me, made it easier to breathe.I curled up on the sofa and dialed my agent's number."Samuel," I said quietly, "you suggested I study abroad to refine my technique. I'll go."Samuel Harper laughed, genuinely pleased. While praising my bright future, he couldn't help but ask, "What about Callum? Can you really leave him behind?""You always said he seemed young, like he still needed looking after," he added.I pulled the blanket tighter around myself."He's grown up now," I murmured. "He doesn't need me anymore."I drifted for a moment, caught in the haze of memory.When my boyfriend Sean Ressler died, his last and only concern was me—and his little brother, Callum Ressler.I had no family of my own. Callum was alone too. Loving him, making him the center of my world, gave me a reason to keep going.After that absurd night, I'd woken before him. I stared a

Chapter 2

"Callum, what's wrong?" I asked.His body was tense. In the dark, his hand reached out to touch my cheek. Only after confirming there were no tears did he finally explode."Diana, there's thunder and pouring rain. And you won't answer your phone or reply to my messages. Are you trying to scare me to death?"It was only then I noticed the sound of rain against my windows.A delayed wave of fear surged up, and I instinctively gripped his hand. My voice was hoarse. "I didn't hear it."Sean had died on a night like this.Ever since, I couldn't sleep when it rained. Neither could Callum. For five years, we'd gotten through stormy nights hand in hand, comforting each other through the dread.He would whisper to me, over and over again, telling me not to be afraid.But now, his face was pale.He stared at me for a long time before speaking. "You're staying at my place tonight."I pulled away and shook my head."You have someone you like now. It wouldn't be appropriate."His concer

Chapter 3

I never expected the child to show up—so when it left, I felt no sadness. Only a quiet sense of how life plays its little tricks.While my thoughts drifted, the nurse came in for rounds.She gave me a once-over. "You're awake? Your attending physician covered your medical bills. You didn't have a phone on you when you came in. We had no way to contact your family."Then she pulled her phone from her pocket and handed it to me. "Since you're awake now, you can call them yourself."I knew Callum's number by heart.I dialed. The line connected quickly.A sweet, girlish voice answered. "Hi, Callum's busy right now. If it's something important, please call back later."Bitterness rose in my throat. I kept my voice steady. "Alright."She recognized me. Her tone changed, light and mocking. "Oh, it's Diana. Callum said he won't be taking your calls anymore. I hope you'll stop disturbing us."She was about to hang up when I spoke softly, "Wait… let me just say a few words to him."But

Chapter 4

With my headphones on, Callum's yelling rang so loud it made my ears ache.I turned the volume down, listening to his screaming voice crackle through the line—then let out a quiet laugh."Callum," I said, "have you forgotten? I was never married to your brother. I was just his girlfriend. Even if I got pregnant and had a miscarriage, I wouldn't feel guilty toward him. And are you really going to pretend you don't know who the father of the child was?"That only made him angrier. His voice broke as he shouted, "Diana! You're the one who is sleeping around! How the hell would I know whose bastard you were carrying? If you come back now, I'll forgive you on my brother's behalf! But if you don't, don't ever think about seeing me again. I'll have my brother's grave moved—you won't get to see him ever again!"The phone trembled in my hand. A dull numbness spread through my fingers.A flood of disappointment rose up from somewhere deep inside me.I didn't know if Callum had truly forgot

Chapter 5

Samuel let out a low chuckle. "Diana, you're in the arts—you of all people should know. Real emotion shows in the eyes. Callum's no exception."I immediately shook my head. "He's not like that, Samuel. He's found true love, remember?"Samuel didn't argue. He said a few more things to Charles, then hung up, mentioning he had to go deal with Callum outside the studio.I dragged my suitcase and got into Charles's car.I had no idea that, now across the ocean, Callum had already started to unravel.In front of the studio, Callum sat in his car, his cold, sharp gaze locked on the figure approaching in the distance—Samuel.The second Samuel stepped close, Callum swung the door open and launched a punch straight into his face."Samuel! I looked into it! You're the only man close enough to Diana! How dare you? How dare you get her pregnant and then let her lose the baby?!"Samuel spat blood to the side and, without hesitation, struck back.They went at each other like wild animals, fi

Chapter 6

"I'm going to bring Diana back. Are you sure you wanna come with me?"Caryn's eyes shimmered with tears, but she nodded firmly. "Of course I'm coming. Callum, I'm a woman—there are things about the pregnancy Diana won't want to tell you, but she might tell me. I'll ask. I'll find out who the father is, and when we do, we'll make sure he pays for what she went through."Callum thought it over, then booked two plane tickets.In just a few days with Charles, I had already learned so much.I sent one of my new pieces to Samuel, who couldn't stop praising it."Diana, your earlier work had spirit, sure, but it lacked structure. You've improved so much in just a few days. Charles is a great teacher."His compliment made me squint with happiness.We chatted a little longer, and then I got up, packed my supplies, and headed out.But just as I stepped outside, a thunderclap tore through the sky.My body froze.It was like I'd been pulled back to that night—the night Sean died.Shaking

Chapter 7

I sat up slowly and asked, "Did you two fight?"Callum took my hand, his fingers running over it again and again. His voice, though low, was thick with rage."The police said the driver who tried to run you down got a large sum of money. The transfer came from Caryn. She wanted to kill you."A chill swept through me. My body broke out in a cold sweat as I remembered the rain-soaked night—how close I had come to death.I always knew Caryn disliked me because she liked Callum. But I never imagined she'd want me dead.Shivering, I turned my head slowly. "Where is she now?"He pressed his lips together, silent for a long while before answering. "At the police station."…I stood outside the station. Callum followed close behind.We both needed to give our statements.Once that was done, I asked to see Caryn.She hadn't been extradited yet. When she saw me, her expression barely changed. She let out a faint laugh."What a shame. If I had stalled a little longer, you'd be dead by

Chapter 8

I didn't want to engage with whatever Callum was trying to say. I just wanted to sleep.Back in the hospital room, I buried myself under the blanket, eyes shut tight.But Callum, as if he couldn't hold it in any longer, finally spoke in a low voice. "Diana… come back home with me. I like you."The bitterness came up instantly, coating my tongue.If only I'd heard those words sooner.But of course, he had to wait until my heart was already in pieces.For five years, I'd paid attention to everything about him—every detail. I couldn't even tell when exactly I had fallen for him. But now, I knew clearly: I didn't love him anymore.I wiped the tear from the corner of my eye and met Callum's gaze."Callum, I will always be like a sister to you."From now on, I would keep my distance. The kind of distance proper between siblings.As for the kind of love he was looking for—I couldn't give it to him, even if I wanted to.At my words, his eyes turned red in an instant. He grabbed my wr

Chapter 9

Callum fired back without hesitation. "He didn't take responsibility for you! Beating him half to death still wouldn't be enough! And now he wants to win you over? Too late!"I could feel my blood pressure spiking.Samuel stepped up beside me and gave my back a firm pat, his eyes glinting with a dry amusement."What's this, Diana? Callum still doesn't know the full story?"I pressed my lips together and didn't answer. That was enough.His smirk deepened. He clapped Callum on the shoulder. "Kid, Diana's spoiled you too much over the years. Can't even tell right from wrong now, huh? Why don't you go find out for yourself—who really let her down?"Callum froze for a second, confusion flashing across his face. Then, as if something finally clicked, he grabbed his phone and rushed out of the room.I didn't stop him. Instead, I turned to Samuel, resigned. "I didn't want him to find out."Samuel ruffled my hair again, the way a big brother might, his voice steady and kind. "If he does

Chapter 10

"I don't want it!" I yelled.Callum looked like he still had something to say, but I didn't want to see him, didn't want to hear another word. I pulled the blanket over my head, covered my ears, and shut everything out. Whatever he said after that, I didn't hear.Eventually, he gave up and left the hospital room.Only after the silence had settled back in did Samuel return. He gave a small laugh. "He looked pretty pathetic walking out of here—completely crushed.""Did he?" My voice was cool, detached, though under the blanket, my hand pressed against my chest.If this had happened in the past, I would've been devastated, aching for him in ways I couldn't control. But now? Now I just felt relief—relief that I no longer had to waste my breath saying things he never really heard.Samuel picked up on my mood and didn't press. He changed the subject naturally, talking about my art.He said he'd start organizing a solo exhibition for me in Valmonde. Then once I finished my studies n

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