Semua Bab Love Waits for No One: Bab 11 - Bab 20

On the other end of the line, Orson fell silent.Maude ended the call before he could speak again."Sorry you had to hear that," she said."Aren't you going to block him?" Levi asked.Maude paused.Levi's voice was steady. "The less hope you give an ex, the fewer problems you'll face later."Maude looked over at him.He spoke as if he'd been through it before. Did he have that many exes?Then again, it was Levi. It wouldn't be surprising if many women were drawn to him.Without another word, Maude picked up her phone and blocked Orson.A faint smile flickered in Levi's eyes. "Come on. I'll take you to your apartment."When they got there, Maude was surprised to find he lived just next door."I know this neighborhood better than you do. Let me take you to grab some essentials," Levi said.It was a thoughtful offer, and Maude didn't see any reason to refuse.After the shopping trip, she felt it made sense to treat Levi to dinner as a thank-you.She told him to order whatev

Maude read the messages.One caught her attention longer than the rest."The timeline of the wedding photos doesn't match. Orson was away on a business trip that day. Maude knew that."It was clear that one lie was being used to mask another.She found it laughable, but nothing else stirred inside her.Everyone assumed she'd come back eventually. The only question was which day in the next two weeks.Maude muted the group chat. If they wanted to wait, that was their choice. She wasn't going back, and nothing would make her change her mind.After two years, working with Levi again felt surprisingly natural. There was no awkward "warming up" period.In just two weeks, they completed two projects together.Levi hadn't brought up his feelings since that first night. He kept things strictly professional and respectful.Outside of work, Maude started to wonder if that day had been nothing more than a hallucination. Maybe Levi had never liked her at all.Nonetheless, her doubts wer

"Don't you ever say that. It's disgusting!"Orson staggered back from the shove, barely catching himself. His eyes instantly grew red."I already explained that the wedding photos were fake. I was on a business trip that day, remember?"There's nothing between me and Imogen. She's always been like a little sister to me. If you don't like it, I won't see her again."You made everyone hide where you were. It took me forever to find you. I flew ten hours just to be here."Maude, please… I'm begging you. Don't treat me this way. I can't handle it anymore."His voice cracked, filled with pain and desperation.Maude pressed her lips tightly together, nausea twisting in her chest."Orson, have you lost all sense of shame?"He stared at her in a daze."What happened? What exactly did I do wrong? We'd been together for five years and were about to get married. How could you just walk away like that?"Maude met his gaze with a blank expression."You know exactly what you did on our w

Soon after, Orson managed to get himself a car. Whenever Maude left for work, he'd wait outside her office.At the end of the day, his car would be parked in her driveway, where he left it overnight.He took care to prepare all three of Maude's meals each day and had them delivered just in time so they stayed warm.He even went out of his way to bring her favorite snacks from back home, quietly leaving them at her apartment door.However, without fail, Maude would give those snacks away to strangers right before his eyes.In just a week, Orson's weight dropped noticeably, his condition deteriorating with each passing day.Every time their eyes met, tears welled up in Orson's, heavy with desperation and longing.Yet, Maude would swiftly turn away, treating him like a complete stranger.She wanted nothing more to do with him, and she certainly didn't want to make Levi uncomfortable.Before long, the first snowfall arrived, and the temperature plunged sharply.Knowing Maude fear

In the photo, Orson held Imogen in his arms while the photographer searched for the best angle to capture the scene.Calm and composed, Maude sent a few messages into the group chat."I took that photo myself. I was the one who hired the photographer for our wedding shoot.""Imogen even thanked me afterward. She said the photos turned out beautifully because of me.""Orson, do you really want me to keep sharing more proof?"After those three messages, the group chat fell completely silent.The loudmouths who'd been so quick to judge were suddenly speechless.After a long pause, Orson finally began to type."Maude did nothing wrong. I'm the one who failed her."Maude stared at the screen, her gaze cold and unyielding.She'd grown tired of these late apologies. All they did now was make her feel sick.She paid no mind to anyone else's reactions and simply left the group chat."Remove me, too. After all, a couple should stick together," Levi said.Maude glanced at Levi before