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Home / Romance Short Story / Goodbye Means Never Again / Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

All Chapters of Goodbye Means Never Again: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

24 Chapters

Chapter 11

Justine walked down a slope with her sketchpad slung over one shoulder. She greeted the older women she passed along the trail with a gentle smile.The mountain air had done wonders for her. It felt like even her wounds were healing faster up here. She had meant to buy a new phone and SIM card when she arrived, but once she got here, she realized there wasn't any real need.There was barely a signal here, and she had no one left to call. Eventually, the idea just slipped her mind.When she returned to her small home, she noticed a small figure peeking timidly around the doorway."Megan, you're here again?" she asked with a smile.She handed the girl, Megan Valdez, some fruits she had picked from the mountain.Megan took them with both hands, smiling shyly. "Can I stay at your place today, Ms. Payne?""Of course, you can."With permission granted, Megan's face lit up with joy. She followed Justine inside, her steps lighter now.Megan was a young girl Justine met after moving to

Chapter 12

Justine offered a polite smile. "I'm Justine Payne."Robert glanced at the sketchpad propped behind her. "Are you an artist?"It was the first time someone had called her that. Justine quickly waved her hand. "Not really. I used to be a jewelry designer. Now, I just paint for fun."Robert looked like he was about to respond when an elderly woman came rushing toward them, breathless and shouting, "Something's happened! Megan's grandmother got hit by a car!"The two instantly locked eyes. Without exchanging a word, they silently agreed not to tell Megan yet."I'll go check. Stay here and keep her calm," Robert quickly said before striding out the door.Justine stayed behind, her heart in turmoil. She kept Megan company while the sky slowly dimmed. Only after nightfall did Robert return. Their eyes met again, and he gave her a small shake of the head.Tears welled up in Justine's eyes almost instantly.Megan's grandmother had shown her so much kindness from the day she arrived. Th

Chapter 13

The quickest solution now was to find someone for a fake marriage, adopt Megan through legal channels, and divorce afterward.But the people in town were practically strangers. If Justine ended up marrying the wrong guy, she might not even have time to react before things spiraled out of control.After weighing her options, Justine thought of one person—Robert. She wasn't sure if he had a partner, but he came across as steady and dependable. Still, finding a way to bring it up felt awkward, and the words simply wouldn’t come.As she held Megan's hand and wandered through the local farmers' market, her mind was still tangled with the thought. She was so preoccupied that she didn't notice the two people heading straight toward her. "Justine?"Noah stared at the woman who had vanished two months ago. He had gone to great lengths, tracking her down using her email until he finally uncovered her new address.But he couldn't help wondering who the little girl was—the one she held so p

Chapter 14

Night had fallen. Justine sat alone on the porch after putting Megan to bed, staring blankly into the distance.Justine couldn't stop thinking about how Noah had managed to find her here. Whatever his reasons were, one thing was clear—he still believed she was the same woman he could sweet-talk into coming back.Her eyes flicked across the quiet street, then froze. That familiar figure was standing on the other side of the road.Noah stood on the opposite side of the road, his tone unusually earnest as he said, "Justine, can we talk?" After spending a full day in a holding cell, he had finally sobered up. One way or another, they had to have this conversation.Justine stood and walked toward him, keeping a measured distance. "Go ahead."Her cold demeanor left him unsure where to begin. He had never felt so hesitant before.She looked at the man before her who was unshaven and disheveled. For a moment, she felt almost dazed.Countless nights, she had dreamed of him being this d

Chapter 15

By the time Noah returned home, it was already past midnight. As expected, Hazel was sitting on the porch waiting for him. The moment she saw him, she rushed over with a pitiful expression."Noah, I know you're upset. It's my fault. I only said those lies because I love you too much. Please, give me one more chance."Hazel's eyes shimmered with tears.Gavin followed closely behind and immediately chimed in, "Yeah, Dad. Ms. Gilbert only did it because she cares about you. And that freak already has another kid now. Why are you still defending her?"Just the thought of that little girl calling Justine "Mom" made Gavin furious. It only made him side harder with Hazel.Hazel's expression shifted the moment Gavin mentioned Justine. Her voice sharpened. "You went to see Justine?"That tone made Noah look up as he scrutinized her. "You have a problem with that? Since when do you get a say in who I visit?"Hazel quickly shifted her tone and forced a smile. "No, of course not. I'm just…

Chapter 16

Noah knew exactly the kind of man Hazel's father, Donald Gilbert, was.Donald was a junkie who spent every waking minute scamming people for quick cash. If Noah hadn't stepped in back then, Hazel would have been carved up and sold piece by piece by that man.Donald didn't care about long-term gain. He wouldn't even wait for a decent payout. He was the kind of man who would sell his own daughter.Hazel was on her knees now, clinging to Noah's leg and sobbing uncontrollably. "I'll do anything—anything you ask. Please, just don't let my dad come. If he shows up, I'm done for."But Noah just stared at her, his expression cold and devoid of emotion.Then, the doorbell rang.Hazel instantly went pale. She scrambled, trying to make a run for it, but it was too late.A man with a face full of scars barged in, reeking of booze and sweat. Without a word of greeting, he grabbed Hazel by the arm and started dragging her toward the door, muttering, "Let's go. They're all waiting."Stepping

Chapter 17

Robert was still checking if Justine and Megan were hurt when her sudden question stunned him."Marriage?" Justine gently patted Megan's back to soothe her, then calmly said, "I want to become Megan's legal guardian, but I don't qualify. If we get married and I take that certificate to the county office, we can file for it. It can all be done in two days—just in time."Robert didn't respond right away. Instead, he closed the door, changed his shoes, and walked inside. Then, he looked at her and asked, "And if I say no? What then? You plan to just find another man to marry?"That caught her off guard. She hadn't thought that far. If it came to that, she would just fake an adoption certificate. At least that would keep those people away for now.Of course, having Robert agree would be ideal.She shook her head and answered honestly, "No. I only considered you. A marriage certificate is legally binding whether our marriage is real or not. I wouldn't trust anyone else."Robert

Chapter 18

Justine turned abruptly and slipped into the crowd. Even so, Noah still managed to block her just outside the exhibition venue."Justine, what a coincidence," he said, trying to sound casual. He looked nervous, though he didn't want to show it. His hands trembled slightly, betraying his unease.Justine didn't waste time pretending. She looked him straight in the eye and asked flatly, "Noah, was I not clear enough last time? Why are you still bothering me?"Her words hit like a slap. For a moment, Noah looked genuinely hurt. But he quickly masked it with a forced smile and said in a placating tone, "I'm here to apologize. This time, I really mean it. I'll keep apologizing until you forgive me."He was stubborn and determined, just like he used to be with Hazel.Justine stared at him coldly. She didn't feel a thing—no anger, no sadness, and no bitterness.It was strange. She used to feel so much whenever she saw him—joy, anger, but mostly hurt. Even the last time, just looking at

Chapter 19

The night the exhibition wrapped up, Robert took Justine and Megan out for dinner. The three of them were chatting and laughing when Robert suddenly paused, his gaze shifting past Justine's shoulder. "Is that someone you know?"Justine had a bad feeling. She turned around—and sure enough, it was Noah.Megan recognized him too and wrinkled her nose. "That weird guy has shown up before. He kept following Mom around, saying he screwed up and wanted her to forgive him. There was a kid with him too. He was super rude and loud like he'd never been taught any manners."Megan didn't understand the complexity of adult relationships, but Robert caught on quickly. He smiled slightly and asked, "Ex-husband trying to win you back?"Justine shook her head. Maybe it was the alcohol talking, or maybe years of frustration had finally pushed her to her limit. Whatever it was, the words came pouring out.She told Robert everything—from the moment she first met Noah to how their relationship deepened

Chapter 20

Robert stood tall and calm, like the man who belonged by Justine's side, as he turned to Noah with an unmistakable warning. "Don't come around harassing my wife again."Robert and Justine got into the car hand in hand. Their eyes met, and they exchanged soft, quiet smiles filled with warmth and understanding.Noah stood frozen, staring as their car drove off and disappeared into the distance. His chest felt hollow as if something vital had been ripped straight out of him.That was the moment it truly hit him—Justine was gone. He had been lying to himself this whole time.After receiving their marriage certificate, Justine and Robert immediately moved forward with the adoption paperwork. By the time it was approved, Megan was officially their daughter.That night, the three of them stayed in, made a big dinner, and celebrated with laughter and dessert.Megan was overjoyed. Her once timid demeanor had been replaced with confidence and bubbly energy."Dad! Mom!" she called brightly

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