All Chapters of Never Meant to Be: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

'My name is Lily Preston, and the day before Valentine's Day is my wedding anniversary.'Like clockwork, Caleb Spencer's message came in right at midnight. It always did.This year, it was a payment confirmation.Seven figures. He bought my senior thesis project… and gave it to another woman.Blood dripped from my nose onto the phone screen, blooming slowly. I turned off the screen, grabbed a tissue to stop the bleeding, and resumed cleaning the apartment.[Got nothing to say?]His messages kept coming. Clearly, he wasn't ready to let this go.I sighed and typed back, [Don't get anyone pregnant.]Seconds after I hit send, the phone rang.His low laugh came through the receiver, cold and mocking. It was as if I were the one who cheated."Lily, you've got thirty minutes. Bring a box of condoms to Room 8301 at Capitol Tower."My nails dug into my palm. I bit down hard on my lip until I tasted blood."Why me?"He scoffed. "Didn't you just say not to get anyone pregnant? Be a g

Chapter 2

Room 8301 at Capitol Tower was Caleb's regular suite.Every time the tabloids caught him on video, it was the same scene—him, with a different woman on his arm, walking into that same room.Even after getting exposed, he never changed the suite.It was as if he didn't care who saw.He cheated so openly and confidently, that somehow I was the one who became the joke. I was always the one everyone laughed at.Kayla Lewis opened the door.One side of her robe slipped off her shoulder, revealing a wide stretch of pale skin marked with scattered red spots. The bold, unashamed signs of intimacy made her look especially seductive."Wow, Mrs. Spencer. You actually came."Her smile was bright, almost innocent, like she'd practiced it in the mirror."But you're really late," she added, holding up the box I brought. "Boss couldn't wait. You can take this back."Her smile was sweet, her expression soft and innocent. It held just the right amount of naïveté to hide the desire and greed un

Chapter 3

After everything that happened the night before, I didn't think Caleb would come home for Valentine's Day.But right before midnight, he stumbled in, reeking of alcohol.Honestly, ever since he got together with Kayla, he hardly ever came back. They had a place across the river from his office. It was a massive luxury condo with a stunning view.I knew that building. Back when they were still pouring the foundation, I stood with Caleb outside the construction site, pointing at the renderings behind the fence."One day, I want to buy the top floor in that middle tower," I'd said with a smile. "It'll be our home after we get married. River view, perfect sunsets. It'll be ours."The building was finished now, and Caleb bought that dream apartment.But it was for another woman."Why are you here?" I asked.I leaned against the stair railing, looking down at Caleb. He stood swaying in the middle of the living room, drunk out of his mind.My voice came out flat and emotionless.He

Chapter 4

Later, I went to the hospital and got a prescription for some painkillers.The doctor studied my charts, then let out a heavy sigh. "There's no good treatment available here right now, but I've heard of a hospital overseas. They have an experimental drug. It could give you another three to five years."I smiled and looked at him."So I'll still die in the end, right?"He nodded. And for a moment, he looked even more heartbroken than I did."Then I'll pass," I said. "A few more years wouldn't be a gift, not for me."My friend, Haley Lloyd, was waiting in the car outside.As soon as I got in, I coughed up blood.She panicked, grabbing tissues and pressing them to my lips. Her hands shook, and tears fell one after another onto the center console."Lily, why are you doing this? What's the point?"I leaned back, eyes tilted toward the hospital building just beyond the windshield. People came and went, living their lives."Caleb is the kind of person who can't handle even the smal

Chapter 5

I let out a small laugh. After holding everything in for so long, a rare hint of genuine joy crept onto my face."I'm not doing anything but letting you come after me over and over. When will you get what you want? Now that I'm helping you out, you should be thanking me. Go ahead and cry to Caleb. Just don't act all clingy and helpless. He prefers girls who are lively and fun."Kayla trembled from the pain, her whole body convulsing as she got to her feet and pointed at me. "Lily Preston, just you wait!"After she left, I didn't even have the strength to make it home. I collapsed hard in the studio's main room, blood dripping from my nose and mouth.So when Caleb stormed in, I hadn't even cleaned myself up yet.He froze, clearly shocked."What happened to you?"The anger in his eyes softened for a moment, like he actually cared.I shrugged off his hand and let out a bitter laugh."It's just the heat and stress getting to me. Your woman stirred me up, so I'm a little out of sor

Chapter 6

I packed my things and went to Haley's house.The villa was spotless, like a showroom. There was no trace of me anywhere.Haley stared at the webpage filled with everything about my condition, tears spilling onto the keyboard before she could stop them."Are you really going to donate your organs?"I sat cross-legged on the couch, absentmindedly playing with her little dog, and replied softly, "Yeah. If the organs that still work can help extend the lives of people who are truly loved, then that's something good I can leave behind.""But..."Haley's sobs caught in her throat. She knew once I made up my mind, there was no turning back.I looked up and smiled. "Haley, what do you think you'd be like if you'd never met me abroad all those years ago?"She opened her mouth, but no words came out. After a long moment, she still didn't say anything.I knew that once I asked that, she wouldn't try to stop me anymore.I saved her life, and she knew that very well.But I also saved Ca

Chapter 7

During that time, I acted like nothing was wrong. I focused on finishing my studies and graduating with Caleb. When he asked about what happened, I just told him I'd had a sudden fever.But just when things couldn't get worse, my family's company came under attack.Almost overnight, it was pushed to the brink of bankruptcy.At the same time, I hid the truth from everyone and checked myself back into the hospital.Then Caleb's biological father showed up, holding a check for ten million dollars."Leave Caleb. I'm taking him and his mother back to the Spencer family. With your condition, how could you possibly be good enough for him?"It turned out the man following Caleb around was his second uncle. He was childless and hungry for power. He wanted to get rid of the only adult Spencer family heir who had been living outside."If you don't want your company to collapse, you'd better do as you're told. Otherwise, I'm sure you've already seen what the consequences will be."Mom went

Chapter 8

It felt like a long, strange dream unfolding before me. I was back on our wedding day three years ago, standing before Caleb's father as he asked to speak with me privately."Can't believe you're back. Don't you have any shame at all?"I looked at him coldly without a word.Later, Caleb's father died in a car accident.I watched it happen without a flicker of emotion.An accident once, three years ago.And again, three years later.Everyone caught in this mess owed something to someone else.Maybe it was best to just let it go.I wouldn't be able to settle these debts in this life. Maybe next time around.When I opened my eyes again, Haley was dozing in the chair beside my bed. Caleb stood by the window, his face bruised and his posture heavy with loneliness.Hearing a noise, he turned around and his face lit up with surprise when he saw I was awake."You're awake!"Then he stepped forward and reached out to take my hand. But Haley shoved him away sharply."Don't touch he

Chapter 9

Extra: Caleb's POVLily was gone, and she didn't leave me with anything.Haley had always treated me coldly, but she suddenly asked me after Lily died to go home and bring a change of clothes for her.I didn't suspect a thing.But when I got back to the villa, I realized everything of hers was gone. There wasn't even a single strand of hair left behind.A crushing wave of panic hit me, and all I felt was despair.By the time I got back to the hospital, they had already taken Lily's body for organ donation.That was when I realised that Haley had sent me away on purpose.I croaked out the question, "Why?"She gave me a cold, cruel smile. "Because you don't deserve anything."Her words left no doubt—I didn't deserve to stand by Lily as her husband in her final moments, nor was I worthy of holding onto her things as memories.I wasn't even fit to say I loved her. Those words were nothing but a cruel joke, empty and hypocritical.I collapsed in the hospital hallway, tears strea

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