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Semua Bab The Afterglow of Us: Bab 1 - Bab 10

10 Bab

Chapter 1

The first time I saw Liam Chase's bloated, waterlogged corpse, I was furious—furious enough to swear I would hunt him down even in death and demand an answer.I wanted to know why he had made such a decision without my consent.So when I saw him again, my hand moved faster than my mind, and I slapped him across the face.The blow seemed to jolt him back to his senses; the haze in his eyes cleared a little."Khloe, are you insane?!""You're the insane one, Liam! I hate you!"Tears welled in my eyes as I glared at him.He opened his mouth to curse me again, but when his gaze met my tear-reddened eyes, he faltered for once, confusion flashing across his face.Yet the drug's effects surged through him in relentless waves, and he reached for me, trying to pull me into his arms.I shoved him away as if waking from a nightmare.No. I would not let the tragedy of my past life repeat itself.Back then, during Liam's mom's birthday party, Liam had been drugged with an aphrodisiac. He

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Chapter 2

Over the years I'd lived in the Chase household, anyone could see the growing heat of my feelings for Liam.But now I shook my head. "Catherine, I truly don't want to marry Liam. I'm planning to go abroad for further studies next month."Catherine sighed. She could see the resolve in my eyes.Patting my hand, she said, "Even if you can't be my daughter-in-law, you'll always be my little girl. Don't grow distant from me."I couldn't hold back my tears as I hugged her.When I was eight, tragedy struck my family. It was the Chase family, from thousands of miles away, who adopted me and gave a helpless child a home."Catherine… thank you for all you've done for me over the years," I said softly. "But Liam and I aren't suited for each other. We'd only end up hurting one another."She stroked my back with a mother's tenderness. "Silly child, you grew up together. How could you not be suited? Did Liam say something harsh to you?"I thought of the disgust in Liam's eyes in my previous

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Chapter 3

I saw the turmoil in his eyes and knew—he had been reborn too.Yet he still insisted I was the one who had drugged him.Drawing a deep breath, I forced down the surge of emotions."I didn't. You can investigate if you want."He gave me a look of pure disgust. "Is that even necessary?"Those few casual words snapped the taut string inside me. "Why wouldn't it be necessary?"I could no longer hold back. Tears spilled over."Do I deserve to be wronged? Why is it that no matter how many times I've explained, you've never believed me, not even once?"I rushed forward, seizing his collar in both hands. "Liam, why can't you believe me just once?"I stared at Liam. He had once protected me since childhood and sworn to keep me safe all his life. When had all that trust and affection been handed to someone else?My tears fell onto the back of his hand, hot and searing.For a moment, his gaze seemed to waver.Then the door burst open. Alexa stumbled in, panic written across her face.

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Chapter 4

I let out a cold, mirthless laugh. My gaze slipped past Liam to the overly theatrical Alexa.Her eyes brimmed with tears, and her hands twisted together as if she had suffered some grievous injustice."It's my fault. I shouldn't have troubled Khloe… I…"Judging from her persistence, Alexa wouldn't rest until she got her way. I gave in—not out of kindness, but because I wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble before my departure.The moment I agreed, her expression brightened instantly. She even leaned toward Liam, her voice laced with deliberate sweetness."Liam, you always say Khloe has a terrible temper, but I don't see it at all."Liam cast me a fleeting, uneasy glance. I pressed my lips together, offering no reply. My indifference seemed to unsettle him, but I no longer cared."Let's go," I urged flatly. "Weren't you in a hurry to try on the dress?"I had already let go of Liam; his opinion mattered even less.The drive was filled with Alexa's cheerful chatter about wedding-h

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Chapter 5

"Liam, what are you doing?" Alexa's soft hand rested lightly on the back of his. "My parents are talking to you. Don't get distracted."Liam's movement faltered. Lifting his gaze, he met the obsequious smiles of Alexa's parents in the back seat.Reluctantly, he slipped his phone back into his pocket and exchanged a few perfunctory pleasantries.They were dressed in plain, worn clothes, their dialect thick and unrefined, eyes alight with greedy excitement, like starving dogs catching the scent of meat.Sensing the moment, Alexa leaned in with a sweet suggestion."Liam, it's pouring outside. Why don't we let my parents, along with my aunt and uncle, stay at your villa for now?"Her words had barely left her lips before her mother slapped her thigh in glee. "Oh, that's wonderful! We're all family. What's there to refuse? I've heard that big villa has dozens of rooms. Liam, hurry and take us to see it!"She eagerly shoved a massive red-blue woven bag further into the seat, as if a

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Chapter 6

When I glanced down, I saw an endless stream of messages from Alexa.Each one was a cheerful photo of Liam with her and her family.In the restaurant, Liam gently placed food onto her plate. They looked at each other and smiled.He chatted politely with her parents, wearing that practiced, courteous expression.Alexa leaned into his embrace, glowing with a happiness that seemed almost blinding.All the time, she continued texting me.Alexa: [Khloe, do you see this? This is the kind of happiness you can never have.]Alexa: [Go ahead and enjoy the rain. Learn your place, and stop coveting what isn't yours.]Alexa: [Liam will never truly love you. You're nothing more than a parasite in his family.]A sharp pain gripped my chest.Almost without thinking, I opened Liam's Instagram, ready to say something.But the moment his profile picture appeared, I froze.The simple sketch of two little dogs I'd drawn as a child—the one he'd used for ten years—was gone.He used to praise that

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Chapter 7

"Hello, may I ask if you've admitted a car accident victim named Khloe Tori?""No.""Could you check again? A young woman, around twenty, was brought in yesterday afternoon.""Sir, we don't have anyone by that name."Every hospital gave him the same answer.Alexa trailed behind, watching his hollow, disoriented expression. The satisfaction swelling in her chest was almost too much to contain, yet she still feigned concern."Khloe's gone too far with this joke, making you worry like this. Why won't she just answer the phone?"Liam slumped into a chair in the fifth hospital's corridor, head in his hands, looking utterly defeated.He regretted it—regretted leaving me in that desolate place yesterday. He kept questioning himself why he hadn't just taken me back to the city himself."Liam?"A familiar voice pulled him from his thoughts. He looked up to see his mother standing not far away, a medical report in her hand."Mom? What are you doing here?""I'm here for a checkup. Sho

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Chapter 8

"Khloe?"The moment I saw him, the smile on my face faded."What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in Celandre City, preparing for your wedding with Alexa?" I said.He had grown thinner, more haggard, with dark shadows etched deep beneath his eyes. His gaze locked onto me with such intensity that it felt as though he wanted to bore two holes straight through me."There's no wedding. I've already broken off the engagement with her.""Oh." My reply was flat and indifferent. I turned away and continued toward the library.He quickly caught up. "Khloe, can we talk?""There's nothing to talk about.""Khloe, don't be stubborn. Come back with me," he pleaded.I stopped in my tracks, turning to him with a mocking smile in my eyes."Liam, are you mistaken about something? I didn't leave the country to escape anything, least of all you. You should go back and return to your own life."My words seemed to ignite his anger. He seized my shoulders."Khloe, how can you just walk away l

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Chapter 9

Liam's voice carried both disbelief and fury."Alexa, are you out of your mind?!"The moment I heard that name, my ears instinctively pricked up."You think you can threaten me like this? Take yourself and your family, and get the hell out!"Liam's tone grew colder by the second. "I'm telling you—we're finished."From the other end of the line came a piercing wail. Even across the distance, I could feel the sheer hysteria and despair in it."Liam, you can't do this to me! I turned down everyone for your sake. How can you just toss me aside like I'm nothing?! If you don't come back, I'll kill myself!"Liam's grip on his phone tightened until the veins at his temple throbbed.Watching the pained expression on his face, a tangle of emotions welled up within me. My memories from a past life reminded me—Alexa was never the kind of woman who let go easily.Sure enough, less than two days later, Liam booked a flight home in haste.Before leaving, he came to the front of my apartment

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Chapter 10

As I was speaking, I spotted a familiar figure in the audience.Liam stood there in a perfectly tailored suit, a bouquet of white lilies cradled in his hands, his gaze brimming with tenderness.He was noticeably thinner than he'd been a few years ago, but there was a new, unwavering determination in his eyes."Welcome back," he said.I gave a polite nod but did not take the flowers."I've been waiting for you to return." His voice trembled slightly."What exactly have you been waiting for?"Before I could respond, a strong arm slid possessively around my waist.My boyfriend, Aiden Bryson, wore a handsome smile tinged with mock grievance, his tone thick with jealousy."Babe, you just thanked so many people, but somehow, my name wasn't on that list. Do you know how hard I worked for your exhibition? I've been running around nonstop for you."His exaggerated complaint made me laugh. I gave him a playful push and tilted my head up to coax him. "Next time, I promise you'll be the

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