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Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Hundredth Time She Ghosted: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

10 Kabanata

Chapter 1

I'd hit triple digits. Proposal number one hundred.Same spot—County Clerk's Office, Borevia City.Same result—empty sidewalk, empty heart.Sonia Quindt? Off somewhere with Pierre Sanchez. Her boy toy.Could be a concert. Could be an amusement park.Didn't matter. She wasn't here.Once, they'd even rolled up to the Clerk's Office themselves—married on a dare, divorced by brunch.For fun.What I'd dreamed of, they'd trashed for kicks.So yeah, I killed my phone and sat by the curb.Waited.No car.Then—buzz. Her name on the screen.I picked up.Cold voice, perfect diction."It's late and you're still not home. You're my fiancé—do you ever think about how I feel? Where are you right now?"I didn't answer.Old me would've folded fast, explained everything, tried to sound gentle.Now? Nothing left to give.She snapped, irritated."Hedley Hart, are you mute now?""County Clerk's Office."Silence.Then that tiny gasp—like she just remembered her own promise.The deal:

Chapter 2

I'd been there since she had nothing.Still meant nothing.If I disappeared, she wouldn't even blink.I was halfway through drafting my resignation when she showed up behind me.I froze, then switched my screen like nothing happened.She stared, voice sharp. "What are you writing?""Nothing. Just some contract drafts."Her brows pulled together. She didn't catch on, just said, "Hedley, come with me."As soon as she called me out, whispers exploded."Uh-oh, Hedley's in trouble with Ms. Quindt again."Everyone thought Pierre was her boyfriend.No one knew I was her fiancé.In her office, she frowned."So I didn't come pick you up. Is that really worth sulking over and not coming home?"I shook my head. "Snow was too heavy. Didn't seem smart."True, but also a lie.I didn't want to go back. I wanted out.She didn't notice.After a pause, she said, "About the proposal... I'll say yes."Then handed me an invitation."Come with me tonight."Front row seats. My favorite o

Chapter 3

My phone wouldn't stop buzzing.Not Sonia worrying—just the news blowing up over the fireworks she'd planned for Pierre's birthday.I got home at dawn.Light still on.Sonia passed out on the couch.Was she waiting for me?Five years together, and it was always her coming home drunk.I used to call nonstop, scared she'd end up in a ditch.Used to make ginger tea, worried her stomach couldn't take the booze.She'd told me she hated that.Said it made her feel old.Maybe she heard the door, because she jolted up and rushed over to hug me."Where were you? Why didn't you answer? I almost called the cops!"I hesitated, pulled away, grabbed my phone—dead."It froze in the snow. Battery didn't last."At the word 'snow', something flickered in her face. Guilt, maybe.She pressed her lips tight, then awkwardly handed me a velvet box.I opened it. A ring.I froze.Once, I'd dreamed of this—Sonia at the clerk's office, hand out, waiting.But that was another lifetime.Now,

Chapter 4

"Hedley, you've got trouble today."I frowned. I'd already quit—what trouble could there be?He pointed ahead.Pierre was sitting at my desk.Daniel leaned in. "Today's his first day. First thing he did was claim your spot."I walked over, quiet.Pierre looked up, smirked. "I like this one. You can take another."I just nodded. "Sure. Let me grab my stuff."Didn't argue. Didn't flinch.But the room read it wrong—thought I was backing down.No one said a word.Pierre's "boyfriend privileges" with Sonia carried too much weight.They just stared, whispering, pity in their eyes.I packed up. Ready to go.Then Sonia showed up.Pierre rushed to her, hand out like he owned her.She let him. Then said,"This is Pierre. He's joining us today. Please take care of him."A few awkward claps.She didn't care."Picked a seat yet?"Pierre pointed straight at mine. "I want that one."Sonia looked over, finally seeing me with a box in hand.Her face shifted. "That spot's taken. P

Chapter 5

As the plane took off, I finally exhaled—like something heavy had snapped loose inside me.Phone on airplane mode. Eyes shut. Real sleep, at last.Sleep I'd been chasing for years.Soft music played in my ears, and for once, the past felt far away."Hedley Hart, you're finally free," I whispered, voice shaking.For years, I'd lived in her orbit.Loved her so hard I disappeared.Even after ninety-nine rejections, I never thought about quitting.I really thought the hundredth would be it.Thought if I just loved her hard enough, we'd finally make it to the altar.To her, my love was a joke.A game she played to see how far I'd crawl before I broke.She fed her ego on my devotion, but never once cared.I was just another option—a backup she could drop anytime.Everything I gave—every second, every bit of love—turned out to be worthless.So I left.Her. Quindt Corp. Carmoria.When the plane landed, I turned my phone back on.Messages poured in—all about Sonia.Of cours

Chapter 6

"Yesterday. Finished the paperwork, dipped.""Seriously? Why'd he bail like that?""You don't know? Ms. Quindt went to propose at the County Clerk's Office today and got ghosted!""What?! No way!""Swear. It's all over the news. Borevia City's eating it up! And guess who she was proposing to? Hedley.""This is insane. Is that even true?"Rumors caught fire fast.Hedley's exit plus Sonia's public humiliation became the office's favorite drama.Everyone replayed old moments like detectives.Little things suddenly looked like clues."Thinking about it now, the way Hedley treated her... kinda tragic.""Yeah. He did everything for her. Stayed late just to keep her company.""Too bad she went for Pierre instead."People loved a scandal. And this one had it all—Sonia the heartbreaker, Hedley the victim.***Sonia lost it.She called Hedley nonstop, but he'd already killed his phone.Didn't stop her, though.She hit up every employee, every contact—pulled every string she cou

Chapter 7

Pierre showed up at the County Clerk's Office in a spotless white suit—looking every bit the groom."Sonia, I came for you," he said, voice soft, too gentle.He handed her a slip of paper: the marriage license form."I heard you've been waiting here all day. I know you're hurting. If you want, we can get our license right now."He looked at her, full of hope.She looked past him—empty, cold."Get lost."Pierre froze.He hadn't seen that coming.He thought Hedley disappearing made him the winner.Yeah, no.He just stared, confused—how Hedley, the guy he wrote off, still owned her heart."Sonia, why are you doing this? I like you. I'd do anything. Am I still not better than Hedley Hart?" His voice cracked.Her tone cut sharp. "Get lost. I'll say it again—get lost."She shoved him aside and walked off.Pierre just stood there, stunned.Tears burned his eyes.That was it. Over.Cameras caught everything.By the time she was gone, the clip was already online.[What's goi

Chapter 8

I spent a month drifting. Cut off everyone. Everything.Then I booked a flight to Francia—time to face the family.The second the plane touched down, I could breathe again.Cold air. Sharp. Fresh.Dragging my suitcase through the crowd, I spotted her fast—Rainee. My sister."Hedley!" she yelled, thrilled, and pulled me in."Rainee." I hugged her back, throat tight."You're finally home. Come on." She squeezed my shoulder, eyes warm.Rainee kept talking on the drive—parents, Carmoria, random stuff.I threw in a few half-dead replies. My head was still stuck in the wreck I'd left."By the way, after you left, Sonia caused quite a scene."That name hit like static."Sonia?" I frowned. Of course. The last name I wanted to hear."She's been looking for you everywhere. Even made the news. Apparently, she camped at the County Clerk's Office every day to propose—said she'd keep waiting till you came back." Rainee laughed. "Lasted a month before giving up."I let out a cold laugh.

Chapter 9

I handed her the bin, not even glancing at it."Alright," she said, not asking a thing.I started settling in.With Rainee's help, I got a job, made a few friends. Life started lining up again.***At a company dinner, I met Faye Fitzroy.Elegant. Confident. The kind of woman who doesn't need to prove anything.After dinner, she offered me a ride."Hedley, you're from Borevia City?" she asked, eyes on the road."Yeah. How'd you know?""Your accent." She smiled. "I'm from Borevia too.""Nice to meet you, Faye." I kept it polite—no need to get close."It's rare to meet someone from home out here. Feels like fate," she said softly. "If you ever need anything, just ask.""Thanks." Warmth crept in. In a foreign place, that small connection meant something.We started hanging out—meals, movies, long walks.I didn't label it. Didn't want to.But over time, I saw it—she wasn't just beautiful. She was calm. Real.Being around her felt easy.Then one night—"Hedley, be my boyf

Chapter 10

Life was loud and full with everyone under one roof.Until one afternoon, someone showed up who shouldn't have."Hedley, someone's here to see you," Rainee said suddenly."Who?""You'll see." She gave me that knowing smile.I followed her out—and froze.Sonia."Hedley!" She rushed over, eyes all tangled up. "I finally found you!"It'd been so long I'd almost erased her from memory.Now, seeing her again just made my stomach turn.Before I could say a word, Faye stepped between us, sharp. "Who are you?""I'm Sonia," she said, chin up. "Hedley's girlfriend."Faye glanced at me."She's nobody," I said, voice flat. "Ignore her."Then to Sonia—cold, final. "We're done. Leave.""Hedley, I was wrong," she said, trembling soft. "I've spent five years thinking about you. Just give me one more chance. I'll fix everything.""Sonia Quindt, haven't you had enough?" I snapped. "It's over. Stop haunting me.""Hedley, I love you!" she shouted. "I can't watch you with someone else. You

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