Lahat ng Kabanata ng Goodbye, Everyone: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

I had spent an entire month planning the seaside birthday trip for myself. I thought he would at least keep me in mind on that very day. I had booked a beach house, picked out a restaurant, and even made a special reservation for dinner that promised a view of the fireworks.I thought it would be a romantic getaway for just Shane Leonberg and me.The morning we were supposed to leave, the doorbell rang.I opened the door to find his childhood sweetheart, Vera Cannon, on my doorstep. She was holding her four-year-old daughter in her arms.“Shane thought it would be a good idea to show us around the seaside and get the little one some fresh air.”Vera was dressed in a flowing white chiffon dress, with full makeup on, and a designer bag over her shoulder. She looked like she was going to a photoshoot rather than a casual beach trip.With a sweet smile, she added, “I told him it might not be appropriate and that it’d get in the way of your plans, but Shane told me you said it was

Shane, together with Vera and Arielle, finally arrived at the roadside where he had left me that morning.The street was dim under the yellow glow of the streetlights. The air was thick with moisture.I was long gone. Only the empty street and the sigh of the sea wind remained.A frown creased his brow as a flicker of unnameable dread stirred in his chest. Just then, his phone buzzed.A text flashed across the screen:[Don’t bother coming. I’m already home.]He instinctively sighed in relief.But the uneasiness only grew.I was packing my things in the villa.The familiar scent of the room made it hard to breathe.He called me. I watched his name light up on the screen, but I did not answer.I did not know whether to cry or to laugh.Maybe I never should have let myself hope for anything in the first place.I remember the first time I saw Vera.I was ten years old. I was finally home with my birth parents, Jack and Marie Grayson, after being in foster care for years.I

By meal time, I had not returned home.Marie was a little irritated. “What’s taking Indy so long?”Jim was playing a game on his phone. Without even looking up, he said, “She’s probably doing it on purpose. She’s trying to ruin the dinner for everyone! Don’t worry about her, Mom. She’ll be back soon.”Jack put his fork down with a frown. “Where did she even go? Why isn’t she back yet? Didn’t Shane go after her? Why’re they taking so long?”Marie let out an exasperated sigh. “Who knows? She’s probably dragging her feet because Shane went after her. She’s a grown woman but acts like this for attention. Why isn’t Shane back yet?”Instead of worrying about me, they were more worried about Shane.Meanwhile, Shane was searching for me everywhere.In a desperate attempt to make up to me, he had even gone to an auction and bought an exorbitantly expensive ruby necklace.He called me, but my phone was off.Then, he drove to all the places I usually went, but I was nowhere to be found.

Holding the tattered wedding dress in his arms, Shane walked into my room.The moment he pushed the door open, he was stunned at the sight that greeted him.My room had been completely transformed into a little girl’s dance studio. The walls were covered with photos of Arielle in ballet poses. The pink carpet was scattered with her shoes and toys.There was no trace of my things in that room. Shane’s eyes were wide with disbelief as he stared at the scene before him.He pressed a hand to his chest. He could feel a dull ache spreading inside.So, this was how little Indy mattered in this family!At that moment, he finally understood how helpless and heartbroken I must have felt when I was left behind.Shane walked out of the room with the ruined wedding dress in his arms.As he passed through the living room, Jim looked up and was stunned for a second.Shane shot him a cold glance and said in a low voice, “Jim, does your family really see Indy as one of your own?”Jim’s fa

As I stepped out of the Leonberg house, I ran into someone familiar.It was Jim.He was no longer the reckless, entitled young man I used to know. He had matured into a steadier, more grounded gentleman.When he saw me, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, followed by a smile.“Indy, you’re back! You’ve gotten even prettier. I almost didn’t recognize you!”I offered a smile in return. “You’ve changed, too, Jim.”He scratched his head and looked a little sheepish.“I went through some things. I guess I finally grew up.”After a pause, he glanced at me and said, “Indy, will you come back home? Mom and Dad have really missed you.”I paused for a moment, then nodded. “Okay.”I had planned to visit them anyway. I wanted to let them know I was safe.Jim and I had just arrived at the house when we were met with a commotion outside the front gate. “Mrs. Grayson, please just let us in.”“We know we were wrong. Please give us a chance.”It was Vera and her mother, Mrs. Cannon.