All Chapters of It Was Never Love to Begin With: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

Marvin Huckabee, my brother, called not long after.I could hear the relief in his voice through the call, surely because he thought I had finally let go of the man I had loved for years.What he did not know was that the man I was madly in love with…was his best friend, Devin Woodford.After hanging up, I picked up the resignation letter I already prepared and headed for HR. However, the process stalled at the final step."Ms. Huckabee, if you want to resign within a week, you'll need the CEO's signature for approval."Devin again. Even at the very end, I still could not avoid him.I tightened my grip on my phone, walked to the end of the empty hallway, and dialed that all-too-familiar number.The ringing went on for a long time. Just as I thought no one would pick up, the line clicked. A strange female voice came through."Hello? Looking for Devin? He's in the shower…"In the shower…Those three words stabbed my chest like a thousand poisoned needles. Nonetheless, my voic

Chapter 2

In the corner, all my luggage was piled up like garbage. It was a chaotic mess of things that once held meaning.The diamond necklace Devin had given me was crushed beyond recognition, and the pair of mugs we made together were shattered into pieces.He sighed softly."None of this is worth much anyway. Just throw it out. If you need something, I'll buy you new ones."'Not worth much'?My gaze fell on a small, colorful glass jar among the wreckage.The lid had broken open, revealing the folded paper stars inside. There were 1001 of them, each one I had made back when I secretly loved him, each carrying a bit of affection I never dared to speak aloud.I picked up the cracked jar, then tossed it along with the other broken gifts into the trash bin nearby.Devin's brows furrowed instantly, but I just smiled faintly."You're right, Mr. Woodford. Things that aren't worth anything should be thrown away when they're dirty or broken."That included my foolish, misplaced feelings.Ig

Chapter 3

A flash of triumph crossed Melissa's face as she nestled into Devin's arms, her voice sweet and coy."Then fire her! I don't ever want to see her again!"Devin's brows tightened almost imperceptibly, a faint hesitation flickering in his eyes.Seeing that, Melissa picked up the cup of hot honey water on the desk, and in the very next second, she screamed as she flung it toward me."Ah! Dev, it's hot!"Her scream was sharp enough to pierce through the air. As she clutched her reddened fingertips, Devin's face instantly darkened.His cold gaze locked on me, completely ignoring the angry burns spreading across my bare arm."Jennifer! You've been with me for four years, and you can't even handle something this simple? Were you targeting Mel on purpose?"Before I could explain, he turned to call his secretary in."Ms. Lane, Ms. Huckabee made a serious mistake. Dock her full month's salary and bonus! Also, announce her error publicly in next week's company meeting!"Nancy Lane sho

Chapter 4

When the call ended, Devin stood frozen.'Getting married.' Those words echoed in his headspace.'She's getting married?' plagued the thought.Me, the girl who had trailed behind him for years like a shadow, was going to marry someone else.He could not quite describe the feeling that crept into his chest. Was it relief that I had finally let him go, or an inexplicable sense of loss he did not want to name?Devin stayed where he was for a long time, unmoving.It was not until Melissa, who had been waiting in the hospital room, called out to him that he snapped back to reality."Dev, what's wrong?"He looked at the woman standing before him.He never thought I was anything like Melissa.The first time he met me, I was still a timid college girl, standing behind my brother, listening quietly while the two men joked around.His first impression of me had been simple: obedient.Later, when I graduated from college, I insisted on staying in Kohille, so Marvin asked him to look a

Chapter 5

"Let's change the sofa too, okay? And also..."Devin pressed his fingers to his temples, the first flicker of impatience showing on his usually calm face."Change them however you want. I'm heading to the office."With that, he turned and drove away without another glance at Melissa despite her voice chasing after him, shrill and angry.…The air in his office felt strangely empty.No bread or milk on the wooden desk was waiting for him as usual. Even the drawer where I used to keep his hangover medicine held only an empty bottle.He sighed and asked the secretary to bring him a coffee, yet the first sip tasted wrong. It was too bitter, the milk-to-coffee ratio completely off."Why does the coffee taste different today?"The secretary hesitated, lowering her voice carefully. "Sir, your coffee used to be made by Ms. Huckabee…"Me again.For the first time, Devin realized just how deeply I had woven myself into the small, ordinary corners of his life.Every quiet morning, eve

Chapter 6

"Do you know what you look like right now?" I asked. "You're just like a clown."Devin's pupils contracted sharply. He forced out a stiff, almost pitiful smile."Don't be like this, Jennifer. You can't just marry some random guy just to get back at me."I stared at that face I once thought was perfect now twisted with panic and denial. Suddenly, it all felt meaningless.The man I'd loved for years wasn't so extraordinary after all.A cold laugh slipped from my lips."Devin, who exactly are you to me? Why would I do anything just to spite you?"His breath caught. The certainty in my voice and the finality in my gaze... It all hit him like ice water.Only then did he realize my eyes no longer held the same light they once did.My gaze only held indifference, detachment, and the faintest trace of mockery.The love was gone. Snuffed out entirely.Something in his chest twisted–tight, sharp, and irreversible–like a wound that refused to close.He managed a thin, bitter smile.H

Chapter 7

"Well, to be honest, I've been loving you for a long time."I froze, staring at Francis in disbelief.What did he just say? He loved me?Was this marriage not just a task, something arranged by our families to tie up old obligations?Francis's ears flushed red under my gaze."Did you forget?" he said softly. "We've met before."Of course I remembered.I was seven that year, and he was eight. The Sinclair family had just moved into the villa next door, and I had been full of curiosity about the new boy who was supposedly my age.It was not for any special reason. To be exact, it was because he was…beautiful.I used to run over excitedly to find him, but luck was never on my side. Not once did I manage to see him.That was until one rainy afternoon after school.A group of boys had cornered him under the eaves, demanding money. I, back then still carrying my childish hero dreams, had burst out of nowhere, swinging a stick like a tiny knight-errant and chasing those bullies awa

Chapter 8

Devin's expression stiffened slightly when he saw me walk out."Jennifer," he called out.He looked worn out–nothing like the proud, confident man I once knew.I sighed, already sensing there was no escaping this conversation. "What is it?" I asked.I stopped walking, keeping my distance.He stood one step below, while I stayed on the porch above. He had to look up at me."Have things really gotten so distant between us?" he asked quietly.I gave a faint laugh. "There's no point pretending otherwise, is there?"Pain flickered in his eyes, his lips parting as if he wanted to say more but could not.After a long silence, he finally gave in. "Jennifer, if I tell you I love you, can we start over? I'll treat you right this time, I swear."I stared at him, stunned. "Devin, I'm married."I lifted my hand and showed him the ring on my finger. "You want to be the other man now?""What's wrong with that?" he said, deadly serious, each word landing hard. "As long as you're willing."

Chapter 9

Having said my piece, I yanked my hand free and walked back into the house with Francis.When Devin finally left, the only thing left on the front steps was the burn ointment he had brought from the hospital that day.Medicine came with an expiration date, and so did my love for him.I nudged Francis's arm. "You heard everything, didn't you?""Yeah.""So…are you upset? I spent so much time explaining and talking to him."He smiled softly. "No. It's good that you cleared things up with him. I know you'd never cross the line."Unlike Devin, who always carried a faint edge of hostility, Francis was like spring sunlight: gentle, warm, steady.A quiet warmth bloomed in my chest again, and I whispered, "Thank you, hubby."He stiffened. "What?"I turned my head away, suddenly embarrassed. "I said… Thank you, hubby."He froze. Then, his voice came out shaky. "Can you…say it again?""Oh my god, you're so annoying. Hubby, hubby, hubby! There, happy now?"I was too embarrassed to say

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