All Chapters of I Loved You Once: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

11 Chapters

Chapter 1 Back to the Beginning

"I'm telling you, Somerset—just because we're poor doesn't mean we don't have dignity. Who do you think you are, humiliating us like this?" Harvey Thompson shoved me hard and pulled Tilly behind him, the look he leveled at me sharp and hostile.The familiar scene replayed itself so vividly that my mind went blank for a moment. Hadn't I already died, burned alive in that fire orchestrated by my wife and her beloved childhood sweetheart? Yet what stood before me now was the moment from 12 years ago, the day I had insisted on sponsoring Tilly.At this point in time, Tilly was still wearing a plain floral dress, a pink ribbon in her hair fluttering in the breeze like a butterfly caught in spring. A few loose strands framed her already pale face, making her look even more fragile and pitiful. That image of her—resilient yet delicate, like an untouched flower—had hooked me completely, turning me into someone who willingly hovered around her, asking for nothing in return.I had first met T

Chapter 2 Proof of Devotion

So, I asked my aunt, a designer, to help me commission a custom piece overseas. When it was finally finished, I brought it to Tilly with barely contained excitement. "Tilly, look—I had this specially commissioned for you through my aunt overseas. You'll look amazing in it."I watched her expectantly, but she only gave it a cold glance before saying, "Thanks, but no."Whispers immediately rippled through the room."What's Jenkins putting on an act for?""That's a privately commissioned foreign designer Lolita piece. It must be worth a fortune—Tilly could work a hundred jobs and still never afford it.""Oh, what would you know? I bet she's playing the long game, waiting to reel in a bigger fish."The sharp comments made Tilly's eyes redden instantly. Her hands hung stiffly at her sides, fingers clutching the faded hem of her washed-out floral dress, at a loss for what to do. I shot the room a single look, and everyone immediately fell silent before scrambling out of the classroom.

Chapter 3 Twelve Years of Devotion, Reduced to Ashes

She used the excuse of studio work to secretly meet Harvey, often staying out overnight. Even after I saw through it—on our wedding anniversary, no less—when I begged her to stay and spend the night with me, she still wouldn’t give me a single kind look."The more you cling to me like this, Jace, the more disgusted I feel."My persistence had turned into harassment in her eyes.Unable to feel even a shred of love or security, I began to spiral into suspicion, questioning her obsessively every time about why she treated me this way. In truth, I was only desperate to find even the slightest trace of love or care for me in her answers."Tilly Jenkins! After everything I've done for you, this is how you treat me?!" I shouted in despair, my heart already shattered.She finally stopped, but when she turned, her expression was colder than ever. "So what? You want me trailing after you like a dog, Mr. Somerset? I'm human. If you think you can trap me with a cage made of money, you're drea

Chapter 4 The Uninvited Shadow

Harvey immediately forcibly pulled Tilly away, then glared at me with undisguised contempt. "I never thought you were this kind of person, Somerset. Is it fun to toy with people like this? You rich people really do have endless tricks up your sleeves. Well, even without your lousy money, Tilly and I can still finish college."Harvey. Of course, it was him—how could I ever forget? Tilly's childhood sweetheart, the boy who grew up by her side, her so-called prince charming. The way things had fallen apart between Tilly and me hadn't happened by accident—he played a massive part in it.Right then, Harvey looked like a clown making a spectacle of himself, jumping around in outrage. He must be deeply disappointed now that I've decided to stop financially supporting Tilly.In my previous life, after I'd shoved my bank card into Tilly's hands and been humiliated by the two of them, I'd gone home and actually reflected on it. Tilly was sensitive by nature, and the way I'd so openly given he

Chapter 5 Thirty Thousand Reasons to Let Go

That was how, step by step, Tilly had slowly come to misunderstand me and drift farther and farther away.Thinking about it now, anger surged through me. I deliberately waved the bank card at Harvey and gloated, "What, disappointed? Inside this card is 300 thousand. A gutter rat like you wouldn't earn that in a lifetime."Since you think I'm humiliating you, fine—I won't sponsor you anymore. You poor people with such lofty morals wouldn't possibly care about a mere 300 thousand, right?" I smiled faintly, watching Harvey's expression twist, and my mood instantly lifted.Just as I turned to leave, Tilly suddenly grabbed hold of me. Her eyes trembled, as if they were packed with countless things she wanted to say but didn't know how to voice."Jace, how could you just stop supporting me?!" she shouted, but I only found her raised voice ridiculous."Don't you like me anymore?" The question came out cautiously, almost timidly—so much like how I used to sound when I stood before her, ca

Chapter 6 Money Talks

"I'm poor. I don't belong in your rich people's world."She used to say that every time. And to cater to her, I had deliberately cut myself off from classmates and friends alike. Given a second chance at life, I had no intention of depriving myself again."Hey, we're almost out of drinks and food. Call a server," someone said.Just as I'd expected, the servers who came over with fresh dishes and alcohol were Tilly and Harvey. The moment Tilly saw me, her hands paused mid-movement as she held the plates."What's wrong with you? Don't you know how to do your job?" someone complained.Another classmate quickly grabbed him. "Hey, don't say that. That's the girl Jace is pursuing—Tilly Jenkins."Everyone turned to look at me, waiting to see how I'd react."This place is expensive enough," I said coolly, "but their sense of order is seriously lacking. Is this really the kind of staff they send out to serve guests?"The table went silent in shock. After all, I'd always treated Tilly li

Chapter 7 Cutting Ties..

"If she can't finish school because you cut her off—if she starves to death—can you really take responsibility for that?"I wasn't in a hurry at all. The bigger the audience, the more entertaining it'd be. "I'm the reason she had to sell her blood, huh? I'm the reason she's broke, and just because I'm rich, I'm obligated to give it to you, is that it? You're terrible at making money, but you sure are experts at moral blackmail. You've got hands and feet, and you claim to love Tilly deeply—if she's already desperate enough to sell blood, why couldn't you even make sure she had a full meal? If that didn't work, you could've gone into some back alley business and taken customers. At least that way, your precious Tilly wouldn't starve."Scattered laughter instantly broke out around us."Yeah, that's textbook moral blackmail.""Being poor doesn't automatically make you right. People who never work hard and just want handouts are exhausting.""This is ridiculous—just because he's rich

Chapter 8 Old Promises, New Cracks

In the end, it had nothing to do with me. Becoming complete strangers in this lifetime was already the greatest mercy I was willing to grant them. All I wanted now was to run the family business properly and make the most of my own worth.I had just finished dealing with matters at a subsidiary when my phone rang. I picked it up, and a knowing smile spread across my face. "Ms. Clark, to what do I owe the pleasure of this call?"The caller was Sienna Clark, once my closest friend, who had gone abroad the moment we graduated from high school."I'm coming back tonight," she said brightly. "You're not seriously going to let me return without setting something up, are you?"I was a little surprised and asked why she had come back so suddenly."For you, of course!""For me?""I heard you finally gave up chasing Tilly. If I don't hurry back, what will I do if you set your sights on someone else?" she teased.I understood at once. I had always known that Sienna had feelings for me. Bac

Chapter 9 No Way Back

Whenever I brought Tilly fruit, he would say, "Wow, this box of cherries must've been expensive. Your world really is something people like us could never touch, Jace."And Tilly would immediately push the cherries aside and say stubbornly, "I like apples better."When I took Tilly to try on wedding dresses, he would linger nearby and comment, "You look stunning in a wedding gown, Tilly. Guess you're really about to step out of the poor world—figures. For girls, marriage really is the only way to change their fate."At that, Tilly would silently change out of the dress, pack up her things, and leave with a cool, detached, "A simple wedding will be fine."The sharp look in his eyes following every remark had been a clear signal—he hated me to the bone, yet I had been too stupid to see it."About that child…" Tilly explained guiltily. "That night was Mr. Thompson's death anniversary. Harvey and I had one too many and lost control. After that… I didn't want it to happen either, Jace.

Chapter 10 The Only Happiness That Remained

"Jace, we—""Focus on your recovery." I cut her off. "You can apply for disability assistance later. I'm leaving."Behind me came Tilly's anguished cries. "You don't want me anymore? Jace, you said I was your wife! Jace! I'm begging you—just look at me one last time, please… I'm begging you…"Her voice grew fainter as I walked out of the hospital. Waiting outside was Sienna, who had been there for quite a while."I thought you two would be talking much longer," she said."There was nothing left to say. That chapter's already closed."Sienna told me that Harvey had been sentenced to 12 years for multiple charges combined—attempted murder, loan-sharking tied to illegal gambling, and drug trafficking."Twelve years…" I murmured. It still felt far too lenient.Sienna smiled at me. "Don't worry. I've already made sure the right people know. In those 12 years, he'll regret ever being born."…Sienna and I were getting married, and on the eve of the wedding, I received an envelope.

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