All Chapters of What Bloomed After Goodbye : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

Caleb's face went dark.He grabbed my wrist. "Mira Massey, you done making a scene?"He leaned in, voice low, anger barely held back."You even know what today is? You really gonna throw a tantrum right now?"I didn't argue. I peeled his hand off and walked for the exit, done with this sick excuse of a wedding.He grabbed me again, yanked me back."They're just a few photos. A joke. Is that really worth this?" His voice edged with impatience. "Think about the bigger picture. Our families are here. Everyone's watching. You make a scene, what are people gonna think?"I snapped my head toward him."A scene? Open your eyes. Who's making a scene here?"The giant screen still blasted those photos.He and Holly—locked together, way too close.Caleb's eyes flickered. His voice softened, but it was the same excuse."It was just a game. A punishment. We were drunk. Nothing happened. We've been together five years. Can't you give me that much trust?"He dipped his head, almost coaxin

Chapter 2

It wasn't anything new. Just Caleb leaning on the same excuse that always worked.My family? His free pass to do whatever he wanted.Deep down, he really believed he was above me. Like marrying me was him settling.Only now did it click. This whole thing was never equal. It should've ended a long time ago.I took a breath, swallowing the lump in my throat, and nodded."You're right." My voice came out calm—too calm. "With a family like mine, I'm not worthy of you, Caleb. So yeah... 'Mrs. Gorman'? I'll pass. Give it to whoever you think fits better."A flicker of panic crossed Caleb's eyes. "Mira, that's not what I meant—"He didn't get to finish.Holly stood, walked straight over.White strapless gown. Full skirt. Flawless makeup. She looked like a second bride.She stopped between us, fake surprise all over her face."Mira, you're not seriously mad over something this small, are you?"I glanced at her. Said nothing.She rolled her eyes, annoyed. "Why are you so petty? It'

Chapter 3

She made a whole show of leaving, looking wronged.Caleb grabbed her wrist. "Holly, we've known each other for over twenty years. How are we supposed to just cut ties?"She spun back, pointing at me, voice sharp with resentment. "Then what do you want me to do? Your bride treats me like I'm trying to steal her place. If I don't leave, what am I supposed to do? This way, she can finally get married in peace, right?"Every word hit like an accusation.Like I was the problem. The one making a scene. The one pushing her out.I didn't have it in me to argue. Didn't want to watch their act anymore.I walked out without looking back.Caleb came after me.Outside the hotel, he caught up, already impatient."If you're still upset, fine. We'll postpone the wedding. When you calm down, we'll do it again."I let out a sharp laugh. "Do it again? Next time is she putting your bed pics on the big screen?""Mira!" His face went red. "Take one more step, and you deal with the consequences."

Chapter 4

Then I collapsed onto the bed and passed out.I don't know how long I slept. Violent pounding on the door yanked me awake."Mira! Open up! Now!"I rubbed my throbbing forehead and dragged myself to the door.Outside—my dad, hooked on gambling, and my younger brother, Brandon.The second my dad walked in, he lit a cigarette like he owned the place, smoke drifting everywhere.The small living room filled up fast.Brandon dropped onto my couch, slouched like he didn't care.My dad took a drag and went off. "What was that today? A perfectly good wedding, and you just canceled it? You trying to kill me?"Your mom died too early—no one taught you. A daughter obeys her father, then her husband."The Gormans have everything. They didn't even look down on us, and you still humiliated them."Brandon chimed in, lazy as ever. "Mira, I'm the only son. I carry the family name. Caleb said once you married him, he'd back me, set me up. You're supposed to support me. Now you wrecked the wedd

Chapter 5

"You can't pull that again. A family like the Gormans? Plenty of girls want in.""You're lucky Caleb's patient enough to put up with you. Anyone else would've dumped you.""We're doing this for you. Don't act ungrateful."I tuned them out, stood up. "I'm tired. I'm going to bed."Neither of them moved.Dad frowned. "Debt collectors are all over our place. We go back, we're getting beaten. We'll stay here tonight."Brandon stretched out on the couch like he owned it. "Anyway, Caleb's picking you up tomorrow. Once the debts are paid, we'll go home. One night won't kill us."I didn't argue.It was my last night here anyway.I turned and went into the bedroom, closing the door behind me.Not long after, my phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number:[Your flight details have been sent to your phone. I'll be waiting at Parisse Airport.]My fingers paused for a second.Then I typed back one word:[Okay.]Late that night, I packed a small suitcase—just my ID, bank cards, and a

Chapter 6

Third-Person POVBy the time Mira arrived in Parisse, golden light poured through the airport windows, and the air faintly smelled of coffee.Mira shut off the surveillance feed.She dragged her suitcase and glanced up at the unfamiliar sky.The weight on her chest—five years heavy—finally started to ease.Pierre was already waiting at the airport. When he saw her, he pulled her into a quick, gentle hug."I knew you wouldn't stay stuck."It hit her right in the softest spot.Five years. She gave Caleb everything.She'd gone from a naive girl to a bride in white—only to get stabbed at the altar by the man she loved and his so-called girl best friend.It wasn't her. They just never deserved her.The design academy in Parisse moved fast—no breathing room. Mira poured everything into it.Days in the studio, reworking materials, sketches, and show concepts over and over.Nights buried in research and drafts until she passed out the second her head hit the pillow. No time to loo

Chapter 7

For the first time, real panic hit him.The girl who used to wait for him, put up with him, put him first—she was done.***While Mira buried herself in work in Parisse, everyone back in Arlencia started paying for what they'd done.Holly got hit first.After the wedding, Caleb turned cold. The favoritism? Gone.He told her straight up—don't contact him again.Twenty-plus years of friendship, over.Holly panicked.She'd thought once Mira was gone, the Mrs. Gorman title would be hers.She'd always been jealous. Why did some quiet girl from a regular family get Caleb's attention?She wanted to wreck the wedding. Humiliate Mira.She got it wrong.Caleb could spoil her. Joke around. But marry her? Never.To him, she was just a playmate who never grew up.After Caleb iced her out, Holly refused to accept defeat. She hit the bars again, hunting for someone new, still playing the sweet, innocent best friend.That's when she met Derek—handsome, smooth talker.He was generous,

Chapter 8

Without Caleb backing them, Robert drowned in gambling debt. Brandon's bad investments left him owing a fortune. Creditors showed up every day.They trashed the place, threatening to break their legs if they didn't pay.Robert and Brandon were too scared to go home. They just hid.At first, they tried calling Mira. Nothing. Messages sent, no reply.They even thought about going to Francia to find her, but they couldn't afford a flight.With no way out, the two of them ended up begging under an overpass.To get more cash, they wrapped their legs in cloth, faked injuries, and crawled around begging.By day, they played miserably for spare change. At night, they hid under the bridge, living off scraps, always watching for creditors.The same Robert and Brandon who once acted above everyone—who made Mira give up her happiness—were now worse off than strays.No one to blame but themselves.***Three years flew by.Mira's name blew up in the global fashion scene.She went from w

Chapter 9

Mira slipped her hand free, eyes cold—like he was nothing."Mr. Gorman, have some respect."That one "Mr. Gorman" drew the line.Lucien stepped in, easing her behind him. His gaze stayed cool. "Touch my girlfriend again, and you won't leave Parisse."Caleb looked at them standing together, close.His chest felt like it had been ripped open—but he couldn't do a thing.All he could do was watch the treasure he threw away get cherished by someone else.Back in Arlencia, Caleb fell apart.He stopped caring about the company. Blew money, made bad calls—until the Gorman family went broke.The house, the cars, the business—gone. All sold to cover debt.The golden boy lost everything overnight.He fell from the top straight into the dirt—and learned how cold people really were.Friends, partners—everyone vanished.Only then did he get what Mira went through.Didn't mean he deserved pity.With nowhere left, he left the big cities and settled in some small, random town. Picked up

Chapter 10

Mira's voice stayed calm. "Mr. Gorman, I forgot about the past a long time ago."Forgot.One word. Sharper than any accusation.She wasn't holding a grudge. She just didn't care.His regret, his fall, his pain—it meant nothing."I'm doing great now. I'm happy." She glanced at Lucien, warmth in her eyes. "My husband loves me. My career's thriving. I don't need—or want—to forgive anyone. Please don't disturb my life again."She looped her arm through Lucien's and stood.She didn't look back.Caleb stayed frozen, staring at her back. Then it hit. He dropped into a crouch and started sobbing.People glanced over, whispering. He didn't care.He'd finally felt a sliver of what Mira went through.Loving someone who didn't love you back. Regret that showed up too late. Wanting something you could never get again.He had it coming.***Mira never saw Caleb again.She heard he stayed in that small town, living a quiet, forgettable life.The former rich kid was just another guy no

SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP