All Chapters of Too Late for Us: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Chapter 1

After bringing my parents home and getting them settled, I finally got a call from Grayson Miller.He opened with an accusation, his voice sharp. "We got to the restaurant. Why is the private room empty? Your parents don't give a damn about our wedding, do they? I can't believe they'd show up late!"I paused for a second, then answered quietly, "Grayson, my parents waited with me for three hours. You never showed. It's not that we're not taking this seriously—it's that you and your family never took my parents seriously."There was a beat of silence on his end. When he spoke again, his tone had softened."Hazel got into grad school with full funding. Her parents came from out of town to celebrate. They don't know anyone here, and Hazel's just a student—she couldn't handle it alone. So I went to the station to pick them up. You know my family has sponsored Hazel for thirteen years. I've always thought of her as a little sister. I couldn't just ignore her parents."Grayson rarely bo

Chapter 2

I turned over, pulling away from Grayson's touch. "I thought you'd be spending the whole night with Hazel. Since she's still a student and all. Can't function without you."The bedroom light flipped on, harsh and sudden.Grayson got out of bed, annoyance creeping into his voice. "Mia, do you have to talk like that? I've explained it to you so many times. I only think of Hazel as a little sister. There's nothing going on between us."I didn't say anything. I just pulled out my phone and showed him Hazel's post.In the photos, inside the exact private room we had booked, Grayson's family and Hazel's family were sitting together, perfectly harmonious. In one picture, Grayson was lowering his head to peel shrimp for her. In another, Hazel was reaching down to touch his face. The two of them were so close they looked like they were about to press together.The caption read: [Meeting the parents! The guy who's sponsored me all these years is about to become my husband.]I held up m

Chapter 3

When I finally reached the hospital, I saw my mother lying on a stretcher bed in the hallway, crying silently.I ran over and saw my father's head—there was a large gaping wound. It had been hastily bandaged, but it was still bleeding."Where's the doctor? Where are the doctors? The wound is still bleeding—why isn't anyone treating him?"My mother hesitated for a long time before finally speaking. "There's only one emergency doctor on duty. And there was only one temporary room left. Grayson told him... told him to save someone else first."Blood rushed to my ears. I stood up, and just then, the door to the room behind me opened.Hazel was clinging to Grayson, her eyes red, her voice soft and fragile. "Thank you, Grayson. I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't dropped Mia's parents to come help me."Grayson patted her back gently and spoke softly. "Your parents are my parents. Don't say things like that. Stop crying. Your eyes are all swollen."I couldn't hold back anym

Chapter 4

When Grayson saw me, he stood up. After a brief silence, he spoke. "Hazel's parents are going to be staying with us for a while. Weren't your parents leaving soon anyway? So I had someone take their things out ahead of time."I curled my lips into a bitter smile. "Grayson, I never realized before. You really are such a wonderful son-in-law."Then, without acknowledging the three wary pairs of eyes in the living room, I went back to the bedroom by myself.Grayson followed me in and tried to smooth things over, the way he always did. "Don't be mad, Mia. I already booked your parents a five-star hotel. I'll drive their luggage over later. The Watsons are guests, after all. We can't lose face."I didn't say anything. I kept packing.Grayson came up close and started folding clothes for me. "Mia, I feel like you've been so distant lately. Hazel already got into grad school. If it really bothers you that much, I'll cut back on seeing her. Okay?"Then, like a kid showing off a prize

Chapter 5

I cut Grayson's mother off. "Mrs. Miller, I've already broken up with Grayson. If something happened, you should call Hazel. Don't call me anymore. It's not like you ever approved of me and my family anyway, right?"On the other end of the line, her voice turned sharp with anger. "Mia, what is that supposed to mean? How much has Grayson done for you? He nearly tore our family apart to marry you. And now that something's happened to him, this is your attitude?"I stayed silent, thinking back to when Grayson and I first got together.Back then, I thought his family was just a little better off than mine. I didn't realize he came from real wealth. Three months into the relationship, his mother found me. No cliché movie moment of throwing a check at me. She just sat there, looked me up and down, took a sip of her coffee, and said, elegantly, "Mia, I heard you're from a small town down south? I don't know if you're familiar with a term we use up north when families talk about marriage.

Chapter 6

My thoughts drifted back from the distant past. On the other end of the phone, Grayson's mother had gone from angry shouting to pleading."Mia, I was wrong. A thousand times wrong, it's all my fault. "You didn't show up to the engagement party. You gave the ring and the dress to Hazel. Grayson waited for you forever, and when you didn't come, he saw that Hazel had taken your things. He trashed the whole venue in a rage. "Hazel said you left, but he refused to believe her. He ran out of the hall. He said he was going to find you. And then... then he got into a car accident. "Right before he lost consciousness, he was calling your name. Mia, please. I'm begging you. Come see him. He... he might not make it this time..."She couldn't speak anymore. All that came through was the sound of painful, choked sobs.I gripped my phone so hard my fingers turned white.Right before my nails could dig into my palm, someone gently held my hand.I turned my head and saw my parents' worried

Chapter 7

On the other end, Grayson's mother stared blankly at the phone she had just hung up.Nearby, Hazel's shrill crying continued.She looked up, glanced at Hazel with disdain, and snapped, "Grayson is in surgery. He can't see you putting on this pathetic act. You can drop the pretense."Hazel's face stiffened. Then her eyes welled up again. She turned to Grayson's mother and said, "What do you mean by that? I'm just worried about Grayson."Grayson's mother looked at her and laughed coldly. "You really think I can't see through your little act? I didn't like Mia back then, so I played along with you just to make her miserable. But looking back now, what a waste. I traded gold for garbage..."Hazel opened her mouth to argue, but the door to the operating room swung open.Grayson's mother forgot about Hazel immediately. She rushed forward, frantic. "Doctor, doctor, how is my son?"The doctor took off his mask and looked at them. "His vital signs have stabilized. But..."Under the anxi

Chapter 8

I never expected to see Grayson again.I also never expected to see him like this.He was leaning on a cane. His coat hung on him, but he no longer looked handsome or confident. He was too thin. So thin that his cheekbones jutted out, giving his once-handsome face a harsh, almost sinister look.When he saw me, he lurched forward excitedly on his cane. His eyes glistened. When he spoke, his voice was hoarse."Mia... that engagement party... Hazel had nothing to do with it. The nine hundred and ninety-nine red roses—I picked every single one myself. The invitations—I stayed up all night writing each one by hand. The venue—I ran around for weeks, looked at place after place, until I found the one you would love most. I alone decided on the starry sky theme. I thought you would come."I stood where I was. After a moment of silence, I said, "When my parents traveled a few thousand miles to discuss our wedding... I thought you would show up too."Grayson's face went pale in an instant.

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