All Chapters of No Longer Stuck Waiting: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Chapter 1

The screen flashed to confirm that the marriage appointment had been successfully canceled right as my fiancé, Lucas Vance, stepped out of the bathroom.Seeing me sitting motionless on the edge of the bed, he glanced at the wall clock and knit his brows. "Is there something you need to say? It's almost nine o'clock. I need to get some rest."I stared at him for two hollow seconds before quietly shaking my head. "No."He nodded dismissively. "Alright. Sleep tight."Oblivious to any shift in my demeanor, he turned on his heels and walked cleanly back into his bedroom.I sat in the dim light, my mind a complete blank. Just as I prepared to stand up, the blacked-out laptop screen suddenly flared to life.Synced seamlessly with his phone, the notification of an incoming call from Lila Winters popped up. And the man who claimed he couldn't speak, text, or look at a device after 9:00 p.m. to protect his strict sleep schedule—answered the call in a second.It was as if he were terrified

Chapter 2

On my way back, my phone buzzed with a call from my director. He needed me to run a quick errand at Eliford University's Department of Literature to retrieve a set of files for him.As I hung up, a weary sigh escaped my lips. I was doing everything in my power to draw a line between us, yet fate seemed determined to mock me.Lucas was a tenured professor in that exact department.When I arrived on campus, the walkways were swarming with students navigating the peak class rush. Certain fragments of conversation became impossible to ignore."I can't believe I actually managed to snag a seat in Professor Vance's lecture! His enrollment is literally cutthroat.""Right? All the girls register hoping to get his attention, and half the guys only show up because of Miss Winters, his TA. Honestly, they look like a total power couple."...My footsteps faltered, slowing to a crawl as a sudden, familiar wave of bitterness flooded my chest. We had been together for five long years, yet I ha

Chapter 3

The moment the car pulled up at the Vance Mansion, Eloise Vance was seen waiting at the entrance.The vehicle had barely come to a halt before Lila threw her door open, rushing forward to link her arm with the older woman's."Mrs. Vance, the wind is brutal out here," she said sweetly. "Why did you come out? Please, let's get you inside.""I was waiting for you, dear," Eloise smiled graciously. "I arranged for you to work with Lucas. Sorry if it's been hard on you. That boy can be quite difficult."Lila glanced at Lucas, who was standing nearby with a soft smile. The tips of her ears flushed a delicate pink. "Mr. Vance is quite nice. It has been great to work with him."They started walking inside together. Eloise had already cleared several paces before she seemed to suddenly remember my existence.She turned back, the warmth instantly evaporating from her eyes. "Edith, come on in. Don't catch a cold."That single, obligatory sentence was the entirety of her welcome.Lucas step

Chapter 4

On the way home, Lila remained nestled in the front passenger seat. Behind the wheel, Lucas decided to drop her off at her apartment first.I sat in the back, discussing rental details with my new landlord in France.Once Lila was out, Lucas told me, "Move up front."I didn't even lift my head. "No need."He paused. "Whatever."I ignored his irritation entirely, looking at the photos of the bright, sunlit apartment. I liked it and immediately paid the deposit.When we got home, Lucas pulled an album out of his briefcase and walked over to me. "Take a look."I picked it up and flipped open the cover, only to realize it was a catalogue of custom bridal gowns."Pick one. The wedding is only a month away, and the vendors need time to prepare." He pointed to a gown adorned with intricate, three-dimensional pear-blossom lace. "I think this one is quite nice."A flash of disdain crossed my eyes. That was what Lila liked. He really thought about her in everything.In the past, I woul

Chapter 5

Lucas, who was staying with Lila in the faculty dormitory at Eliford University, suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest.Lila looked up at him anxiously. "Lucas, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? You look pale."Lucas took a deep breath. After a moment, the pain eased a little. He prepared some medicine and had Lila drink it."I'm fine." He thought for a while but couldn't figure out why it had happened, so he stopped trying. "Maybe I got too worked up earlier. My heart is still racing."Lila's ears flushed red. Thinking back to what had happened tonight, she still felt lingering fear."Thank you," she muttered. "If you hadn't come, I might have... Please don't tell your mother. She'll worry and won't be able to sleep."Lucas offered a reassuring nod. Looking down at her trembling frame, noting the lingering terror that prevented her from closing her eyes, he pressed his lips into a thin line."Sleep. I'll stay here with you tonight," he said.A glimmer of smug satisfactio

Chapter 6

Lucas stared at the text in shock. "Calling off the wedding? Edith? How is that possible?"Just last night, we were looking at wedding dresses together. Yet his fingertips trembled slightly as he clicked into my profile.It was nearly empty. Only one post was pinned at the very top.[To all our friends and family who received our wedding invitation, I'm sorry. Lucas and I have called off the engagement. The ceremony is canceled. Wishing you all the best.]That was it, crisp and final.Lucas's pupils trembled. He read those sentences over and over, as if trying to burn a hole through the screen.The students in the classroom exchanged confused glances."What's wrong with Mr. Vance? He looks like he just saw a ghost.""Who knows? Honestly, if it weren't for credits, I wouldn't even be here. What a hypocrite!"...Right then, the youngest professor in the Literature Department bolted out of the classroom, leaving a room full of stunned students behind.The news of Lucas skippin

Chapter 7

Spring turned to autumn, and then a full year passed.Time for me had simply become the rising and setting of the sun, the ebb and flow of the tides.I had long since settled into my work and life in France. I knew nothing about what was happening back home and had deleted everyone connected to the Vance family.I never thought I would see Lucas again. He was the last person I wanted to see, but fate had other plans.One day after work, I saw a solitary figure standing under the dim streetlight not far away. I stopped in my tracks.When he saw me, his eyes swirled with turbulent emotions I couldn't read.I turned to leave, but he rushed forward and pulled me into a trembling embrace. "I'm sorry..."I was a little surprised by those words. I had assumed he was here to confront me. Yet here he was, apologizing to me.I gently pushed him away. "I received it."Then I turned to leave. As we passed each other, Lucas grabbed my arm, his pupils shaking."I've been looking for you fo

Chapter 8

When I arrived at the hospital, Lucas was lying in the hospital bed with his eyes tightly closed. His face was deathly pale.In the five years we had been together, I had never seen him like this. But I only gave him a cold glance, hoping he wouldn't die and ruin my luck.Just as I was about to leave, he suddenly opened his eyes. His voice was hoarse. "Edith..."I paused and turned around. Our eyes met—one calm, the other filled with deep sorrow."Do you hate me that much?" he murmured, his eyes stinging with tears.He remembered how, every time he had stomach pain or a fever in the past, I had been there taking care of him. For years, I had cooked for him. Gradually, his stomach issues had become less serious.Often when he woke up, he would find me asleep at the edge of the bed, my hand still holding his. Every time he saw that, his heart would soften a little.But he had always believed he shouldn't show his emotions too openly, so when I woke up, he would go back to his usua

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