All Chapters of When Waiting Ended: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Chapter 1 The Promise

My excitement turned to shock. I tightened my grip on my phone and quickly hid the photo of Silas and me behind the darkened screen.Compared to the wedding portrait, the photo on my lock screen was just like our relationship. It had to stay hidden.After the plane landed, I tried calling Silas the entire way from the airport to his company headquarters, but he never picked up.The receptionist glanced meaningfully at my suitcase. Her polite tone carried a hint of contempt. "Miss, Mr. Sterling's office isn't a hotel. Not just anyone can walk in."The robotic voice on my phone repeated that the call could not be completed. Her words stung, and I froze for a moment. Just as I was about to explain, I heard Silas' indulgent voice behind me. "Slow down."Seraphina Shaw skipped through the front entrance and threw herself into his arms with a pout. "Silas, come with me to get my hair done."Silas skillfully declined the phone call that kept vibrating in his hand. He had already opened

Chapter 2 The Wedding Invitation

Back at the apartment we used to rent, Silas helped me make the bed.As he worked, I caught sight of the tattoo on the inside of his arm—a string of numbers I had never seen before.His phone was lying on the table. I woke the screen, swiped past the wallpaper of him kissing Seraphina on the beach, and entered those numbers.The phone unlocked.Silas walked out of the room, his brow immediately furrowing with suspicion. "Were you looking through my phone?"I lowered my eyes and quietly said, "We're breaking up."The power suddenly went out, plunging the apartment into darkness."Breaking up?" Silas asked in disbelief. "Because of Seraphina? I already told you, she's just a business partner. Everything between us is strictly business. I'm doing this for my career—for our future. You've always been so understanding. Don't do this."I stared into the darkness, my voice barely above a whisper. "Silas, I'm not going to be the other woman."He froze."The other woman?" he shot back

Chapter 3 The Other Woman

Outside the hotel ballroom, I unexpectedly ran into Silas and a group of his friends."What a perfect match. An arranged marriage that turned into true love. They were made for each other.""What about the one in Southport? Haven't you two gone two years without seeing each other?""Let's not talk about her."The way they talked about it, Silas and Seraphina looked so sweet together, so perfectly matched that the arranged marriage barely warranted a mention.And me. I was nothing more than the "let's not talk about her" that followed a brief silence.I stepped outside, and Silas looked up and spotted me. "What are you doing here?""Getting something to eat."He reached out to touch my face, but I turned my head away. He let out a quiet sigh, transferred me some money, and said, "Make sure you eat well. You've lost so much weight these past two years. After you're done, go buy yourself some new clothes. I'm here for a business dinner. I've been busy these last few days, so be

Chapter 4 The Truth

Silas hurried back to the hotel ballroom, already trying to figure out how to clean up the disaster.For the first time, he even felt a flicker of resentment toward me.But he also knew how much the wedding, and everything said there, must have hurt me. So even though I had ruined the ceremony, he had no intention of holding it against me.Once I had a chance to calm down at the apartment, he would go back, hold me in his arms, comfort me, and explain everything. He was sure I would soften and give in.Once he had full control of the company, he would divorce Seraphina and finally give me the wedding I had always dreamed of.Silas pushed open the ballroom doors, only to find that nearly all the guests had already left.His parents, Simon and Phoebe, stood there with grim expressions. The moment Simon saw him, he hurled his wineglass at Silas' feet."Look what your lover has done!" he roared. "The Shaw family treasures their only daughter. How could they tolerate you humiliating

Chapter 5 The Final Goodbye

Silas ran over and grabbed my luggage cart. The moment he realized it was me, panic filled his eyes. "What are you doing here? Where are you going? This is the international departures terminal!"I shook off his hand. "Did you come looking for me?"Silas froze.Seraphina hurried toward us, calling his name.I let out a mocking laugh and kindly reminded him, "Did you forget? We already broke up. You should go back. Your fiancee is waiting for you."He stared at me in disbelief. "You really want to break up with me? We've been together for so many years, and you're just going to leave me?"Seraphina reached for him, but he shoved her hand away.Silas grabbed my shoulders. His eyes were red, and his voice turned rough. "I won't allow it. Why couldn't you wait just a little longer? Just wait a little longer. I'm about to…"Expressionless, I lowered my gaze to the tattoo on the inside of his arm before pointing to the matching spot on Seraphina's arm. "You were the one who betrayed

Chapter 6 He Came Too Late

Seth said he would stick with me, and he meant it.From that day on, I had a shadow.Whenever we were at work and I was anywhere in sight, he was right behind me, fussing over me."Claire, coffee.""Claire, are you cold? I've got a jacket.""Claire, let me carry your bag.""Claire, you've been drawing for too long. Take a break."At first, I politely turned him down and gently told him he did not have to follow me around all the time.But then he would purse his lips and quietly ask, "Am I doing something wrong?"Seth had just graduated from college. We had studied the same major, and he was bright and quick on the job. I was happy to mentor him whenever I could.Seeing him look so pitiful, I eventually gave up and let him do as he pleased."Claire, once you finish that drawing, let's grab something to eat.""Okay."Seth carried my bag as we walked out of the building. Then we both stopped.Silas was standing across the street, staring at us without moving. He had lost a

Chapter 7 A Light Left On

Back at my apartment, I was going over tomorrow's work schedule when the ceiling light suddenly went out.The neighbors' windows across the way were still glowing, but everything around me fell into darkness. I squinted, struggling to make out where I was going.A frantic knock came from the front door.I felt my way over and opened it.Before I could even see who it was, someone pulled me into a hug.My eyes widened. I struggled with both my hands and feet, reaching for the emergency breaching hammer by the entryway. The person gently rubbed my back and whispered, "Claire, it's me. Don't be afraid. I'm here."The moment I heard Silas' voice, I frowned and jabbed him with the handle of the hammer.He grunted in pain but still refused to let go."Be good," he murmured. "You can't see. I'll stay with you.""I don't need you. If you don't let go and leave right now, I'm calling the police."Silas let out a quiet sigh, his voice almost pleading. "Please. Don't make me leave."

Chapter 8 Coming Home

Two years later, I was sitting in my office when Seth pushed the door open like he always did."Claire, want some coffee?"He had been asking me that same question every day for the past two years. He had followed me overseas, then followed me back home again.I nodded.But instead of leaving, he stood there, hesitating.I tilted my head. "If you've got something to say, just say it."After fidgeting for a while, Seth walked behind me and started massaging my shoulders. "Claire… would you like to meet my parents and my sister?"My whole body stiffened.I tried to dodge the question. "With our relationship… I don't think meeting the parents is necessary."His hands immediately tightened on my shoulders, and he was clearly about to start shamelessly pestering me."What? Are you going to dump me? Last night you were holding me and calling me hu—""That's enough!" I cut him off, my face burning red. But beneath the embarrassment, I could not stop the anxiety rising in my chest.

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