All Chapters of When You Were Radiant: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

Silence stretched over the phone for a few seconds after I spoke.Mom sounded caught off guard. "Lily, are you completely sure?"I stared out the glass doors at the wall of rain and nodded. "I'm sure."She didn’t pry into why I suddenly changed my mind."Start wrapping up your resignation," she said softly. "I’ll book your flight for three days from now.""Okay."When I hung up, Danny was still holding his umbrella tilted toward Maya.His left shoulder was completely soaked. Maya looked up at him with a wide, effortless smile, chatting away.That umbrella used to tilt for me alone.Back in high school, when cramp pain left me doubled over, Danny carried me on his back all the way to the nurse's office. He ran the whole distance, grumbling through his heavy breathing, "Are you stupid, Lily? Why did you wait so long to tell me about it?"I cried onto his shoulder.He slowed his pace, his voice softening. "Don't cry. One day, when I marry you, I’ll make sure you never have to

Chapter 2

The next morning, I arrived ten minutes late.Danny was already at his desk. A breakfast spread was waiting on my desk. Bagels, a hot latte and a container of the pastries I used to love.He tapped my desk as I walked up. "Got this for you."A few coworkers immediately whistled and teased."Look at Danny, still spoiling Lily.""Guess that rainy-day fight didn't last long."I stood there without reaching for it.The food was in a familiar bag, but a tiny sticky note was pasted on the side. “Oat milk, extra shot.”That was Maya’s drink order."Are you sure this is mine?" I asked calmly.Danny froze.Maya stepped out of the breakroom, glancing at my desk with a blink of surprise. "Oh, is my order not in the breakroom?"The office fell dead silent.Danny’s face went rigid. He pushed the bag a little closer to me. "I ordered extra. It’s fine, just eat this."I stared at him.For seven years, he remembered every detail about me. He knew I hated cilantro, had a sensitive st

Chapter 3

On my last day, Maya stopped me by the break room.I didn't want to go in.She stood near my desk, smiling. "Just a quick word. It won't delay your packing."I followed her inside.The break room was empty. She placed her cup on the counter and slowly stirred her coffee."Lily, do you hate me?""Not really," I said.She smiled. "It feels like you look at me like I stole something that belonged to you."I wasn't in the mood for games. "Get to the point."Maya leaned against the counter, lowering her voice. "You're in love with Danny, aren't you?"I said nothing.My silence gave her the answer she wanted. Satisfaction flickered in her eyes."I have to hand it to you," she murmured. "Loving someone for seven years while pretending to just be his little sister takes talent."The words hit like a slap. My face went pale."Have you ever considered that if he actually liked you back, he would have confessed years ago?""That's none of your business," I said."It is, actually

Chapter 4

The private dining room went dead quiet.The smile froze on Maya's face."Did she just block you?" someone whispered.Danny stared at his phone screen, his knuckles turning white. He dialed my number right away.An automated voice cut through the speaker, “The number you are trying to reach is currently unavailable.”He stood up, his chair screeching loudly against the floor.Maya grabbed his arm. "Danny, where are you going?"Danny yanked his arm back, his expression terrifyingly dark. "To find her."---By the time Danny reached my apartment building, I was at the table eating dinner with my parents.Mom placed a roasted pork chop on my plate. "Eat up. Airline food is always terrible."Before I could answer, the doorbell rang.Dad glanced at the video intercom screen, his face hardening. "It's Danny."My hands went still over my fork.Mom looked at me. "Do you want to see him?"Before I could answer, Danny's voice echoed through the door. "Lily! I know you're in there!

Chapter 5

During my first month in London, I was too busy to be sad.My course load was heavy, and the language barrier made everything harder. I woke up at six every morning and I wouldn't get back to my apartment until midnight.Danny tried reaching out in every way possible.Emails, unknown numbers, social media.I ignored every single one.He sent a long email one night. “Lily, I didn't realize what I was doing wrong before. I thought you will always be here. I only realize now that I am used to seeing you every day.”I read it and hit delete.Habit wasn't love.It took me seven years to learn that lesson.---In my second month, Maya posted a photo online.It showed her and Danny sitting in a cafe. Her caption read, “Some people end up staying after all.”When I saw it, I barely felt a ripple.An old friend messaged me shortly after. "Lily, are you and Danny really done?""Yeah," I replied.After a long pause, she typed back. "He's in a bad place. He even blew a major p

Chapter 6

Maya had no intention of slipping away quietly.She took the seat right next to me at the delegation's formal dinner."You must feel so triumphant right now, Lily," she murmured.I kept slicing the food on my plate. "I don't."She let out a faint laugh. "Danny quit his job and flew halfway across the world for you. Isn't this the exact reaction you wanted?"I set my knife and fork down. "You're overthinking it."She leaned closer, dropping her voice. "Why act so holier-than-thou?"I met her eyes.There wasn't a trace of tears or vulnerability in them."If you hadn't run off back then," she continued, "how would he have realized he couldn't live without you?"Something clicked in my mind. "You were intentionally pushing my buttons the whole time."Maya smirked. "Your reactions were so easy to predict."She lifted her wine glass, gently swirling the liquid."The more silent you stayed, the more pitiable you looked. But all I had to do was shed a few tears and Danny would i

Chapter 7

Danny refused to let go.He signed up to audit classes at my university and rented an apartment just down the street from mine.When I studied in the library, he sat in the far corner. When my classes ended, he would be waiting at the foot of the steps.I ignored him, so he started leaving umbrellas by my door and hanging containers of warm soup on my doorknob.After the third time, I took everything down to the front desk, untouched.I stood right beside the receptionist when she called him.Danny rushed over, exhaustion heavy in his eyes. "Lily... you won't even accept food from me?""I can buy my own meals," I said."Your stomach used to bother you all the time.""There's no need to bring up the past."He looked at me, his voice dropping. "I just want to take care of you."I looked up, meeting his eyes. "Who are you trying to take care of? The person I am today, or the girl who used to orbit around you?"The question left him completely speechless.I reached into my

Chapter 8

When winter arrived, I fell sick.A high fever peaked at 102 degrees, leaving me delirious and weak. I forced myself to message a classmate, who called an Uber for me.When I arrived at the hospital, I stumbled near the entrance and almost collapsed.Someone caught me before I hit the ground.I looked up and saw Danny.Panic was written all over his face. "Lily! How did your fever get this high?"I tried to push him away, but I didn't have the strength.He carried me into ER admissions, running back and forth to handle paperwork and fees.When the nurse asked for family, Danny blurted, "I'm her…"He froze.I opened my eyes. "Friend."That single word made him go rigid."A friend," he whispered, correcting himself.---During the IV drip, I drifted off to sleep.When I woke up, it was late into the night. Danny sat in the chair beside me, holding a cup of warm water."You're awake?"My throat was parched. He offered a straw to my lips, but I took the cup and drank o

Chapter 9

After Danny went back home, my life completely settled into a quiet rhythm.Occasionally, mutual acquaintances brought him up. They said he had taken a new job in a different city and kept himself extremely busy. People mentioned how much he had changed, he no longer lived as the center of attention and rarely went to parties.Whenever I heard those updates, I offered a simple response, "That's good."---Maya sent me an email a few weeks later.There was no apology in it, it was only bitterness. She claimed that if I hadn't left, Danny would never have uncovered the truth, accusing me of ruining her career.I replied with four words, “Leave me alone, Maya.”Then I blocked her.She never reached out again.---During my second year of advanced studies, my professor recommended me for a public symposium.The auditorium was filled with attendees. When I reached the final slide of my presentation, the applause lasted for a long time.After the talk wrapped up, my paren

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