All Chapters of Aloha, Goodbye: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

After hanging up, I looked back toward the airport entrance at the two of them laughing and chatting.Ryan naturally took Claire's carry-on, and she intimately wiped the sweat off his forehead.When they draped their arms around each other, Ryan even wrapped his hand around her waist."Now this is what I call a best friend! I mentioned I wanted to see Hawaii once, and you didn't hesitate to ditch your husband for me. I knew I picked the right person! You're the best.""But uh, your husband's not gonna be mad you left him behind, is he?" Ryan glanced back at me smugly.Claire chuckled."What's there to be scared of? He doesn't get jealous that easily.""Otherwise, how do you think I've been able to make you a different breakfast every single day for the past two years?"Yeah, right.Every morning, Claire would make two breakfasts—one for me, one for her childhood friend.But mine was always just hash browns and a breakfast sandwich from the corner deli.Ryan's plate, though, had all the

Chapter 2

When I crawled into bed, my phone rang again.This time, it was my father's underboss, Marco."Enzo, the jet's cleared for takeoff. Departure tomorrow at 10 AM from the private airstrip, expected arrival at Honolulu International around 4 PM local.""Pilot's Old Sal—he's flown this route a dozen times. You're in good hands."I replied, "Got it."Within five minutes, Marco sent another message."The Don wanted me to ask—are you serious about pulling the investment? Ms. Clark's project already has over eight million sunk in. If we pull out now, the early-stage costs might—""Pull it."I replied with one word.My father's call came through immediately."Enzo, what's going on?""I was in meetings all day and didn't get a chance to ask. Why are you suddenly pulling the investment?"Two years ago, Claire Clark's cross-border e-commerce business hit a cash flow crisis.I'd asked my father to invest.He didn't want to at first—said Claire wasn't reliable, that she was the type to start things

Chapter 3

Seeing me there in Hawaii, the two of them, who'd been walking hand in hand from the beach, froze.Claire recovered first and let out a couple of awkward laughs."Enzo, I didn't realize you were that clingy. You bought a last-minute ticket and chased us all the way here. Fine, fine, go ahead and get this stuff sorted out."She shoved a tent bag straight into my hands and told me to go set it up.I stood there, not moving an inch."You've got it wrong.""I just happened to be in Hawaii, that's all."I wasn't following them. I wasn't here for them.I turned and walked toward another tent that was already set up nearby.Claire's face dropped instantly. She marched over."Enzo, come on. So I didn't buy your ticket yesterday—big deal. You still showed up in Hawaii, didn't you? So why are you giving me the cold shoulder?""All I asked was for you to pitch a tent. There's no need to get all frosty on me."I looked up at her, expression cold. The kind of cold that made men twice my size back d

Chapter 4

I looked at her face and felt a brief moment of dislocation.She had no idea.Every time she'd ditched me for her precious Ryan, I'd picked up a cigarette."Long time.""How come I never knew?"Claire took a deep breath, shot a wary glance at Sienna—probably sizing up the competition—and pulled me a step closer.She lowered her voice."Enzo, I know you're upset about the ticket thing yesterday. But can you please not be like this?""You're here now. Can't we just have a good time? I'll take you to the North Shore tomorrow—you've always wanted to surf those waves, right?"I looked her in the eye and laughed bitterly."The North Shore—isn't that the place you and Ryan promised to visit together?"I pointed at the Instagram post Ryan had just put up.Claire's face darkened, but she forced an explanation."Ryan's only in Hawaii once, he's excited to check off all the spots. Don't be so petty.""I swear, we're just solid friends. Nothing else.""The wedding photos—I was just being a stand-i

Chapter 5

"At this rate, we're heading straight for a meltdown. If that thirty million doesn't hit our account in three days, the company is done for!"The assistant's voice was filled with pure desperation on the other end.But Claire had stopped listening.She was gripping the phone so hard her knuckles were white, like someone had her by the throat."What are you talking about?""Why the hell would they pull out all of a sudden?"The assistant was frantic too."I tried to dig into it, but I've got nothing. They didn't give a reason—just said the investor changed their mind. I pushed, and their secretary just dropped this cryptic line: 'Ask your boss if she's offended anyone lately.'"Claire's face went paler by the second.She knew exactly how crucial that shell investor was.Back when she hit rock bottom, that same investor had come through with eight million and saved her company.That money had carried her to where she was now—on top of the world.And just last month, they'd agreed to thir

Chapter 6

"What do you want?"My voice was ice. The same tone I used when dealing with loose ends."If there's nothing important, I'm hanging up.""Don't hang up!""I just wanted to apologize."Ryan sounded desperate. "Claire's been looking for you since last night—she's completely lost it!""She spent the whole night combing through the streets of Waikiki, going door to door at every hotel. Her voice is gone from screaming."I didn't say anything.Ryan kept going, feeling me out carefully."Bro, look, Claire's really worried about you. Can't you just let this go? Tell us where you are—let's grab a meal together. I want to apologize in person. There's really nothing between me and Claire—we're just best—""Ryan," I cut him off. "You don't need to apologize.""Huh?""You didn't do anything wrong,"I said. "You just wanted to go to Hawaii. She chose to give you her ticket. She chose to go with you. Those were her decisions. So no apology needed, and no explanation required."The line went quiet fo

Chapter 7

My fingers tightened around the phone."This started over two years ago,"My father continued. "She used company money to buy Ryan a car—a white Porsche—registered under his name.""On top of that, they co-own a property together. Down in Miami—purchased last March for just over six hundred grand. The down payment came straight out of the company account, filed under 'business development expenses.'"I leaned back against the seat, watching the city slip past the window, completely speechless.Marco caught my expression in the rearview and didn't dare say a word, just drove extra smooth and steady."Father… I got it.""Come to the estate tomorrow. I'll have the family lawyers prep all the paperwork.""Alright."I hung up and leaned against the window, closing my eyes.My mind was a mess, but there was a strange calm underneath.Like the universe was giving me a push.When you're ending something toxic, all the ugly truths surface at once.Good. What's broken needs to break all the way.

Chapter 8

Last year, Claire had told me the company was tight on cash.Couldn't even make payroll, she said.I'd gone to my father and asked if he could throw in another round of funding.He said no—that he'd have to review the financials first.Claire never brought it up again. I'd figured things had turned around.Turns out, they hadn't.The money just went somewhere else."Father," I looked up. "How's the pull-out going?""The thirty million we were about to put in is already back in our accounts,"My father said slowly."But that first eight million—most of it's already tied up in inventory, receivables, and some fixed assets. To pull that out, we'll have to go through liquidation."He paused. "I've already got the lawyers on it. In the meantime, we've gathered all this evidence," he pointed at the stack on the mahogany table. "Next step is filing an official complaint with the feds—they'll look into the capital flow across Claire's companies.""A complaint?"I blinked."Exactly." My father

Chapter 9

The day I got my divorce papers, Sienna confessed to me.She told me she'd fallen for me at first sight six years ago, at that charity gala my father had hosted.She'd wanted to get closer all these years.But I was already married.So she kept her distance.Then she went to Hawaii to clear her head—and by some stroke of luck, she ran into me. And even managed to strike up a conversation.And then, on top of all that, she got a front-row seat to my marriage imploding."Enzo, you have no idea how I feel right now. It's like winning the lottery.""No—scratch that. Winning the lottery wouldn't even come close.""I've never felt this alive."So when I saw her message, just thinking about that excited look on her face made my heart skip a beat.I jogged down the stairs of the estate.Sure enough, there she was—Sienna, clutching a bouquet of roses."You know what day it is today?"I frowned and racked my brain."It's not Valentine's Day, not an anniversary… your birthday?""Nope."Sienna loo

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