Home / I Won't Wait for Her Next Weekend / Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

All Chapters of I Won't Wait for Her Next Weekend: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

"Joanie, are you working overtime again this weekend?"On the phone, Joanie Halter sounded a little impatient. "Yeah. We're at a critical stage in a cross-border M&A deal. I can't get away."In the background, I clearly heard an airport announcement. "Attention passengers traveling to Bernum…"I looked down at the lease transfer agreement I had just signed, my voice calm. "An M&A deal in Bernum?"There was a brief pause on the other end. "Uh, yeah. The other party is in Bernum. I have to go. I'm boarding now."She hung up.I put my phone away, folded the agreement, and slipped it into my bag.The agent looked at me hesitantly. "Mr. Baker, your fiancee spent a fortune renovating this place when you moved in. Are you really sure you want to sublet it?""Yeah. I'm sure.""Is she aware?""No reason to be."I walked out of the agency. The early winter wind hit my face like a slap.When I got home, I pushed the door open.Lying on the couch was Joanie's shirt from last night. I

Chapter 2

At 10:00 pm on Sunday, I heard the front door open. Joanie was back.She looked exhausted as she wheeled her suitcase into the corner without a second thought. As she changed her shoes, she pulled a small square box from her coat pocket and handed it to me."Passed by a duty-free shop and thought I'd pick this up for you."I took it and glanced at the box. It was a perfume, a classic citrus-scented one from a well-known brand. "Thanks."I set it on the shoe cabinet without opening it.Joanie took off her coat and frowned. "Why don't you open it and give it a try? It took me forever to pick one.""I'm allergic to citrus."She froze for a moment. "Oh, really? I forgot. I'll get you something else next time."With me, it was always "next time".She walked over to the couch and sat down, rubbing her temples. "I'm exhausted. This business trip was such a nightmare."I poured her a glass of warm water and set it in front of her. "How did the M&A deal in Bernum go?"Her hand paused

Chapter 3

It was Monday night when Joanie took me to her dad's place. It was her father Wyatt Halter's 60th birthday.Before we left, she reminded me, "Tommy, Dad's been eyeing that vintage wine for ages. Remember to pick it up and bring it over. Consider it a gift from both of us."That rare bottle of vintage wine cost 15,000 dollars. I spent a month's salary and dipped into my savings to buy it.When we arrived at the Halter residence, the living room was already packed with relatives.Joanie took my hand as we walked in, putting on the perfect loving-couple act. "Dad, happy birthday."She handed him the wine box. "Tommy picked out this rare bottle of vintage wine for you. See if you like it."Wyatt opened the box and took a look. The smile on his face looked almost forced. "You shouldn't have spent so much, Tommy. This looks… average."I stood there without saying a word. A ten-thousand-dollar wine was just average to him.The doorbell rang. Joanie's cousin went to answer the door.

Chapter 4

The day before I left, I finished all the paperwork for my resignation and walked out of the office with a cardboard box in my arms.Outside, the rain was coming down in sheets. The cold wind drove the rain into me, chilling me to the bone.I stood under the awning and checked my ride-hailing app. More than 100 people were trying to hail a ride, too. Then, a sharp cramp twisted through my stomach.My gastritis had flared up. The pain was so bad I could barely stand. I had no choice but to crouch on the ground, cold sweat pouring down my face.I pulled out my phone and called Joanie. This was the first time in five years I had ever called her during work hours to ask for help.The line rang for a long time before she finally answered. "Hey, what's wrong?"Her end of the line was noisy. I could hear a dog barking and a man sobbing."Joanie, my gastritis flared up. It hurts really bad. Can you come pick me up and take me to the hospital? I can't get a ride."I did my best to keep

Chapter 5

By the time the plane landed in Northchime, it was early the next morning.Heavy snow was falling, and the air was cold and crisp. I took a deep breath. For the first time in a long while, that knot in my chest finally loosened a little.I took a cab to the apartment I had rented in advance and set down my luggage. Then I made myself a cup of hot coffee and sat on the couch, opening the smart home app on my phone.My finger hovered over the "Disconnect" button. After a moment, I opened the live feed from the living room camera instead.Joanie happened to walk through the front door. She was still wearing yesterday's clothes. Her hair was a mess, and she seemed to have had a rough, sleepless night."Tom, I'm home," she called as she changed her shoes.There was no response.Frowning, she headed into the living room. "Where did you go on a weekend? Couldn't even send me a message…"She took off her coat, about to toss it onto the couch, when her movement froze. She stared at

Chapter 6

Life in Northchime moved fast.During my first week at the new company, I was already put in charge of an important project. I was so busy every day that I barely had time to think about Joanie.On Friday night, after working late, I stopped by the convenience store downstairs and grabbed a hot dog. I had barely sat down when Sam called."Hey, Tom. Guess how Joanie's been doing lately."I took a bite of the dog and asked through a mouthful, "Dead?""Soon. She's lost it."I could hear the amusement in Sam's voice. "She went to your company looking for you, only to find out you'd already quit. Then she went to the real estate agent. They told her that you'd sublet the apartment and didn't even take back the deposit.""And then?""Then she started calling every mutual friend you two have, asking where you went. Everyone told her they had no idea. Apparently, she even posted a missing-person notice on her social media yesterday."She offered 15,000 dollars for information about yo

Chapter 7

Winter days in Northchime were short.By 5:00 pm, it was already dark. I worked late for a while, and by the time I walked out of the office building, it was already 7:00 pm.The moment I stepped through the revolving doors, I stopped. A woman was standing in the plaza outside. She wore a thin black coat, her hair a mess from the wind.In her hands was a huge bouquet of balloon flowers. It was Joanie.She had lost a lot of weight. Her eyes were sunken, her cheekbones sharp, and her hair was also oily. Clearly, she hadn't taken care of herself in days.When Joanie saw me, her eyes lit up, like someone who had spent three days in the desert and finally found an oasis. "Tommy!"She ran toward me, reaching for a hug. I took a step back and looked at her coldly. "Ms. Halter, please mind yourself."She froze, her outstretched hand hanging in midair. "Tommy, I've been looking for you for an entire month…"Her voice trembled, and her eyes were bloodshot. "I checked every flight recor

Chapter 8

Three days later, I was at the cafe downstairs from my office, meeting a client.As soon as the client got up and left, I gathered my papers, only for someone to drop into the seat across from me. "Tom."That familiar, bright voice. I looked up, and Forrest was sitting across from me in a thin windbreaker that didn't quite fit.His face was blue from the cold. Gone was the smug, innocent act he used to wear so well. Now, he looked downright miserable.I closed my laptop and got ready to leave. "I don't know you.""Don't push it, Tom!"Forrest suddenly raised his voice, drawing looks from the customers around us. He gritted his teeth, then put on that same wounded expression."Tom, I know you're mad at me, but you can't punish Joanie like that. She lost her job trying to find you, and now she's facing a lawsuit. Even if you don't love her anymore, you can't destroy her life like this."I stopped and looked at him. "She used company money to pay your rent. Getting sued is the con

Chapter 9

Ultimately, Joanie was charged. The amount was too large for her to repay, so she would face at least three years in prison.Forrest didn't fare much better.In court, Joanie laid out all the evidence of how he had manipulated and pressured her into spending money on him over the past five years.It wasn't enough to get him convicted, but his reputation was ruined.His college expelled him. The people he had been stringing along finally saw him for what he really was. They demanded their money back and exposed all his fake, innocent-guy antics online.He became a pariah, hated by everyone who knew his name.The night before the trial, Northchime was hit by a rare torrential downpour.After working late, I walked home to my apartment with an umbrella. At the entrance of the building, I saw a dark figure curled up in the corner. It was Joanie.She was soaked to the skin, looking like a pitiful stray. When she saw me, she struggled to her feet. "Tommy…"Her voice was so faint I

Chapter 10

Two years later, I bought a small apartment of my own in Northchime, paid for in full. It wasn't big, but I had decorated every corner exactly the way I liked it.Warm white walls, a soft wool rug, a balcony overflowing with balloon flowers… There was no pine-scented perfume or cups with someone else's initials engraved on them.Here, this place was unquestionably mine.One weekend, Sam came to Northchime on a business trip and stopped by my place. He sprawled across the couch, eating the fruit I had cut for him."Tom, you're literally living the good life. You're winning at life."I smiled and poured him a glass of juice. "Can't complain. Mostly because I don't have any dramas in life anymore.""Speaking of dramas, I've got some gossip for you," Sam said, sitting up with glowing eyes. "Joanie got out last month."My hand paused for a moment as I cut the fruit, then continued as if I had heard nothing. "Oh.""Come on. Don't you want to know how she's doing?""No.""I don't ca

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