All Chapters of Life After Them: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

By the time David Moreno and Eva Bennett got back, it was almost 11 p.m.The moment the door opened, Eva’s voice drifted in before she did. "Leah, you really missed out by not going!" She took off her coat, carrying a gift bag from the restaurant I had reserved. "The window seat was gorgeous, right over the river. Though the air conditioning was pretty strong, you definitely couldn't have handled it. And the cake! The frosting wasn't overwhelming. I tried it for you, so it’s completely safe. Although David said it was too sweet and told me not to eat too much."As she said this, she looked back at David, who was leaning against the entryway with a light smile. "You ate half a slice, and you've got the nerve to say 'not too much.'""Wasn't I just testing it for Leah?" Eva immediately glared at him, but David just chuckled and let it drop.They went back and forth, looking as if they had just finished a real date. Meanwhile, I sat on the couch, unable to find a single opening to

Chapter 2

That evening, David still came over to comfort me.When he pushed the door open, I had just shoved my suitcase into the closet. He saw it, but didn't pay it any mind. Instead, he wrapped his arms around me from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder."Still mad?"I said nothing.He turned me around, the pad of his thumb brushing against the corner of my eye. "About the ring, Eva went over the line. But she was just worried about you, too."I raised my eyes to look at him.David paused, his voice softening. "If you really don't like it, I'll have someone remake it tomorrow, engraved with only your name. How's that?"If this were the past, I probably would have been swayed by those words. Now, all I felt was pure exhaustion.He leaned down and kissed my forehead. "Come home with me tomorrow. You ought to meet my parents before the wedding."My instinct was to refuse. However, I knew that if I brought up leaving now, it would only trigger a wave of questions and obstacles from

Chapter 3

When I got home, I didn't mention the Morenos again.David must have realized he’d been a bit harsh earlier. After showering that evening, he walked in carrying a cup of tea. "You're still up?"I was sitting at the edge of the bed organizing my files. The confirmation email from the overseas university was already sitting in my inbox. The final item left on my checklist was the pre-departure medical checkup report. Once I had that, I could leave.David set the tea down beside me and leaned over to look. "Don't take what happened today to heart."I didn't look up. "Mm."He frowned slightly and pulled the laptop from my hands. "Leah."I finally looked at him.He sat down beside me, his tone softening. "You know I don't like it when you give me the cold shoulder."I just looked at him and asked, "So?"David stared at me for a moment, then suddenly chuckled and reached out to pinch my cheek. "Look at you, getting so bold. Once the wedding is over, I'll take you to the beach."M

Chapter 4

David waited downstairs at Eva’s apartment for half an hour, but his phone remained silent.Frowning, he finally went home. The living room lights were on, but the apartment was eerily quiet. The contract from the bridal shop lay on the coffee table alongside the ring receipts, the wedding itinerary, and that vow journal.David scoffed. "Look at her throwing another fit."He walked into the bedroom and pulled open the closet doors. The smirk froze on his face. Half of my clothes were gone, and my suitcase was missing.Over on the nightstand, my pill bottles were stacked neatly in a row. Pressed underneath them was a single sheet of paper.David pulled it out. It was a copy of my pre-departure medical report. The final summary read: [Physical condition fully meets the requirements for long-term overseas study.]David stared at those words, his brows pulling tighter and tighter.Having followed him up from the car, Eva stood at the doorway out of breath, her eyes rimmed with red

Chapter 5

David sat in the airport, silent through the night. The moment dawn broke, he headed straight for the hospital.The physician who had treated me back when I first fell ill had already retired, so he was met by Dr. Hathaway, who had taken over my follow-up care.Dr. Hathaway pulled up my medical file and glanced at him. "Leah? She's recovered remarkably well over the last few years."David’s voice was hoarse. "Can she fly on a plane?""Yes.""Go to the beach?""As long as she dresses warmly, absolutely.""Can she live a normal life? Go on dates, dine out, travel?"Dr. Hathaway closed the medical chart. "Mr. Moreno, she isn't made of glass."David’s face went pale."Every time she came for a checkup, she asked very detailed questions," Dr. Hathaway added. "Whether she could fly, whether she could feel the sea breeze, whether she could go to amusement parks. I used to think her family was just being overly protective."Sitting there, David found himself at a loss for words.It

Chapter 6

Eva instinctively hid her hand behind her back.David looked at her, his voice very low. "Take it off."Tears fell from Eva’s eyes. "David, it's not that I don't want to take it off. The ring is stuck.""Then we're going to the hospital."She froze. In the past, if her finger was even slightly red, David would worry. This time, he simply picked up his car keys. "We're going right now."In the hospital emergency room, the nurse struggled for a long time using lubricants and ice packs. When the ring finally slid off, the skin on Eva's knuckle was scraped raw, oozing a bit of blood.Trembling from the pain, she looked up at David. However, David was only staring at the ring.Engraved inside the band were my name and his. A ring meant for me had left a red mark on Eva’s hand.Eva choked back a sob. "Are you satisfied now?"David said nothing.She suddenly let out a bitter laugh. "Are you only feeling sorry for Leah now? That day at the jewelry store, when the clerk said we looked

Chapter 7

On my third day in Ladon, I went to the beach.Professor Hildon asked me, "Are you okay on your own?""I am." I smiled.When the wind swept over, I instinctively flinched, but the palpitations I expected never came. There was no fainting, and no one was frowning at me, saying, "Leah, don't push yourself."Standing on the pier while watching the waves roll in one after another, a soft sense of freedom washed over me.As it turned out, the sea breeze wasn't off-limits. They had simply trapped me inside their own fears.I took a picture and sent it to my parents. [I'm doing great.]My mom replied right away, [We know. You've always been capable.]Staring at that message, tears nearly spilled from my eyes. I had waited for so long for someone to believe that I really could do it. I never expected David, the person who should have believed in me the most, to only ever trust Eva's "concerns".A week later, I saw David standing outside the university gates.He wore a black trench

Chapter 8

David didn't return home right away. Instead, he waited near campus every day, sending coffee, flowers, and even a scarf. I didn't accept a single thing, though. Eventually, he stopped sending gifts and simply followed me from a distance, as if he had finally learned how not to be an intrusion.He seemed terrified I would hate him even more.The day Eva arrived in Ladon, it was pouring. She stood at the entrance of my apartment building, her face pale and her eyes swollen red. "Leah."I intended to walk right past her, but she rushed forward and grabbed my sleeve. "Please go back with David! He's been absolutely miserable lately."I looked at her. "So?"Her breath hitched.I asked softly, "What are you trying to test for me this time? If his regret is genuine enough?"Eva’s face drained of color in an instant. "That's not what I meant.""Then what did you mean?"She burst into tears. "I was just scared! Ever since we were kids, I’ve been terrified of something happening to

Chapter 9

Before returning home, David came to see me one last time.He didn't bring flowers or a ring. Instead, he brought only a photo album, filled with ticket stubs and pictures he had compiled of places we were supposed to go together but went with Eva.He placed the album on the table, his voice low. "I want to burn all of these.""No need," I said.He looked up at me."Burning them won't change anything," I said calmly. "The things that happened don't disappear just because you regret them."David’s eyes welled up again. "Then what else can I do?"I thought about it for a moment. "Don't come looking for me anymore."He seemed hurt by those words and remained silent for a very long time."And stop making decisions for anyone under the guise of protecting them," I continued. "David, love isn't about keeping someone in a cage. It's certainly not about locking someone in place and then telling them it's dangerous outside."He nodded as if he had finally understood. But it was far to

SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP