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All Chapters of After I Walked Away: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

13 Chapters

Chapter 1

"Man, is Celeste still not here? The candles are almost burned out."One of my friends, who'd helped set everything up for the occasion, approached me cautiously.I looked around at the proposal I'd spent so much time planning. Rose petals covered the floor, and candles flickered all around us. What had seemed romantic hours ago now felt like it was mocking me for ever believing this night would happen.I picked up my phone and called my girlfriend, Celeste Monroe, for the seventh time."The person you are trying to reach is unavailable. Please try again later."At the familiar automated message, I hung up and forced a bitter smile. "Here we go again."No response to my texts. No answer to my calls. Just disappearing without a word.By now, it was practically routine whenever Celeste and I had plans.Obviously, her assistant, Grady Keller, had gotten himself into some kind of trouble again, and she'd dropped everything to help him.I waved a tired hand. "Let's call it. You guy

Chapter 2

Grady had somehow convinced Celeste to hire him at her company as her personal assistant.For years, he'd found one excuse after another to ruin every date Celeste and I planned.I'd realized a long time ago that something wasn't right. I just hadn't wanted to believe that seven years together could fall apart so easily.But now, I'd finally run out of patience. It was time to leave.Instead of going home, I headed straight to the office. If I were walking away, I would want a clean break.I went to HR and handed over the resignation letter I'd already prepared.Vanessa Quinn, the HR manager, stared at me in surprise. "Luca, are you sure about this? You've spent three years working your ass off on the New Horizon project, and you're about to be promoted to manager. Walking away now would be such a waste."I couldn't blame her for being shocked. I'd been with the company since its early days, and I'd just landed a major project, but none of that mattered as much as finally settin

Chapter 3

Wasn't she supposed to be with Grady?Celeste looked up. A trace of guilt crossed her face when she saw me. "Luca, you're back. You blocked my number. I've been waiting for you. I need to talk to you."I stared at her coldly without saying a word.Celeste sighed. She walked over and reached for my hand."I know you're angry about what happened today. But there really was a reason."Grady... he's claustrophobic, and he's afraid of the dark. The lights suddenly went out in the theater, and he... he got so scared that he passed out. I had no choice but to take him to the hospital."Her voice was soft and gentle.I instinctively pulled my hand away.Afraid of the dark?Claustrophobic?I almost laughed.The arrogant, obnoxious Grady I'd heard on the phone certainly hadn't sounded like someone who'd just passed out from fear.Besides, Celeste always had some bizarre excuse. Maybe she wasn't tired of making them, but I was definitely tired of hearing them.More importantly, today

Chapter 4

"Okay," I agreed without hesitation.I'd already resigned anyway. That project didn't mean anything to me anymore. Giving her what she wanted could be my final farewell to our relationship.I left the watch where it was, turned, and went into the bedroom to start packing.Celeste watched me for a moment, surprised. "Are you going on a business trip? Is it urgent?""Yeah." I nodded without explaining further."That makes sense. You probably shouldn't take such an expensive watch on a business trip anyway. I'll help you pack."For some reason, Celeste seemed relieved. Even her voice became lighter. She came over and started helping me organize my clothes.But a moment later, her hands suddenly stopped. "Luca, where's the good-luck charm I gave you? Why aren't you bringing it?"The good-luck charm?It took me a second to remember. She'd made it for me herself when we'd first started dating.Back then, Celeste had still been a sweet, uncomplicated college girl. There hadn't been

Chapter 5

I went back to the bedroom, lay down, and closed my eyes.For the first time in what felt like forever, I was completely at ease. I fell into a deep sleep.In seven years, I'd never slept so peacefully. No anxiety, no uneasiness, no wondering where she was or what she was doing.I slept straight through until noon the next day.When I woke up, I picked up my phone and checked it.No missed calls or unread messages.Sure enough, Celeste had forgotten her promise yet again. She hadn't even tried to contact me.I should've known. She was always like this, making promises without a second thought, then breaking them just as easily.I left my breakup letter and the good-luck charm in plain sight on the table. Then I grabbed my suitcase and walked out of our home without looking back....Before long, I arrived at the port. The ocean breeze brushed across my face, carrying the faint scent of salt.I'd always loved the ocean, yet in all seven years Celeste and I had been together,

Chapter 6

I knew she had plenty she wanted to say, plenty of excuses she wanted to give me, but I didn't want to hear any of them anymore.I watched Celeste's name flash across my screen again and again without feeling a thing. It might as well have been a stranger calling.I silenced my phone and tossed it aside, letting the screen light up uselessly beside me.Then I turned toward the window.Beyond the glass, dark blue waves rolled beneath the night sky.From this moment on, Celeste had nothing to do with me....Back in Rosemont, Celeste was frantic. She called me over and over again. But no matter how many times she tried, I never answered."Luca! Pick up! What's gotten into you?" She was practically screaming at her phone.She didn't understand. Why had I suddenly become so determined to leave? Was it really just because she'd missed our plans last night? Because she'd spent the night with Grady?But she'd had a reason for that! Hadn't she already explained everything?With that

Chapter 7

Celeste sank to the floor, staring ahead in disbelief. "Luca... why are you doing this to me? Why did you leave?"People around her began casting curious looks in her direction."Celeste, don't do this." Grady hurried over and crouched beside her, gently patting her back. "Luca can't seriously want to break up with you. Trust me, I know how guys think."He's probably just trying to get back at you because you missed your date with him yesterday. If you ask me, he just went away for a few days to clear his head. He'll be back soon."He sounded as though he were sincerely trying to comfort her, but there was an unmistakable trace of satisfaction in his voice."Really?" Celeste looked up at him through tear-filled eyes. "Grady... do you really think so?" She grabbed his arm as if it were her last lifeline."Of course. Think about it, Celeste. Luca loves you so much. How could he possibly bring himself to leave you?" Grady sounded completely certain. "He's only this angry because h

Chapter 8

The New Horizon project had been Luca's from the beginning. He'd personally planned it and spent more than six months pouring everything he had into it.It was also one of the company's most important projects of the year.At the time, Celeste had only wanted Luca to take a break while giving the new hire a chance to prove himself.But now...Celeste suddenly realized she might have made a terrible mistake."Ms. Monroe, are... are you all right?" Vanessa asked cautiously.Celeste didn't answer. The room seemed to spin around her.After a long moment, she braced herself against the desk and slowly lowered herself into her chair.At some point, Grady had followed them into the office. He looked at Celeste with carefully feigned concern."This is all my fault. It's all because of me. If it weren't for me, Luca wouldn't be angry with you."If I hadn't taken over the New Horizon Project, Luca wouldn't have resigned. It's my fault... All of it..."Grady's voice cracked with guilt.

Chapter 9

"Then figure something out!" Celeste snapped impatiently. "I don't care how you do it. I just want to make sure he can't get to his money!""Yes, of course..." Vanessa nodded quickly and retreated from the office.Celeste turned to Grady. "Don't worry. I'll make sure he pays for what he did to you! Once Luca's broke and has nowhere else to turn, he'll come crawling back to me. "And when he does, I'll make him apologize to you!" Celeste spoke with absolute certainty.Grady lowered his head, a faint, cold smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.A few days later, Celeste received a call from the bank."I'm sorry, Ms. Monroe, but we're unable to freeze Mr. Reynolds's account.""Why not?!" Celeste's voice shot up."Because... Mr. Reynolds already placed a freeze on the account himself.""What?!" Celeste couldn't believe what she was hearing. "What did you just say? Say that again!""Mr. Reynolds requested the freeze on his own account some time ago," the bank representative exp

Chapter 10

But it was already too late.After a long moment, Celeste seemed to remember something. She frantically searched for the number of one of my friends and called. She recalled that I had a close friend in Caldria named Tyler.The phone rang for a long time before he finally answered."Luca... I think he went to Caldria. I need to know if he's with you."Tyler paused. "Yeah, he's here. But I'm surprised it took you until today to call."Celeste's heart tightened. "What do you mean?"Tyler gave a bitter laugh. "Nothing. It's just... he told me yesterday that he'd planned to propose to you, and you never showed up."The words hit Celeste like a bolt of lightning.A proposal?Luca had been planning to propose to her?And she'd… missed it?"What... what did you say? He proposed?" Her voice shook uncontrollably."Yeah. You didn't know? He said he'd spent a long time planning everything. He invited a bunch of friends and waited for you from morning until night, but you never came."

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