Lahat ng Kabanata ng Our New Place Without Me: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 9

As I slipped the key into my bag, Edward reached out and pressed his hand against my wrist.His fingertips felt cold against my wristbone, but his voice remained patient, as though he were coaxing someone who simply didn't understand. "Camellia, the renovation's almost finished. If you make a fuss now, the workers will have to redo everything. There's no need for that."I glanced at the sunflower painting. "I never asked them to redo anything."Edward loosened his grip slightly, apparently satisfied that I was finally being reasonable. "Good. Vicky made a special trip here today to take a look. She thought hanging this painting here would brighten up the room."I gave a faint smile. "How thoughtful of her.""She has an eye for these things." Edward pulled out his phone to reply to a message, his thumb darting across the screen. "Unlike you, always clinging to the past."The past…The painting my mother had left me was nothing more than a relic of the past in his eyes, something

I didn't ask Edward who Molly Stone, the woman from the phone call, was.He offered no explanation either.…The next day, Elaine Cray, Edward's mother, arranged for me to try on wedding dresses.By the time I arrived at the bridal boutique, Victoria was already seated on the sofa with a white tulle shawl draped over her shoulders.Elaine smiled and waved me over. "Camie, you're here. Come take a look. Vicky has such good taste. She's picked out a few options for you."I glanced at the row of dresses on the rack. Every one of them had a high waist, a short train, and narrow shoulders."These don't really suit me," I said.Elaine's smile faltered slightly. "When a girl gets married, it never hurts to listen to her elders and those with more experience. Vicky has attended plenty of weddings. She knows more about these things than you do."Victoria rose from the sofa and pulled another dress off the rack. "This one's pretty. Eddie should like it.""I'm the one getting married,"

Edward slammed his hand down on the edge of the table. "Camie. Come outside."He pulled me onto the balcony and shut the glass door behind us, but I could still hear Molly and Victoria laughing inside."Did you have to embarrass me today?" His voice was colder than I'd ever heard it.I looked at him. "Am I really the one embarrassing you?""I already told you Molly isn't in good health." Edward gripped my shoulder. "Do you really have to fight me over this?""And what about me?" I asked.He paused.I held out my phone, the photo of the storage room still on the screen. "Why did you say my mother's painting wasn't needed anymore?"Edward glanced at the photo, and unease flickered across his face. "The frame was old. I was going to have it reframed.""Then why is the project called 'Victoria Former Home Concept'? Why does the wedding plan mention Victoria? And why does Molly think this house belongs to the two of you?"Edward fell silent for a moment before letting out a short

While Leon worked on restoring the painting, I sat beside him, sorting through the list of things I needed to take care of after canceling the wedding."The crease will fade, but it won't disappear completely," he said."It's fine if it still shows."Leon looked up at me. "Didn't you used to be terrified of anything happening to this painting?"I forwarded the hotel's refund confirmation to the finance department. "I was afraid because I felt there were still so many things I couldn't afford to let break."He didn't press me further.A knock sounded at the door. Edward stood outside with a bag of breakfast in his hand. "You have a sensitive stomach. Eat something first." His tone was much quieter than it had been the day before."No need," I replied.Leon looked up from the easel. "She's already eaten."Edward glanced at the bowl of cereal on the table, his expression darkening. "I'm talking to Camie. It's not your place to interfere."Leon set down his restoration knife. "

By the time Edward returned to the old house, the camellia painting was back on the wall.Leon had just left, and a freshly potted camellia sat beside the door.When I opened the door, I found Edward standing at the foot of the steps. He had brought neither gifts nor documents."I came to apologize," he said.I didn't invite him inside. "Go ahead."Edward glanced at the painting, his voice hoarse. "The painting, the wedding home, Victoria... The way I treated you as someone I could take for granted. All of it was my fault."I listened in silence, but his words stirred nothing in me.He pulled the engagement ring from his pocket. A faint line remained along the inside of the band."I had it repaired, but the mark is still there.""Once something is broken, it always leaves a mark," I replied.Edward's eyes reddened. "Camie, it's over between Vicky and me. I'm selling the wedding home, and the Foxworth Group has terminated its partnership with her family's company. I'll never l