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All Chapters of The Man Who Stopped Waiting: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Chapter 1

For a split second, panic flashed in Elise's eyes. Then her expression smoothed over.She gave me a warning look and the smallest shake of her head.I stood frozen, my hands and feet numb, as though someone had a fist around my throat.The young man bent to pick up the microphone I'd dropped. He handed it back with a mischievous grin. "What's wrong, man? Did my wife's looks leave you speechless?"Elise laughed and gave his chest a playful tap."Don't tease him. Come on. Weren't you craving oysters?"His face lit up. He leaned down and kissed her."Thanks, honey. You're the best wife ever."Wife.That single word cut deeper than anything I'd ever heard.Fifteen years. Elise and I had been together for fifteen years, and I'd never earned the right to call her my wife.I must have looked terrible, because the young man tilted his head at me, all mock complaint and delighted eyes."She's usually so worried I'll get food poisoning that she won't let me near raw oysters. But it's

Chapter 2

As soon as I got home, I pulled out my suitcase and started packing.I didn't hear Elise come in. One moment I was putting clothes into the case; the next, she was taking them out. Every shirt I packed, she tossed back onto the bed.Finally, she grabbed my wrist and kicked the suitcase over."Evan, what the hell are you doing?" Her eyes were bloodshot. "Are you really going to throw another tantrum?"Tears spilled down my face. I clutched at my aching chest."I'm throwing a tantrum? Elise, you married another man. What exactly am I supposed to stay here for? So I can be your side piece?"She sank onto the couch, exhausted. She took out a cigarette and raised it to her lips, then silently put it aside without lighting it."Ev, it's not what you think."His name is Nico Ferretti. He's Professor Ferretti's son. The professor passed away and entrusted Nico to me. I have a responsibility to look after him."Professor Ferretti. Her benefactor.Years ago, he'd helped secure the fund

Chapter 3

As I watched the elevator numbers change, I remembered what had happened when I was seventeen.A group of boys had cornered me in a school hallway. After another student discovered what was happening, their ringleader slapped himself across the face and told the teacher first, "Sir, Evan hit me!""Sir, Evan hit me!"I was just an ordinary kid being raised by one parent. The teacher didn't want the trouble. He was ready to suspend me without asking another question.Then Elise stepped in.She wore a white dress that day. Leaning against the railing, she regarded the teacher with almost lazy amusement."Seriously? You can't even see through a trick this cheap?"She showed him a video of what had really happened. Just like that, my name was cleared."Stick with me from now on," she told me. "I'll look out for you. Nobody will dare mess with you again."Her smile had been so brilliant that I'd fallen for her on the spot.I stayed by her side for fifteen years.Funny how life wor

Chapter 4

Elise lunged at me, clamped a hand around my throat, and kicked me to the floor."Don't think I won't hurt you just because we've been together for years, Evan. If anything happens to Nico, I'll make you pay with your life!"I could only stare at her in confusion.She threw her phone at my face."Look what you've done!"The screen showed a string of vicious online posts. They were published under my name, accusing Nico of breaking up a long-term relationship. The language was ugly, spiteful, and relentless.According to the latest reports, Nico had been overwhelmed by the online abuse and was threatening to jump from a rooftop.My voice shook."You think I wrote those?""Who else would?" Elise's eyes were like ice. "How could you be so vicious? Using dirty tricks to destroy a kid?"She straightened and looked down at me."I was only going to look after Nico for a little while, grant a few of his wishes, and then marry you. But I've changed my mind."You're going to pay for

Chapter 5

Inside the box was the promise ring we'd made together years ago. In all that time, I'd never once taken it off.Nico woke and wandered over, rubbing his eyes."Honey, who's here?"When he saw the ring, he wrinkled his nose in disgust."Ugh. That thing looks so cheap. Throw it away."For the first time, Elise felt real panic."No," she whispered. "This has to be some stupid stunt Evan pulled to get back at me. He wouldn't give up on us. He couldn't..."A folded note slipped from beneath the ring and fluttered to the floor.She picked it up. It was in my neat handwriting.Elise, you never have to question whether I loved you again. This time, I'm the one who doesn't want you.Her knees nearly gave out.She grabbed Grant by the collar, eyes wild."Where is Evan? How could he..."She couldn't finish the sentence.Nico read the note too. Inside, he was delighted. But he put on a worried expression."Don't panic, honey. Evan would never actually leave you. He's probably tryin

Chapter 6

Elise drove far too fast, fury and terror warring inside her.She burst into the hospital and grabbed the nurse at the reception desk."Where is Evan Kavanagh? Is he here? Tell me!"The nurse went pale at the sight of her. She quickly checked the records."Mr. Kavanagh was brought in yesterday with injuries from an assault. He was treated in emergency surgery, and his condition stabilized. When he regained consciousness, though, he insisted on leaving. He signed the discharge paperwork and disappeared. We haven't been able to contact him either."Elise felt cold all over.Her fists clenched until her knuckles turned white."He was safe in that psychiatric hospital," she rasped. "How could he have been injured?"A terrible suspicion took hold.She spun toward her assistant."Grant, find out what happened. Every single thing that happened to Evan in that facility. Now!"He immediately put every contact he had to work.Less than half an hour later, he returned, his face draine

Chapter 7

Nico's words cut through Elise's anger like knives.She slowly closed her eyes. A tear slipped down her cheek."You're right," she whispered. "It was me. I let myself be blinded. My heart wandered. I betrayed him. I'm the one who lost my Ev."Memories crowded in, bringing back the promises she'd made to me when we were young.She had once meant to marry me as soon as her career was secure, with the grandest, most perfect wedding anyone had ever seen.But as her business grew, she became busier. I kept asking when we'd finally get married, and my questions began to annoy her.People around her whispered that any man who pushed for marriage after his girlfriend became rich had to be after her money.Against all reason, she'd begun to wonder whether they were right.She'd doubted me, the boy who'd loved her for fifteen years.Then Nico appeared.Professor Ferretti had asked her to look after his son before he died. She could have honored that request by providing financial suppo

Chapter 8

I'd thought Elise would be too ashamed to come looking for me again.The very next morning, she was standing outside my door with an insulated food container in her hands."Ev, I made your favorite honey-glazed ribs. They're still warm. Would you try some?"Her voice was hoarse. She held the container out carefully, as though a sudden movement might make me refuse it.Fifteen years together, and she hadn't cooked a single meal for me. But she'd made meal after meal for Nico.Love that came only after everything had been destroyed meant nothing to me.I didn't even glance at the food. I stepped around her."Ms. Van Doren, please move. I need to get to work."She stiffened. Then she followed me, silent and stubborn, all the way to the television station.Outside the building, she spoke at last."You're the lead anchor now. I made sure all those old lies about you were taken down. Nobody will dare gossip about you again."I stopped and turned to her with a bitter smile."I don

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