Chapter 8
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I called Elliot and asked him to come over.
I didn’t open the door until he arrived.
Caleb must’ve noticed–after ringing the doorbell for ages with no response, the moment Elliot showed up, I let him in. Caleb’s eyes immediately reddened.
“Brielle, I know everything now.
“You paid for most of that apartment I bought, didn’t you?”
I hadn’t bothered to hide our breakup from my circle of friends.
Not long ago, Caleb happened to run into the friend who’d helped me cover up the truth, telling him the apartment was on special. Apparently, she’d never liked him and finally decided to spill the beans, calling him a hypocrite who lived off me and treated garbage like treasure.
That was all it took for Caleb to snap. He went home, checked the property values, and realized his apartment was suspiciously cheap compared to the rest of the neighborhood.
“Brielle,” he choked out, “I’m sorry. I had no idea you did all that for
me…”
I didn’t say a word. Instead, I grabbed Elliot–still standing outside–and pulled him in. “What are you doing out there? Get inside already!”
Elliot obediently let me tug him through the door, and I slammed it shut behind us.
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Caleb panicked, pounding on the door. “Brielle! I swear, I know I was wrong. I’m here to apologize. Just don’t leave me, okay? I won’t try to control you ever again. You can do whatever you want–please?”
When I didn’t respond, he just started shouting, “We’ve been together eight years! I really thought we’d spend our lives together! I was wrong before, but I’ll make it up to you. Brielle, open the door!”
Five minutes later, security arrived and started escorting Caleb off the property.
I told the guard, “I have nothing to do with this man anymore. Don’t ever let him in to bother me again.”
“Brielle!” Caleb’s face was dark with rage, his voice shaking. “I’ve begged you like this–what more do you want?”
I lifted my hand, flashing my engagement ring with deliberate slowness. “Mr. Rosmere, I paid for your apartment because I wanted to. I could let it go, but if you keep harassing me, I won’t hesitate to collect every cent.”
After Caleb was finally gone, Elliot waited downstairs for over an hour while I pulled myself together.
When I was ready, we went out for dinner–a real date this time.
A few days later, Caleb showed up again, this time with the money from selling the apartment.
He couldn’t get into the neighborhood, so he waited at the entrance for my
car.
Elliot was driving, and I sat in the passenger seat.
Caleb stepped out, arms wide, blocking our way. “Brielle!”
The car stopped. He rushed over and tried to hand me a bank card. “Here
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-this is the money you fronted for my apartment. I’m paying you back. I never cared about your money. I was with you because I loved you. Please, don’t leave me.”
I turned to Elliot. “Roll down the window–just a bit.”
Caleb shoved the card through the gap.
My voice was ice–cold. “I’m taking this card so you can finally sleep at night, Caleb. But listen–I’ve met Elliot’s parents, and he’s met mine. We’re getting married soon. If you keep stalking me, I really will call the police.”
Right after the breakup, I still thought–after loving someone for so many years, even if we weren’t right for each other, we could at least part on good terms.
But Caleb had shredded every last bit of dignity between us.
The more he acted like this, the more I wondered how I could’ve been so
blind before.
Elliot started the car, but Caleb chased after us, pressing against the window. “Brielle, I’ve cut Mabel out of my life for good! If she needs to pay you back for those clothes, I’m not covering for her! If you want to call the cops, fine–I just don’t want to lose you, Brielle, please–Brielle…”
Security stopped him at the gates. He stood outside, disheveled and desperate, eyes red, all his former arrogance gone.
After Elliot parked, he reached over and ruffled my hair.
Then he deftly plucked the bank card from my hand. “Let me donate this for you.”
I saw the tension in his face and couldn’t help but smile. “Okay,” I
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