hapter 14
Chapter 14
Theodore had some business to attend to, so he let me go home first. When I reached my building. I saw the ground littered with health supplements and a disheveled Stephen, who seemed to have just been thrown out by my mom. Seeing me, he ran over excitedly, trying to hug me. I immediately stepped back, leaving his hand awkwardly hanging in midair. A few neighbors were watching nearby, whispering among themselves.
I told him to leave, but he refused, so I had no choice but to let him into the apartment. My parents knew about the divorce and had no warmth left for Stephen. I didn’t understand why he was acting this way–I’d already let him go.
“Stephen, I know you like Ophelia. She’s divorced now, and we’re divorced too. Isn’t that
exactly what you wanted? Why are you still interfering in my life?”
“Interfering? Do you really mean to leave me? That’s impossible!”
He paced back and forth, seemingly tormented, muttering “impossible” over and over. I couldn’t understand his sudden obsession, his former gentleness completely gone. It even made me feel disgusted.
+
I snapped, “Stephen, can you act normal? If you truly cared about me, you wouldn’t have signed that divorce agreement, and you wouldn’t be so desperate now to try and get back
together.”
He looked up at me, shocked. “How did you know?”
“Because you never understood me. You still think I’m just upset, that the agreement means nothing, and that if you come looking for me, I’ll gladly reconcile.”
“No, that’s not it! That’s not how it is!” he shouted, suddenly rushing over to grab my hand, trying to pull me away.
I struggled to break free, and my mom hit his hand with a stick, making him grunt in pain and let go. I quickly ran outside and flagged down a taxi. Stephen chased after me but couldn’t keep up with the car’s speed.
Watching him disappear from sight, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. This side of Stephen
21:51
The Last Time I Loved Hum
Chapter 14
was terrifying, like someone I’d never known. I was about to call Theodore when I received
a text from an unknown number.
It was signed, Ophelia.
