Chapter 9
Chapter 9
After the breakup, I had much more time on my work. My attention to detail led me to uncover two financial discrepancies. in past reports, which I promptly reported to the company, thus preventing potential auditing issues. As a result, the company gave me another raise, and Mr. Green, our CFO, promoted me to senior accountant. With the increase in both income and
responsibilities, I had little time to spare for Michael and Emily’s affairs.
Even though Michael showed up daily to pick me up from work, I ignored him, leaving quickly before he could approach. Between working tirelessly and dealing with my period, I felt dizzy
walking out of the office one evening. I barely realized what was happening before I collapsed to the ground.
When I regained consciousness, I found myself in a hospital bed with a worried Michael sitting beside me. As soon as he saw me awake, he called the doctor, who explained that I had fainted from exhaustion and poor nutrition, advising me to take better care of myself.
I nodded, eager to gather my things and leave, but Michael pleaded, “Juliana, let me take care of you, please. I swear I’ll be there for you and love you.”
I looked at him, amused, reminded of the time not long ago when he abandoned me during an appendix surgery. The hopelessness I felt as I went under anesthesia, vowing not to love Michael anymore, was something I could never forget. Now, seeing him seemingly repentant was oddly satisfying. All the pain and suffering I endured had finally caught up with him, and he was experiencing a taste of longing he couldn’t satisfy.
But despite his help getting me to the hospital, I didn’t feel the
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urge to lash out at him. Instead, I simply said, “Michael, all things come to an end. Our time together has passed. Let’s not force it anymore.”
Michael lowered his head, tears filling his eyes–the first time I had ever seen him cry. A once proud and arrogant man, even back in school, he carried his high–and–mighty attitude into his work life, propelled by sheer talent and a sense of superiority. Yet, there he was, shedding tears over me.
But none of it mattered anymore. It was too late. We were already
over.
After that encounter, I didn’t see Michael for a long while. He vanished, no longer waiting outside my office. Meanwhile, I ran into Ethan a few times, who continued to be the epitome of gentleness and courtesy. Aware of the vast differences between us, I kept my distance, never daring to hope for more.
As months passed, my work flourished, and I tackled each day with renewed vigor. Without a man, I wasn’t a rootless drifter but rather a strong, self–reliant individual, a feeling I cherished.
Then, one evening, I returned to my apartment to find Michael sitting at my doorstep. It had been over three months since I’d last seen him, and I was shocked by his appearance. He looked thinner, beard unshaven, with dark circles under his eyes as if he hadn’t slept well in ages. The strong smell of alcohol hung around him he was clearly drunk.
I nudged his leg with my foot to wake him. In his sleep–touched daze, he muttered, “Juliana, you back? My babe Juliana?”
I stood, stunned. When we were together, hearing him call me “babe” would have been a miracle, Even during our most passionate days, he never used such affectionate words, dismissing them as too cheesy and uncomfortable. He always
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just called me Juliana. I grew accustomed to it and stopped asking.
Yet here he was, drunk, calling me “babe Juliana.”
