My Ex-Boyfriend Regretted It After We Broke Up Chapter 10

I spoke every word with deliberate slowness.

"Julian. I really do not love you anymore. I will never love you again. Do. You. Understand?"

Julian’s knees gave out. He knelt completely on the ground, devoid of dignity.

He forced the corners of his mouth up into a smile that was uglier than crying.

"It’s okay, Chloe. It’s enough that I love you. You don't have to love me. Just don't leave me. I’ll do anything. I’ll kill for you..."

"I don't need your worthless love," I said calmly. "If you harass me again, I’m calling 911."

Julian blinked. The tears finally spilled over.

"Chloe, don't do this. I know I trampled on your heart. Why can't you give me one last chance to redeem myself? I swear, I’ll change..."

I cut off his rambling.

"Julian, it’s too late."

I got into Gabriel’s car, leaving Julian kneeling in the empty garage with his hollow gaze.

In the car, I apologized to Gabriel for using him as a shield and getting him punched.

Gabriel smiled, unbothered. "Next time you need a shield, call me first."

When he dropped me off, he said, "Chloe, if Julian bothers you, call me. Any time."

I nodded. We made plans to get pizza under the Brooklyn Bridge the following weekend.

One month later, on a quiet night.

I received a call from a strange landline number.

It was Julian. He sounded sick, coughing violently between words.

"Chloe, don't hang up. Just one question."

"Did you ever love me?"

I didn't even look up from my nails.

"No."

I hung up. I continued watching my show on Netflix.

Two days later, I learned from the alumni group chat that there had been an arson attack at Julian’s company. He was in the ICU, fighting for his life.

Sienna set the fire.

She had snapped after being fired. She dragged her sick body to the office, locked the doors, and tried to take Julian down with her.

I read the NYPD report.

I realized that Julian had called me right when he was on the brink of death.

"What bad luck," I muttered.

I was standing in front of an AMC theater. Gabriel, who was picking up tickets at the kiosk, turned around.

"Chloe? What did you say?"

"Nothing."

I closed the group chat and looked at his phone. "Did you get the tickets? What time?"

"Got 'em. Starts in thirty minutes. Enough time to get that milkshake you wanted."

Gabriel excitedly led me toward the food court. He bought me snacks, a drink, and a plushie. It felt less like a movie date and more like a Black Friday shopping spree.

After the movie, we went to the parking garage. Gabriel asked me to open the trunk to grab something.

I opened it and wasn't surprised to see the flowers and balloons he had prepared.

He looked nervous. "Chloe Vance, will you be my girlfriend?"

I didn't hesitate. I held his hand and smiled.

"Of course."

Life is long and full of twists.

But around the next corner, you will always find the right person.

[The End]