After Eight Years, He Walked Away Like I Was Nothing - Chapter 38: Chapter 38
You are reading After Eight Years, He Walked Away Like I Was Nothing, Chapter 38: Chapter 38. Read more chapters of After Eight Years, He Walked Away Like I Was Nothing.
Chantelle’s POV
My expression must’ve been pretty serious, because Cliff suddenly let out a soft laugh when he saw it.
I gave him a puzzled look, but he quickly composed himself and met my eyes, this time with a quiet intensity.
“I found you way earlier than you think,” he said, his voice calm but steady. “I’ve been watching over you quietly for seven years now.
“I was just a step too late—that’s the only reason Lachlan got to you first.”
He paused, then added with conviction, “I always knew you hadn’t changed. You’re still that same person from back then—smart, brave, strong, and kind. You just got caught in a marriage that was never right for you. But you? You never changed.”
His tone softened slightly. “And honestly, you’ve been underestimating me this whole time. My feelings for you? They’re not going anywhere.
“I didn’t fall for some perfect version of you. I fell in love with the real you. So… if you’re willing, would you give me a chance? Let me prove myself.
“I’ve already waited twelve years. I don’t want to let this go now that I finally have it.”
There was so much sincerity in his voice. His eyes didn’t waver—they stayed on me, full of affection and hope.
I let out a long sigh, and just as a flicker of disappointment started to show on his face, I finally spoke.
“Twelve years, huh…” I looked up at him. “Since you’ve said all this—I guess I should give you a chance.”
Cliff froze, completely stunned for a beat. Then his whole face lit up like a kid on Christmas morning.
“You mean it? You really mean it?” he asked, practically bouncing. “You can’t take it back now!”
Before I could answer, he grabbed my hand in excitement. But the moment I raised an eyebrow and gave him a teasing smile, he instantly blushed and let go, flustered.
“Chantelle… I really, really like you,” he murmured. “Thank you—for giving me this chance.”
Honestly, I thought that after everything, I’d never see Lachlan again. But life has a way of messing with you.
At a business dinner a few nights later, I spotted him—just across the hall.
He looked awful. In barely a month, he’d dropped at least ten pounds. His whole energy was different—cold, withdrawn. There were dark shadows under his eyes, and he looked like he hadn’t slept in days.
I only gave him a quick glance before turning away, not wanting to get sucked back in.
Cliff must’ve caught the shift in my mood because he leaned over with concern. “Are you okay? If you want to go, we can leave right now.”
I shook my head, trying to keep it together. I just wanted to get through the night without any drama.
But of course, drama found me anyway.
The next second, I heard a voice shout from across the room.
“Chantelle!”
I stiffened. That voice—I hadn’t heard it in weeks, and yet it still sent a chill through me.
Lachlan was pushing his way through the crowd, frantic. He called my name again, louder this time, before striding straight toward me.
I sighed, already annoyed.
When he finally reached me, he came to an abrupt stop—eyes locking on Cliff.
“Who the hell is that bastard?!”
And just like that, instinct kicked in. Without thinking, I reached out and took Cliff’s hand.
I didn’t even know why Lachlan looked so freaked out seeing me, but if he wanted a show, I’d give him one.
Before I could say anything, Cliff stepped forward, his voice cool and confident. “I’m Chantelle’s boyfriend. And who exactly are you to be asking?”
His tone was dripping with mockery, and he looked smug as hell as he stared Lachlan down.
I couldn’t help it—the corners of my lips tugged up into a faint smile.
But Lachlan? He looked like he’d been hit by a truck. He just stood there, stunned, like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
And when he saw me smile at Cliff?
That was it.
His bloodshot eyes burned with rage, and for a second, I swear if he had a weapon, Cliff would’ve been done for.
“Chantelle!” Lachlan’s voice cracked. “How could you—how could you be with him?! It’s only been a month since you left me!
“You’re lying, right? You’re just trying to make me jealous?!”
There was desperation in his eyes, a pathetic glimmer of hope hanging on by a thread.
I let out a cold, dry laugh. My face said everything I didn’t even have to say.
Before I could speak, he rushed out again, even more frantic. “Chantelle, I know I messed up. I do. But I’ve fixed it. I had Kirsten arrested. I’ll make her pay for what she did. Just come back with me.”
‘Wow. Really? He’s ready to throw his mistress under the bus like that—as if that made up for everything.’
Instead of feeling even a little bit moved, I felt sick.
“Why don’t you believe me?” I said, steady and calm. “Cliff really is my boyfriend. We’re not faking anything.”
Lachlan just stood there, eyes wide and brimming with tears, his voice catching in his throat.
“We’ve only been apart a month…” he whispered. “How could you forget me that fast? How could you fall in love with someone else so soon? I don’t believe it—I won’t believe it!”
He shook his head over and over like he could somehow rewind time by sheer denial.
I raised an eyebrow and gave him a look. “Isn’t it perfectly normal?” I replied with a hint of sarcasm. “At least I didn’t cheat during the marriage—unlike you.”
That hit him hard. I could see it—he staggered back a step, all the color draining from his face.
Then, just like that, rage twisted his expression, and he reached a hand out toward me.
My expression must’ve been pretty serious, because Cliff suddenly let out a soft laugh when he saw it.
I gave him a puzzled look, but he quickly composed himself and met my eyes, this time with a quiet intensity.
“I found you way earlier than you think,” he said, his voice calm but steady. “I’ve been watching over you quietly for seven years now.
“I was just a step too late—that’s the only reason Lachlan got to you first.”
He paused, then added with conviction, “I always knew you hadn’t changed. You’re still that same person from back then—smart, brave, strong, and kind. You just got caught in a marriage that was never right for you. But you? You never changed.”
His tone softened slightly. “And honestly, you’ve been underestimating me this whole time. My feelings for you? They’re not going anywhere.
“I didn’t fall for some perfect version of you. I fell in love with the real you. So… if you’re willing, would you give me a chance? Let me prove myself.
“I’ve already waited twelve years. I don’t want to let this go now that I finally have it.”
There was so much sincerity in his voice. His eyes didn’t waver—they stayed on me, full of affection and hope.
I let out a long sigh, and just as a flicker of disappointment started to show on his face, I finally spoke.
“Twelve years, huh…” I looked up at him. “Since you’ve said all this—I guess I should give you a chance.”
Cliff froze, completely stunned for a beat. Then his whole face lit up like a kid on Christmas morning.
“You mean it? You really mean it?” he asked, practically bouncing. “You can’t take it back now!”
Before I could answer, he grabbed my hand in excitement. But the moment I raised an eyebrow and gave him a teasing smile, he instantly blushed and let go, flustered.
“Chantelle… I really, really like you,” he murmured. “Thank you—for giving me this chance.”
Honestly, I thought that after everything, I’d never see Lachlan again. But life has a way of messing with you.
At a business dinner a few nights later, I spotted him—just across the hall.
He looked awful. In barely a month, he’d dropped at least ten pounds. His whole energy was different—cold, withdrawn. There were dark shadows under his eyes, and he looked like he hadn’t slept in days.
I only gave him a quick glance before turning away, not wanting to get sucked back in.
Cliff must’ve caught the shift in my mood because he leaned over with concern. “Are you okay? If you want to go, we can leave right now.”
I shook my head, trying to keep it together. I just wanted to get through the night without any drama.
But of course, drama found me anyway.
The next second, I heard a voice shout from across the room.
“Chantelle!”
I stiffened. That voice—I hadn’t heard it in weeks, and yet it still sent a chill through me.
Lachlan was pushing his way through the crowd, frantic. He called my name again, louder this time, before striding straight toward me.
I sighed, already annoyed.
When he finally reached me, he came to an abrupt stop—eyes locking on Cliff.
“Who the hell is that bastard?!”
And just like that, instinct kicked in. Without thinking, I reached out and took Cliff’s hand.
I didn’t even know why Lachlan looked so freaked out seeing me, but if he wanted a show, I’d give him one.
Before I could say anything, Cliff stepped forward, his voice cool and confident. “I’m Chantelle’s boyfriend. And who exactly are you to be asking?”
His tone was dripping with mockery, and he looked smug as hell as he stared Lachlan down.
I couldn’t help it—the corners of my lips tugged up into a faint smile.
But Lachlan? He looked like he’d been hit by a truck. He just stood there, stunned, like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
And when he saw me smile at Cliff?
That was it.
His bloodshot eyes burned with rage, and for a second, I swear if he had a weapon, Cliff would’ve been done for.
“Chantelle!” Lachlan’s voice cracked. “How could you—how could you be with him?! It’s only been a month since you left me!
“You’re lying, right? You’re just trying to make me jealous?!”
There was desperation in his eyes, a pathetic glimmer of hope hanging on by a thread.
I let out a cold, dry laugh. My face said everything I didn’t even have to say.
Before I could speak, he rushed out again, even more frantic. “Chantelle, I know I messed up. I do. But I’ve fixed it. I had Kirsten arrested. I’ll make her pay for what she did. Just come back with me.”
‘Wow. Really? He’s ready to throw his mistress under the bus like that—as if that made up for everything.’
Instead of feeling even a little bit moved, I felt sick.
“Why don’t you believe me?” I said, steady and calm. “Cliff really is my boyfriend. We’re not faking anything.”
Lachlan just stood there, eyes wide and brimming with tears, his voice catching in his throat.
“We’ve only been apart a month…” he whispered. “How could you forget me that fast? How could you fall in love with someone else so soon? I don’t believe it—I won’t believe it!”
He shook his head over and over like he could somehow rewind time by sheer denial.
I raised an eyebrow and gave him a look. “Isn’t it perfectly normal?” I replied with a hint of sarcasm. “At least I didn’t cheat during the marriage—unlike you.”
That hit him hard. I could see it—he staggered back a step, all the color draining from his face.
Then, just like that, rage twisted his expression, and he reached a hand out toward me.
End of After Eight Years, He Walked Away Like I Was Nothing Chapter 38. Continue reading Chapter 39 or return to After Eight Years, He Walked Away Like I Was Nothing book page.