After Eight Years, He Walked Away Like I Was Nothing - Chapter 39: Chapter 39

Chantelle’s POV
“You can’t!” Lachlan suddenly shouted, his eyes bloodshot, his face contorted with pain. “You can’t love someone else! I know I messed up, but we’ve been together for so long—how could you just be with someone else?!”
His voice cracked, like he was breaking apart in front of me.
“I know I failed you these past few months,” he said, breathing hard. “I made you suffer, I get that. But I was deceived too—Kirsten tricked me! The twins she’s carrying… they’re not even mine…”
He took a shaky step closer, his eyes begging.
“Just come back with me. Please. Let me explain everything properly, Chantelle. Whatever you want to do to Kirsten, or even to me—I’ll take it. As long as you come back to me.”
I stared at him—this man, who looked like he’d lost everything, like he was one word away from dropping to his knees.
But even that didn’t make me hesitate.
“There’s nothing left to explain between us,” I said coldly. “Even if Kirsten manipulated you, you were the one who did all those things with your own hands.”
My voice dropped in bitterness. “There’s a blood-deep grudge between us now. I could never go back to you, Lachlan. And besides…” I paused, then looked him right in the eye. “We’re already divorced.”
That shut him up.
I gave him one last glance and turned to walk away.
If I were stronger right now, he wouldn’t even still be breathing.
Right then, Cliff stepped up beside me, face like stone, his gaze locked on Lachlan.
“She’s made her choice, dude,” Cliff said sharply. “Everything you’ve done to her lately—we all saw it. Every damn bit of it.”
He took a step forward, his voice darkening. “Honestly, I don’t even know how you have the nerve to show your face here. But I’ll tell you this—if you ever try to touch her again, I swear, my company will bury you.”
Lachlan snapped. With a roar, he lunged at Cliff like a madman.
“What the hell are you?!” he shouted, his fist swinging. “You think you can meddle in my marriage? I married her! You’re just some bastard ruining a family!”
Cliff didn’t even flinch. He calmly loosened his tie and met him head-on.
And just like that, they were in a full-blown fight.
But Lachlan—after who knows how many sleepless nights—was no match. Within a few hits, Cliff had him on the floor, coughing up blood.
Cliff raised his fist to strike again, but I stepped between them and grabbed his arm.
“That’s enough.”
Lachlan’s face lit up like he thought I was protecting him.
But I didn’t even look at him.
“He’s not worth it.”
And just like that, the light in his eyes vanished. His whole body slumped like the fight had finally drained out of him.
Still, as Cliff and I started to leave, the idiot dragged himself up and threw himself in our path again.
Cliff hit him again—hard—but Lachlan didn’t move. He just stood there, bloodied, his eyes locked on me.
“Chantelle,” he croaked, voice trembling, “I know I was wrong. Please… just give me a chance. It’s all my fault. I blindly believed Kirsten.
“I know you blame me for what happened to your mom. I get it. But I didn’t know she’d go that far. If you want to hurt me, kill me—I won’t fight back.
“But please… don’t leave me. I can’t live without you. Without you, I’ll die!”
His words poured out like a man completely unhinged. Cliff kept hitting him, and still he didn’t care. He just kept talking, desperate and shaking.
By now, Lachlan didn’t even seem human—just a crazed, pathetic shadow of the man I used to know.
And when he dared to bring up my mother again? I slapped him with all the strength I could muster.
“Have you said enough?!”
I was yelling now, my voice raw with rage.
“If I could, I’d wish you dead right now, Lachlan!”
He flinched, but I didn’t let up.
“My mom—she woke up, and then she died again because your precious mistress drove her to it!”
I was shaking, but the words kept coming.
“You know what she saw, don’t you? The photos. The videos. You, standing in front of everyone, calling Kirsten your wife! After everything my mom went through—after how fragile she was—you did that.”
I took a breath, just to stop myself from screaming.
“And when I refused to apologize to Kirsten, you stopped covering my mom’s medical bills. You froze my bank accounts. My money, Lachlan. The money I earned.”
I laughed bitterly, my eyes burning.
“A hundred thousand dollars. That’s all it would’ve taken. Not even a tenth of the price of one of Kirsten’s handbags.”
My voice cracked. “Because of that… because of that pathetic amount… I missed the only chance to save her. I watched her die, Lachlan. I watched her die!”
I could barely breathe now. The weight of it all felt crushing.
“From that moment on, I knew—there was nothing left between us. Every time I see you, all I can see is my mom dying in that hospital bed.”
I took a shaky step back, glaring at him.
“Every second I’m near you, all I want to do is rip you apart.”
My voice dropped to a hiss.
“So how dare you say her name in front of me, huh?! If you really feel guilty—then go kneel at her grave and beg for forgiveness!”
Lachlan’s face went ghostly pale.
His arms, which had been blocking our way, slowly dropped to his sides. He looked… hollow.
And still—it wasn’t enough for me.
I let out a cold, humorless laugh.
Then, like the final stab, I leaned in just slightly and hissed, “Oh, and one more thing—did you know? We once had a child.”