After Eight Years, He Walked Away Like I Was Nothing - Chapter 41: Chapter 41
You are reading After Eight Years, He Walked Away Like I Was Nothing, Chapter 41: Chapter 41. Read more chapters of After Eight Years, He Walked Away Like I Was Nothing.
Chantelle’s POV
When I opened the apartment door, the first thing I saw was Lachlan standing there with a strained smile—and Kirsten right beside him. Her arms hung limp at her sides, her body covered in bruises, and her face completely blank, like she’d shut down completely.
The moment Lachlan saw me, his eyes lit up.
He quickly pushed Kirsten forward and said, his voice eager, “Chantelle, I brought her here to beg for your forgiveness.”
Before I could react, he pressed hard on her shoulder and forced her to her knees.
Kirsten didn’t resist. She dropped down without a sound and started begging for my forgiveness—forehead hitting the floor again and again—her face still vacant, like she wasn’t even there.
Under her breath, she mumbled, “I’ve wronged you, Chantelle… I’m a sinner… I should die to atone…”
“I won’t dare do it again,” she added. “It was all my delusion… I’m a worthless woman! Everything… was my fault!”
Her voice was low, robotic, like she was reciting something rehearsed.
But what shook me wasn’t her words—it was how she didn’t flinch, not even when blood started pouring down her forehead.
She just kept slamming it against the floor, over and over, like she couldn’t feel a thing.
I stood there frozen for a second, staring at her—and suddenly, all I could think about was how smug she’d once been.
The way she’d talked down to my mother.
The way she’d acted like Lachlan was hers to manipulate, just because of whatever feelings they used to share.
What she didn’t expect was that the moment I left, Lachlan seemed to awaken. He saw through everything.
‘No matter how deeply he used to care about Kirsten, the second reality hit, his affection vanished like it was never there.’
That realization made something twist in my gut. I stepped back, disgusted.
“That’s enough,” I said coldly, cutting through the silence. “I don’t want to see her kneeling in front of me.”
Then I turned to Lachlan, my voice sharper. “And if we’re really pointing fingers here, let’s be honest—this is your fault. The one who deserves to die isn’t just her. You’re the real culprit!”
Without waiting for a response, I turned on my heel and reached for the door.
But Lachlan jumped forward before I could shut it, jamming his foot in the gap. His voice was low, pleading.
“Chantelle… I know you’ll never forgive me. I just… I just wanted to make things a little easier for you.”
He swallowed hard, then added in a strained whisper, “Once Kirsten is done… I’ll do whatever you want me to.”
His gaze dropped to the floor for a beat. When he looked back up, his voice cracked. “I’ll die to make amends.”
No sooner had he said it than Kirsten suddenly surged forward as if seizing the perfect opportunity.
It happened so fast. One moment she was limp and hollow. The next, a flash of silver caught my eye—a blade—and then came the dull, horrible thud.
Lachlan spun around, his face twisting in shock.
He never imagined he’d be the one she’d stab.
And then Kirsten started laughing. Not just a regular laugh—it was cracked and twisted, the sound of someone completely gone.
“Chantelle,” she said, her voice wild and trembling. “I didn’t lose. I’ll never lose.”
“If Lachlan wants me dead, I’ll kill him first. And then I’ll kill you,” she said casually.
And then she burst into manic laughter again as she said, “You two can be lovers in the afterlife!”
Her eyes gleamed with madness as she raised the knife again and charged straight at me.
But Lachlan moved faster.
Using the last of his strength, he threw himself forward, blocking her blow and knocking her back with a desperate kick. Blood gushed from his mouth as he collapsed to the ground.
Even then, even as his body gave out, his eyes never left me—still locked on mine, still full of pain and regret.
By the time the police arrived, it was over.
Kirsten was dead.
Her body had already been pushed past its limits by whatever Lachlan had done to her. That final stab was everything she had left.
I answered all their questions. I did everything by the book. But deep down, I felt nothing but a quiet, exhausted emptiness. Not grief. Not sympathy. Just… emptiness.
Nothing Lachlan did touched me anymore. Not his apology. Not his sacrifice. None of it changed what had already been lost.
My ex and his mistress both died right there in front of my apartment door. And even if I wasn’t the superstitious type, I knew I could never live here again.
While I was still trying to figure out where I’d go next, Cliff showed up.
He stood there for a moment, a little nervous, scratching the back of his neck before saying softly, “I think… Maybe it’s time we live together?”
His voice was unsure, but the look in his eyes was steady. His cheeks were tinged pink, just enough to make me smile.
And for the first time in what felt like forever, I actually meant it.
I nodded—just once—and somehow, that was all it took.
Whatever hell I’d been through… it was over now.
The nightmares were finally behind me.
And everything waiting ahead?
It shimmered like morning after a long, haunted night.
When I opened the apartment door, the first thing I saw was Lachlan standing there with a strained smile—and Kirsten right beside him. Her arms hung limp at her sides, her body covered in bruises, and her face completely blank, like she’d shut down completely.
The moment Lachlan saw me, his eyes lit up.
He quickly pushed Kirsten forward and said, his voice eager, “Chantelle, I brought her here to beg for your forgiveness.”
Before I could react, he pressed hard on her shoulder and forced her to her knees.
Kirsten didn’t resist. She dropped down without a sound and started begging for my forgiveness—forehead hitting the floor again and again—her face still vacant, like she wasn’t even there.
Under her breath, she mumbled, “I’ve wronged you, Chantelle… I’m a sinner… I should die to atone…”
“I won’t dare do it again,” she added. “It was all my delusion… I’m a worthless woman! Everything… was my fault!”
Her voice was low, robotic, like she was reciting something rehearsed.
But what shook me wasn’t her words—it was how she didn’t flinch, not even when blood started pouring down her forehead.
She just kept slamming it against the floor, over and over, like she couldn’t feel a thing.
I stood there frozen for a second, staring at her—and suddenly, all I could think about was how smug she’d once been.
The way she’d talked down to my mother.
The way she’d acted like Lachlan was hers to manipulate, just because of whatever feelings they used to share.
What she didn’t expect was that the moment I left, Lachlan seemed to awaken. He saw through everything.
‘No matter how deeply he used to care about Kirsten, the second reality hit, his affection vanished like it was never there.’
That realization made something twist in my gut. I stepped back, disgusted.
“That’s enough,” I said coldly, cutting through the silence. “I don’t want to see her kneeling in front of me.”
Then I turned to Lachlan, my voice sharper. “And if we’re really pointing fingers here, let’s be honest—this is your fault. The one who deserves to die isn’t just her. You’re the real culprit!”
Without waiting for a response, I turned on my heel and reached for the door.
But Lachlan jumped forward before I could shut it, jamming his foot in the gap. His voice was low, pleading.
“Chantelle… I know you’ll never forgive me. I just… I just wanted to make things a little easier for you.”
He swallowed hard, then added in a strained whisper, “Once Kirsten is done… I’ll do whatever you want me to.”
His gaze dropped to the floor for a beat. When he looked back up, his voice cracked. “I’ll die to make amends.”
No sooner had he said it than Kirsten suddenly surged forward as if seizing the perfect opportunity.
It happened so fast. One moment she was limp and hollow. The next, a flash of silver caught my eye—a blade—and then came the dull, horrible thud.
Lachlan spun around, his face twisting in shock.
He never imagined he’d be the one she’d stab.
And then Kirsten started laughing. Not just a regular laugh—it was cracked and twisted, the sound of someone completely gone.
“Chantelle,” she said, her voice wild and trembling. “I didn’t lose. I’ll never lose.”
“If Lachlan wants me dead, I’ll kill him first. And then I’ll kill you,” she said casually.
And then she burst into manic laughter again as she said, “You two can be lovers in the afterlife!”
Her eyes gleamed with madness as she raised the knife again and charged straight at me.
But Lachlan moved faster.
Using the last of his strength, he threw himself forward, blocking her blow and knocking her back with a desperate kick. Blood gushed from his mouth as he collapsed to the ground.
Even then, even as his body gave out, his eyes never left me—still locked on mine, still full of pain and regret.
By the time the police arrived, it was over.
Kirsten was dead.
Her body had already been pushed past its limits by whatever Lachlan had done to her. That final stab was everything she had left.
I answered all their questions. I did everything by the book. But deep down, I felt nothing but a quiet, exhausted emptiness. Not grief. Not sympathy. Just… emptiness.
Nothing Lachlan did touched me anymore. Not his apology. Not his sacrifice. None of it changed what had already been lost.
My ex and his mistress both died right there in front of my apartment door. And even if I wasn’t the superstitious type, I knew I could never live here again.
While I was still trying to figure out where I’d go next, Cliff showed up.
He stood there for a moment, a little nervous, scratching the back of his neck before saying softly, “I think… Maybe it’s time we live together?”
His voice was unsure, but the look in his eyes was steady. His cheeks were tinged pink, just enough to make me smile.
And for the first time in what felt like forever, I actually meant it.
I nodded—just once—and somehow, that was all it took.
Whatever hell I’d been through… it was over now.
The nightmares were finally behind me.
And everything waiting ahead?
It shimmered like morning after a long, haunted night.
End of After Eight Years, He Walked Away Like I Was Nothing Chapter 41. View all chapters or return to After Eight Years, He Walked Away Like I Was Nothing book page.