Paid to Disappear on His Proposal Night - Chapter 10: Chapter 10
You are reading Paid to Disappear on His Proposal Night, Chapter 10: Chapter 10. Read more chapters of Paid to Disappear on His Proposal Night.
"Keeping my family background a secret was my dad's idea at first. The difference between our worlds was just too big. But my parents aren't snobs—they don't care about status. What matters to them is who you are and how you treat me. Dad worried that if you knew the truth too soon, you wouldn't love me for me. He wanted me to wait until we were solid before telling you."
I took a slow breath, my voice steady. "I saw the ring you bought for Courtney—the one you used to propose." That night, when you told me to stay at a hotel, I thought you were planning some grand romantic gesture. I didn't go. Instead, I came here. I was so excited, I told my parents everything about you. I promised I'd bring you home after you proposed. Too bad that proposal never happened."
Darryl's legs nearly gave out as the full weight of her words crashed over him. He finally understood what he'd thrown away—the money, the connections, and worst of all, the real love he'd once had.
Hands shaking, he dug into his pocket and pulled out a small green pendant.
"June, look. I got this for you. I know I'm not into all that spiritual stuff like your grandma, and yeah, most people think four-leaf clovers are just roadside trinkets. But I wanted to give you something real. I hiked up into the mountains, near the cliffs. Spent hours searching, slipped a few times—almost went over the edge once. Got my face scratched up from crawling through bushes. People say these bring luck, but I just wanted you to be happy. And safe."
His eyes burned with desperation.
"I swear I've changed, June. I'll break things off with Courtney today. I don't even like her—never did. You're the only one I've ever really loved. Please. Just give me one more chance. I won't screw up again."
I studied the necklace—the leaf suspended in resin, the chain shiny but cheap. Darryl's face still had faint cuts. A year ago, this might've shattered me. Now? Nothing.
Snatching it from his hand, I marched to the roadside. Under his hopeful stare, I hurled it down the hill with everything I had.
"We're done, Darryl. Stop wasting your breath. I kept my grandma's talisman because it was love. Yours? Just selfishness. A cheap trick."
"I wanted to end this clean, but if you keep pushing? I'll burn every bridge. I've recorded everything—every call, every word. If you don't want Courtney hearing them, disappear. Now."
Darryl gripped the railing, staring down the slope for a long moment before turning back. His face was ghost-white. "So that's it? No second chances?"
I didn't answer. My silence said enough.
After a beat, he exhaled raggedly. "I'm sorry. Hope you have a good life." Then he walked away, shoulders slumped, until the path swallowed him whole.
That was the last time I saw Darryl.
The next few weeks, I threw myself into learning my dad's restaurant business, squeezing in art commissions when I could. Life was full.
Then one lunch break, I idly scrolled through my phone and froze.
"Man's 'Essential Tool' Severed by Girlfriend in Fit of Rage"
Two names jumped out: Courtney Lake and Darryl Griffin.
Turns out, Darryl had been talking in his sleep—begging for my forgiveness, whispering my name. Even confessed (loudly) that he'd never loved Courtney, just used her family to climb the ladder. She didn't take it well. Grabbed a pair of scissors and…
Well. Let's say doctors reattached it, but functionality's questionable.
I shut off my phone, changed into my work clothes, and headed out.
Life's too long to waste on the past.
(The End)
I took a slow breath, my voice steady. "I saw the ring you bought for Courtney—the one you used to propose." That night, when you told me to stay at a hotel, I thought you were planning some grand romantic gesture. I didn't go. Instead, I came here. I was so excited, I told my parents everything about you. I promised I'd bring you home after you proposed. Too bad that proposal never happened."
Darryl's legs nearly gave out as the full weight of her words crashed over him. He finally understood what he'd thrown away—the money, the connections, and worst of all, the real love he'd once had.
Hands shaking, he dug into his pocket and pulled out a small green pendant.
"June, look. I got this for you. I know I'm not into all that spiritual stuff like your grandma, and yeah, most people think four-leaf clovers are just roadside trinkets. But I wanted to give you something real. I hiked up into the mountains, near the cliffs. Spent hours searching, slipped a few times—almost went over the edge once. Got my face scratched up from crawling through bushes. People say these bring luck, but I just wanted you to be happy. And safe."
His eyes burned with desperation.
"I swear I've changed, June. I'll break things off with Courtney today. I don't even like her—never did. You're the only one I've ever really loved. Please. Just give me one more chance. I won't screw up again."
I studied the necklace—the leaf suspended in resin, the chain shiny but cheap. Darryl's face still had faint cuts. A year ago, this might've shattered me. Now? Nothing.
Snatching it from his hand, I marched to the roadside. Under his hopeful stare, I hurled it down the hill with everything I had.
"We're done, Darryl. Stop wasting your breath. I kept my grandma's talisman because it was love. Yours? Just selfishness. A cheap trick."
"I wanted to end this clean, but if you keep pushing? I'll burn every bridge. I've recorded everything—every call, every word. If you don't want Courtney hearing them, disappear. Now."
Darryl gripped the railing, staring down the slope for a long moment before turning back. His face was ghost-white. "So that's it? No second chances?"
I didn't answer. My silence said enough.
After a beat, he exhaled raggedly. "I'm sorry. Hope you have a good life." Then he walked away, shoulders slumped, until the path swallowed him whole.
That was the last time I saw Darryl.
The next few weeks, I threw myself into learning my dad's restaurant business, squeezing in art commissions when I could. Life was full.
Then one lunch break, I idly scrolled through my phone and froze.
"Man's 'Essential Tool' Severed by Girlfriend in Fit of Rage"
Two names jumped out: Courtney Lake and Darryl Griffin.
Turns out, Darryl had been talking in his sleep—begging for my forgiveness, whispering my name. Even confessed (loudly) that he'd never loved Courtney, just used her family to climb the ladder. She didn't take it well. Grabbed a pair of scissors and…
Well. Let's say doctors reattached it, but functionality's questionable.
I shut off my phone, changed into my work clothes, and headed out.
Life's too long to waste on the past.
(The End)
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