Posted Their Texts, Blocked His Number, Bye - Chapter 8: Chapter 8

"You bitch! This is all your fault! Harvey left me because of you!"
"He loves me—only me! Why did you have to steal him from me?"
"My brother is dead, and now I have nothing left. Can't you just let me have him?"
Leigh's face twisted—one second sobbing, the next laughing like a madwoman.
"Your brother died," I said coldly, "because he deserved it."
She froze, her whole body trembling as if the words had finally sunk in. A slow, sickening realization dawned in her eyes.
"He took the flash drive I was supposed to give Harvey. Crashed his car trying to deliver it."
"And you? You knew everything. But instead of coming clean, you let Harvey carry the guilt."
"Leigh, you've had your fun. Now it's time to pay."
The girl in front of me shook her head violently. "No… no…"
"Is that true?" A voice cut through—shaking, raw. His voice.
Her body locked up like she'd been struck.
I didn't stick around for their meltdown. Time to go.
Torin's car pulled up, and I bolted for it, yanking the door open. Harvey lunged for my arm, but Leigh dragged him back.
"Get the hell off me!" He shoved her so hard she hit the pavement.
For a split second, I flashed back to that night outside the police station.
But I pushed it away, rolling up the window and cutting off the noise.
Torin glanced at me. "You good?"
I forced a smile. "It's nothing."
Through the tinted glass, I saw Harvey slamming his fists against the window, shouting something I couldn't hear. The soundproofing was perfect.
As we pulled away, I caught a glimpse of him chasing the car like a man possessed—until he shrank into the distance and disappeared.
Finally, I closed my eyes.
That night, just before the wedding, I was getting ready for bed when the maid knocked with a glass of milk.
"Miss, there's someone outside asking for you," she said. "Your mother told us to ignore him, but… I thought you should know."
After she left, I went to the window.
My room had a perfect view of the front yard.
Harvey was leaning against his car, the ground littered with cigarette butts.
As if sensing me, he looked up. Our eyes locked.
His hollow stare held something desperate.
I snapped the curtains shut and told the butler to deal with it.
Downstairs, Harvey's voice echoed, shouting my name.
It went on for ten minutes—until thunder drowned him out.
"Forget it. Just leave him," I said, waving the butler back.
The man returned, drenched in sweat, his clothes disheveled. "Miss, he won't leave."
"Then let him rot," I said flatly.
Later, the rain came down in sheets.
I figured Harvey wasn't stupid—after being treated like a stray dog, he'd have the sense to leave.
But past midnight, thunder jolted me awake.
I looked outside.
There he was, under the streetlamp, soaked to the bone.
Swaying slightly, still staring up at my window.
Too late for grand gestures now.
I went back to bed and slept like a stone.
By morning, he was gone.
The makeup artist gushed over my flawless skin, saying I could pull off any look.
The woman in the mirror was perfect—except for the missing smile.
When I stepped out in my wedding dress, Torin was already there, holding the car door open.
At the venue, the air was thick with flowers and applause.
The sky was flawless—not a single cloud.
In front of my beaming parents, Torin took my hand.
The ring was halfway onto my finger when—
"Wait!"
The room fell dead silent.
Everyone turned.
There, in the doorway, stood Harvey—sharp new suit, but his face was wrecked. Dark circles, hollow cheeks. Like he hadn't slept in weeks.