Chapter 5–Erasing the Past
jax’s words landed like blades–sharp, robd, and final.
He didact look back. With Elena’s hamil in his, he left the private lounge without hesitation, under the stunned stares of everyone present]
A soffocating silence fell over the rooms. Cur by one, the guests looked toward Willow–some wills pily, some with sympathy, others with silent discomfort.||
→Sitting beside her, Grace finally couldn’t hold it in mynsore she jumped to her fretail stormetuent ||
Willow felt a pang in her chest. She had a sinking feeling she knew what tiener veas almost to do. Without a word, she pushed through the rrowil and followed
Down in the underground parking garage, she caught the serne just in time–Grace mul jos locked in a heated argument ||
“She’s my best friendl” Grace was practically screaming. “Thow could you humiliate her like that in front of everpine?! She chased you for years–don’t you feel anything for her at all? Can’t you at least shows her a litde respectr||
Jax stood there, hands in his pockets, his face expressionless and rold.]]
inlerated her for seven wears because of you,” he said flatly. To me, she was always just a burden.-||
Grace’s eyes filled with tears, her yoier shaking[]
“She’s really given up this time. You have an idea–she got into that car accident because you left her on the side of the highwayt Her head injury was so bad she doesn’t even remember who you are anymorer“]
I told her to show up in lingerie because I wanted to humiliate her. Teach ber a lesson, Jax cut in harshly “I never thought she’d actually do it.
He stared Grace down, veder like ice.||
“And even if 1 could go back and do it a hundred times, I’d still leave her behind–everytime Dena needed me. If she’s still holding a grudge, tell her to stay the shell invay from me,
The car do slammed shut with a loud bang, leaving Grace frozen in piner |
shadows, Willow had heard everything[]
She didn’t wait them to know she had her there, didn’t want to add more awkwardness to an already broken story |
So she turned and left–silently
<-0
Back at her apartment, the Firs Dung slir did was walk from room to room
Bookshelves Closet. Under thurlard. Desk drawers]
Every trace of Jax Montor–photos, movie tickets, handwritten potes, even the old journal pressed with a dried rose–she gathered it all
Piece by piece, she abutted it into lack trasie Tags ||
When she finally slammed the lid of the his shout, there were no tears
Only a sense of clean, final telief |
That weekend, Willow didn’t leave the house.
She pulled out her suitcase and began packing slowly–clothes, documents, remnants of her life here in New York ||
Her heart was oddly quiet ||
On Monday, she went to the office and handed her printed resignation letter to 100 ||
he was still a university studeat, but she had joined Jax’s company as an intern just to be closer to hims[]
The HR manager looked stunned.
“Arent you still on medical leave? I heard the conversion list is about to be finalized–and d with your performance, , yourd be a sure hire. Even President Monroe spoke highly of you. Why the sudden resignation?
Willow had worked tirelessly throughout her internship, rising from a nameless intern fetching coffee to a key contributor on major projects–all just to ra the right to stand next to him.
But now, she no longer remembered hims[]
No longer remembered the desperate, bumble kind of love she once had
She sundled faintly and shook her hrad ||
“Ive decided to go back to Santswill City 1 want a simpler life. I probably won’t be coming back.“||
The HR manager hesitated for a moment, then sighed and stamped her exit forms.
I take this to President Monroe for his signmure. Once he signs, your resignation will be official:||
Willow accepted the file and gave a polite nod
“Thank you
In her heart, she knew:]
The chase was over
And at last she could begin again.[]
