I Stumble Upon My Girlfriend’s Wedding Chapter 09
Jeremy’s POV
I used to believe that the problem between Madeleine and me was the distance. Only later did I realize it stemmed from the difference in our values.
She never understood what I actually wanted, and she never cared enough to find out. From the moment she pretended to be poor, the rift between us had appeared.
“But I don’t like you anymore, and I don’t love you,” I said. From the moment you lied to me, we no longer had a
future.”
Madeleine’s face turned pale. She hurried forward, desperate to explain.
“I can explain, Jer. I never meant to deceive you. You were the one who said that you’d break up with me if I came from a wealthy family, and that’s why I…”
I froze. She had indeed hinted at it before, whether intentionally or unintentionally, but I’d always assumed she was joking. I never imagined it was true.
“When I was in college, my family deliberately cut off my living expenses, wanting me to fend for myself. So I really was broke during that time. Later, I wanted to come clean, but I never found the right opportunity.”
“What’s the point of saying all this right now? My mom’s dead,” I said coldly.
“I didn’t know they’d do something like that,” she responded, lowering her gaze. “I’ve always respected your mother-”
“If you truly respected her, you never would’ve brought up her past in the first place!” I cut her off, my emotions boiling over. “Nor would you have instigated all that online harassment! If you hadn’t, my mom never would’ve taken her own life!”
She flinched at my shout and was left speechless.
I took a deep breath and forced down the surging emotions.
“Leave, Madeleine. There’s nothing left to say between us. The fact that I didn’t take advantage of the situation to get even with you is already more mercy than you deserve.”
Not wanting to look at her anymore, I turned and walked away.
Perhaps shaken by my words, Madeleine never appeared before me again.
Winter arrived, bringing the first snowfall to the small town.
My phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number.
“Jer, the weather’s getting colder. Make sure you dress warmly. I bought you some new clothes. Don’t forget to accept the delivery.”
I stared at the screen for a few seconds before blocking the number.
Somehow, Madeleine would always manage to get hold of whatever new number I was using. I had no idea how she did it, but every once in a while, a text would come through.
I never replied.
Yet, she didn’t seem to care, stubbornly continuing to send them.
Sometimes she’d transfer varying amounts of money into my bank account as well, but I’d return every penny.
Then, the texts became even more frequent. Sometimes they were just random photos she’d taken–the night view outside her hotel room during a business trip, a row of trees by the roadside, or an orange tabby curled up on
some steps.
It was all trivial nonsense. It felt as though she was trying to shove pieces of herself into my life from somewhere
very far away.
But I no longer needed any of it.
The following spring, I ran into yet another familiar face–Richard Morris.
Gone was the confident, arrogant man he’d once been. Now he looked utterly defeated. Throwing all dignity aside, he begged, “Jeremy, I was wrong. Please forgive me.
The once–haughty heir now looked more like a stray mutt who had lost everything.
I didn’t feel satisfaction at the sight, nor did I feel sympathy. There was only an indescribable sense of exhaustion.
“Why are you begging for my forgiveness?”
He looked up at me. “My dad… He has heart issues… If this keeps up, he’ll die. Please ask Madeleine to spare our family.”
So that was why.
I turned to leave, but he suddenly lunged at me.
“I know you can’t forgive me, Jeremy, but I’m begging you. Karma’s already caught up with me-”
“My mom killed herself by jumping off a building that day, I interrupted him. “Do you have any idea what that feels like?”
Richard froze.
“So I won’t forgive you, and I won’t say a single word on your behalf.”
Hearing this, the desperation in his eyes morphed into something dark and hateful.
night, as I was walking home alone, a pair of blinding headlights suddenly lit up the alleyway, followed by oar of an engine.
ender the glaring white lights, I instinctively darted to the side. The front of the car skimmed past me before crashing into the wall behind me.
The shriek of twisting metal tore through the night.
But the car didn’t stop. The reverse lights flashed on, and it charged at me once more. This time, I saw the twisted face behind the wheel.
Richard.
He was trying to run me down.
Before I could react, someone suddenly tackled me to the ground.
The sharp screech of brakes sounded, followed immediately by a dull, heavy thud. Someone had used their own body to shield me from the impact of the vehicle.
My eyes widened in shock. “Madeleine?”
Something warm dripped onto my face as her body slowly slumped to the ground. By the time the ambulance arrived, she had stopped breathing.
The police used surveillance footage to identify Richard as the driver, and his prison sentence was inevitable.
Ever since that day, I had dreams almost every night. Sometimes they were good ones, and sometimes they were nightmares.
In those dreams, I vaguely saw a young woman handing me a piece of tissue. That was the very first time Madeleine and I met. I had been bullied, and she wanted to help me get even. Gradually, that face blurred into one covered in blood, and so I stopped her.
If the only possible ending to knowing each other was a tragedy, then it would be better if we never met at all.
