I Dreamed He’d BEG for My Love in 2 Years—So I Kept My Distance While He Scorned Me Chapter 09

I Dreamed He’d BEG for My Love in 2 Years—So I Kept My Distance While He Scorned Me Chapter 09

Kael didn’t know why he’d gone to that stupid party.

He just really wanted to see Elara.

But she’d disappeared after the SAT.

His grandpa said she’d gone back to her mom’s.

But her mom had a new family and a new baby.

No way she was taking care of Elara.

Luckily, Elara had listed his grandpa’s number on her college applications.

When the admissions office called,

Kael was stunned.

He knew she was smart.

He didn’t know she was that good.

He felt bitter.

But beneath it, a proud, glowing joy.

He found her working at a restaurant.

She rushed around, helping everyone, taking orders from anyone.

Something angry flared in him when he saw her apologizing to rude customers.

He told the manager to pull up the security cameras.

Just like that day sophomore year,

when he’d seen her asleep alone in the classroom and draped his jacket over her.

He didn’t know why.

He just saw her and did it.

He thought it was time to talk to his grandpa about the engagement.

He didn’t think Elara would end it herself.

She was such a good liar.

She’d bought that bike with her own part-time money but lied and said he gave it to her.

She avoided him every day,

but she’d followed him that night he was upset on the overpass.

He’d climbed to the rooftop so many times.

He’d see her drop her bike and rush toward him, panicked.

She loved him.

When he realized that, he wasn’t disgusted.

Maybe the arranged engagement wasn’t so bad.

But first, he wanted to see what his top-score fiancé did after the SAT.

He waited for her shift to end.

He followed her home to make sure she was safe.

He was shocked when he saw Silas’s driver outside her building.

The apartment she lived in?

It was Silas’s.

A blind, possessive rage exploded in him.

Like someone had stolen something that belonged to him.

He stormed forward, like he’d caught her red-handed.

He said the words he’d regret for the rest of his life.

“What? You couldn’t cling to me anymore, so you’re going after Silas now? You’re really something. You want

to be a widow that young?”

She slapped him across the face. Hard.

“Kael Thorne, you’re a terrible person.”

Something shattered in the air.

He panicked for a split second.

Then he forced himself calm.

She wasn’t worth it.

There were thousands of top SAT scorers.

She had no family connections. She couldn’t help him.

He was glad he hadn’t talked to grandpa about the engagement.

It wasn’t his debt to pay anyway.

They walked in together at the graduation banquet.

Kael wasn’t surprised.

He just stared coldly as they stood side by side.

Everyone around them fawned.

Perfect match. Made for each other.

All the empty compliments.

He grabbed a glass of champagne from a waiter and downed it.

He didn’t want to listen.

But someone just had to open their mouth.

“Elara’s amazing, a top regional SAT scorer! I’d let her have anything she wanted.”

“Her dad must be so proud. He was so happy when she was born. I’ve never seen a guy so excited about a

baby girl.”

“Shame what happened to him.”

“Wait, where’s Kael? Isn’t he the one Elara’s dad saved?”

Kael froze in the doorway.

He lunged forward and grabbed the man’s arm, eyes wild.

“What did you say?”

The guest frowned, annoyed.

“Everyone knows Elara’s dad died protecting you, Kael.”

His mind went blank.

He shook his head, disbelieving.

“No..”

“I thought he died saving Silas-”

The guest finally recognized him.

His expression twisted. His tone turned sharp.

“Kael Thorne, you can’t just forget what he did for you because you’re rich and important.”

In that instant,

the final piece of the puzzle crashed down.

A forgotten memory flooded back.

Elara’s dad, covered in blood, holding Kael tight.

His last words:

“Tell Elara…

I’m sorry.”

He’d shielded Kael with his body.

Crushed by falling rock.

Kael couldn’t breathe.

Pain tore through his chest so sharp he could barely stand.

He should’ve known.

Why else would a girl his age suddenly move into his house?

Why did she always follow him?

Why did everyone insist he be nice to her, even though he had no sister?

He’d hated her.

He thought she was just a charity case his parents forced on him to pay off a debt to Silas.

But she was the only one who noticed when everyone else ignored him.

She’d walk over, pick up his drawing,

eyes wide and amazed.

“You’re so talented!”

“You’re the best person I’ve ever met!”

And what had he done to her?

What had he done?

The people nearby pulled the guest away before things got worse.

The whispers continued.

“Heartless.”

“He’s nothing compared to his brother.”

Tears poured down his face.

This time, no one would wipe them away.