He Spent Three Years Hating the Woman He Loved Chapter 10

He Spent Three Years Hating the Woman He Loved Chapter 10

“Take care of yourself, Elena.”

I hung up the phone.

Arthur poked his head out from our apartment kitchen, a linen towel thrown over his shoulder. “Who was that, sweetheart?”

“Just a ghost from my old life,” I smiled, walking over to him. “Nothing that matters anymore.”

Arthur smiled warmly and set down two artisanal ceramic bowls on the counter. “Perfect timing. I finally mastered your mother’s secret recipe for homemade chicken noodle soup.”

I took a spoonful of the rich, comforting broth. It tasted remarkably close to home.

I looked up into his warm, brown eyes and smiled. “It’s absolutely divine.”

Arthur’s eyes crinkled with profound affection. “Then I’ll keep preparing it for you for the next fifty years.”

That evening, as I lay in bed, the moonlight streamed through our sheer curtains. Arthur was sleeping soundly beside me, his breathing deep, rhythmic, and entirely peaceful—no tossing, no vanity, just pure, safe comfort.

I studied his resting silhouette.

I flashed back to that rainy night a year ago, standing under the dim

streetlight, watching Julian’s tear dissolve into his collar. Back then, immersed in betrayal, I truly believed I would remain emotionally crippled for the rest of my existence.

Yet, look at where I was now. I was safe in a beautiful city, wrapped in the protective love of an honorable man, and building an illustrious career I was profoundly passionate about.

Every single morning when I opened my eyes, the fire in my gaze was brilliant, my heart was full, and my spirit felt weightless.

I no longer wasted cycles asking “Why did they betray me?” or “What did I do to deserve this?” I completely stopped caring about whether a toxic man loved me or not.

The following morning, my mother called.

“Elena, are you and Arthur coming down for Sunday dinner this weekend?”

“Yes, Mom,” I laughed happily. “Arthur’s already packing the car.”

My mother’s joyous laughter echoed through the speaker. “Wonderful! I’m going to prepare an absolute feast.”

I hung up and pulled back the heavy drapes. Outside, the morning sun was completely flooding New Horizon City in a glorious, golden light.

From the kitchen, the familiar domestic symphony came drifting in—the crisp sizzle of eggs hitting the pan, the rich hum of our espresso machine, and the cheerful chirping of sparrows on our balcony garden.

This was the soundtrack of a brand new life.

I took a deep, clear breath, walked into the kitchen, and wrapped my arms around Arthur’s waist from behind.

He chuckled softly, leaning back into my touch. “Morning, beautiful. Sleep well?”

“Perfectly,” I smiled, burying my face against his back. “The weather is absolutely stunning today.”

“It is,” Arthur agreed, turning around to kiss my forehead. “Where should we spend our summer holiday this year, Elena?”

I thought about it for a second, a sense of absolute freedom washing over me.

“The coast,” I said. “Let’s go to the ocean.”

Arthur smiled brightly, locking his fingers with mine. “The ocean it is.”

Later that summer, we stood on a vast, sun-bleached beach. I wore a flowing white sundress, my bare feet sinking into the warm, soft sand. The ocean breeze was fierce, whipping my hair wildly across my face.

Arthur stood several yards away, his professional camera raised to his eye, trying to capture the moment.

“Elena, look over here!” he shouted over the crashing waves. “Give me a smile!”

I turned toward the lens and let out a radiant, unburdened laugh.

The wind swept past, leaving the shadows behind. The ghosts of my past would never return. The toxic lovers would never find their way back into my world.

But I was standing here, underneath a vast, infinite sky, fully restored, entirely free, and living beautifully as the absolute master of my own destiny.