Five Years Together… And He Gave the Ring to My Old Bully Chapter 11

Five Years Together… And He Gave the Ring to My Old Bully Chapter 11

During freshman year, Alex stayed after school every day for an extra hour of physics tutoring.

At the time, my grandmother was in the hospital, so the moment classes ended, I’d go straight there.

For almost an entire year, we barely saw each other after school.

After my grandmother passed away, I started staying late for tutoring too.

That was when Savannah suddenly walked into my life.

I forced myself to recall the look on Alex’s face the first time we met her.

Shock—and underneath it, a hint of guilt.

But back then, I’d been too stunned to even study his reaction.

Then I remembered the day he knelt in front of everyone and apologized to me.

Teenage boys treated their pride like it was life itself. But he had apologized without hesitation. For years, I treated that moment like a promise that could never be broken.

As long as he didn’t betray me, I would never abandon him.

I finally understood what that apology had meant.

He wasn’t sorry he’d failed to protect me. He was sorry he’d dragged me into his mess.

The delayed emotional backlash hit me like a wave, and I completely broke down.

Grant stayed silent, just sitting beside me while I cried.

My voice was thick. “You must think I’m pretty pathetic, still crying over a guy like him.”

Grant shook his head.

“You’re not crying over Alex. You’re grieving the version of yourself that was lied to and let down.”

He looked at me quietly.

“I don’t need you to pretend you’re strong.”

“I just want every choice you make from now on to be your own.”

“Not something you do to accommodate someone else. Or to prove a point.”

I knew he was talking about studying abroad.

I smiled. “It’s not about getting back at anyone.”

“Graduate school overseas was always part of my plan.”

It’s just that before, my plan had Alex in it, so I’d forced myself onto a different path.

After receiving my acceptance letter, I packed my things and headed home early.

Grant happened to be heading the same way, so we traveled together.

When my mom found out how much he’d looked after me at school, she insisted he stay for dinner.

“Don’t be so polite!”

“Clara’s going to be in a different country. You’ll have to look out for her.”

My mom had never been keen on me studying abroad.

If she hadn’t been tied down by work, she’d have packed up and gone with me in a heartbeat.

Ever since she found out Grant and I were attending the same university, she’d been talking nonstop about inviting him over.

“I’m going to the market. Tonight, I’m cooking dinner myself to welcome you both home!”

She hurried out with her shopping basket, so rushed that she even forgot her phone.

I grabbed it and ran after her.

The elevator doors opened—and there stood Alex, face to face with me.