He Set Rules for Me but Broke Them All for Her Chapter 08

He Set Rules for Me but Broke Them All for Her Chapter 08

I shook my head.

I had no idea why his attitude had flipped so suddenly.

But one thing I knew for sure-I wasn’t going back.

“You don’t love me. You’re just not used to the person who always chased you suddenly stopping.”

“Don’t come find me anymore. It’s annoying.”

I didn’t even blink. My voice was light.

His face went completely ashen. His hands wouldn’t stop trembling.

“Marnie.”

Not far away, Soren waved at me.

He’d told me ahead of time he’d pick me up. I smiled and started walking toward him.

Behind me, Remy’s eyes stayed locked on Soren. “What about him? Are you going to be with him?”

“Maybe.” I didn’t pause.

Days with Soren became routine.

Maya started pestering me daily—were we getting serious? I brushed her off every time.

Remy, to his credit, didn’t back off the way I’d expected.

He showed up at the office. On my commute. Every time, eyes bloodshot. “Marnie, I’m here to pick

you up.”

And every time, I couldn’t help thinking about that bet he’d made with Cora.

I walked right past him without a glance.

By Soren’s second week at the company, he’d settled in smoothly.

That evening, I got home to a message from him.

[No work tomorrow. Want to go for a morning run?]

I’d been cooped up way too long, so I typed back: [Sure.]

Soren showed up in sweats and running shoes, way younger-looking than his usual buttoned-up office self.

As we ran, he told me he actually lived not far from my building.

He’d been running around here for a while, hoping to run into me, but never did.

Instead, he’d run into my mom once.

During their chats, he caught a glimpse of her lock screen and recognized me right away

I’d lost weight over the years, but my features hadn’t changed.

Coincidentally, my mom was already stressing over finding me a blind date, sighing with

frustration. He’d volunteered himself.

We’d just finished our run by the time he finished the story. He let out a soft sigh. “Good thing I

didn’t give up. Otherwise I would’ve missed you.”

His bluntness made my face burn.

I offered to buy him coffee at a café nearby. He ordered an Americano.

As we waited, there was an odd awkwardness hanging in the air.

I took a deep breath and caught a glimpse of a commotion outside the window.

It was Cora.

I hadn’t seen her since that night at the restaurant. It felt like a lifetime ago.

She was gripping Remy’s sleeve, face twisted, sobbing. “Remy, I told you not to go see her! Why? That day, you said—”

“Enough!”

Remy was facing away from me. He finally seemed to snap, shoving her to the ground. “Cora, who are you to me? What right do you have to tell me what to do? If it weren’t for you, Marnie wouldn’t have broken up with me. Why the hell should I listen to you?”

Cora pounded her fists against him like rain, desperate to say something. Then her eyes met mine

through the window.

I looked away.

Watching her frozen expression, I remembered.

Back during the cold war with Remy, Cora, my so-called best friend, had secretly gone on a trip

with him and defended him to me.

“I know Remy,” she’d said. “If you weren’t out of line, he wouldn’t act like this.”

I’d leaned on those words, started doubting myself.

Was it really my fault?

I’d dragged myself through those seasons alone.

And now, finally, she was feeling the same pain I’d felt back then.