I Stressed for Months to Be With Them — They Were Never Planning to Be With Me Chapter 08

I Stressed for Months to Be With Them — They Were Never Planning to Be With Me Chapter 08

In the end, Asher returned home with his parents.

Before boarding his flight, he sent me a long message.

[Claire, I’m going home this time because you asked me to, but I’m not giving up on you,

[I’ll come back one day, and I’ll keep waiting until you change your mind.]

I felt nothing as I read the message, then deleted it and blocked the number.

After that, I devoted myself entirely to my art.

I spent nearly every waking hour in the studio, refining my technique and developing a style of my own. Several of my paintings began attracting attention in the art world. Before long, one of the field’s most respected painters contacted me personally and took me on as his final student.

Over the next few years, I continued shaping my artistic voice. With my mentor’s guidance and introductions, I eventually became art director at Summit Group.

After considering it carefully, I decided to return home and continue building my career there.

Not long after I arrived, I received an invitation to my high school’s centennial celebration, so I

made time to attend.

The moment I stepped onto campus, I ran into several former classmates.

“Oh my God, Claire. It’s been forever. You’ve changed so much.

“Back in high school, you were always trailing behind Asher and Vanessa. Now you’re the art

director at Summit Group.”

“You carry yourself completely differently now. You look so confident.”

I smiled politely and exchanged a few words with them, but I didn’t stay to talk for long.

I wandered through the hallways alone, revisiting the places I remembered from high school.

Every place held a memory of humiliation or quiet heartbreak. Looking back now, I realized none of

it had any power over me anymore.

As I approached the football field, a familiar figure hurried over and blocked my path.

It was Asher.

His voice was tense when he spoke.

“Claire, I heard you were coming to the centennial celebration, so I came to see you.”

“Could we talk for a few minutes?”

After so many years apart, seeing him again made me feel nothing.

“What do you want to say?”

He looked me over in surprise.

“Honestly, Claire, I never imagined you’d get this far.”

“I used to think studying art was just an easy way out, not a real career.”

“But now you seem to have done better than both of us.”

I smiled.

“That’s because you were always trapped by your own prejudice. You never respected what I loved.”

“You assumed I could only keep up by depending on you and Vanessa.”

He clenched his hands at his sides.

“You’re right. I’ve regretted what I did every day since we separated.”

“I never understood boundaries, and I took your love for granted again and again.”

“Claire, could you give me one chance to make up for it? Let me pursue you properly this time.”

I shook my head.

“There’s no need. I’m not the timid, insecure girl I used to be.”

“I once gave up my dreams and kept compromising for a relationship that was never equal. I won’t do that again.”

He stepped closer, his voice growing urgent.

“Can’t you give me even one chance to start over?”

“I can make up for everything I did wrong.”

The corner of my mouth lifted slightly.

“Don’t waste your time. I’m getting married.”

The color drained from Asher’s face.

I don’t believe you could let go of everything we had and fall in love with someone else in only a few

years.”

I looked at him quietly.

“You’re still exactly the same. Proud, arrogant, and convinced the world revolves around you.”

“Did you really think everyone would keep waiting for you forever? Don’t kid yourself.”