Dead Before You Loved Me He Realized the Truth Only When My Grave Was Cold Chapter 08

Dead Before You Loved Me He Realized the Truth Only When My Grave Was Cold Chapter 08

I took a taxi home and collapsed onto the bed.

I never would have guessed that the first time I met Kael had been part of his plan.

My sleep was restless, filled with old memories.

The day I saw Seraphina, I’d given up.

I’d agreed to break up with Darien.

I moved out of the Blackwood Manor quietly, but I didn’t go far.

Darien’s parents looked down on me, but Mr. Blackwood had always been kind.

I felt guilty for putting him in the hospital.

He loved my homecooked soup, so I brought it to him every day.

Darien and Seraphina didn’t live at the manor. They’d bought a fancy house for themselves.

I went at night to avoid running into them.

One evening, I rushed into the elevator.

Someone was already inside.

Black clothes, sunglasses at night. He looked dangerous.

I kept my head down. The doors closed, and I saw a long leash dragging on the floor.

I flinched.

I must have looked terrified, because he laughed casually.

He pointed at the leash. “Don’t be scared. He looks scary, but he doesn’t bite-”

He froze. “Where’s my dog?”

His confident act vanished. He slammed the elevator buttons, panicking.

I stared for a second, then burst out laughing.

I hadn’t been that happy in a long time.

Later, I learned he was Kael Blackwood.

I’d joined the Blackwood family while he was born and raised abroad.

Darien visited him every year, but I’d never met Kael.

He’d just come home, His English was poor, and he often made silly mistakes.

He clung to me constantly, always teasing.

“What did you like about my brother anyway?”

“He’s so cold. Cold guys aren’t good for you.”

“When I was young I thought cold was cool. Now I know nice guys are better.”

He was barely older than a kid, talking like he’d lived a lifetime.

But he wasn’t wrong. Darien wasn’t good for me.

I was young and naive. I’d only ever loved one man.

“Maybe you should like me. Older girls like younger guys now. Puppy boys are better.”

I laughed.

“My brother only got you because he grew up with you. If I’d been home, you would’ve picked me.”

He was bright and confident.

He stuck by me for two years.

It was my twenty-fifth birthday.

He wore a smug, triumphant grin.”Elara, there’s this line I heard… Something about a kid leaving to chase freedom, coming back with autumn in his bones, and growing into someone new.”

I tapped the top of his head gently.”You’re thinking of how we long to relive our careless younger days… yet

nothing ever stays the same.”

“So let’s go hiking, Elara.”

He took me to Maple Ridge Trail to see the spring flowers.

An earthquake hit. Kael threw himself over me, shielding me completely. His leg was broken, but he still told

me jokes to calm me down.

When we were rescued, he was halfunconscious. He pulled a ring out of his pocket.”Happy birthday, Elara.”

I cried as I took it.

I thought.

I’ll love again.

Light flickered across my bed.

I lay there, halfasleep. He’d never loved me at all.

I remembered bragging to Darien that Kael really cared about me.

How arrogant I’d been.

I’d refused to admit how miserable my life was.

And in the end, I’d only made a fool of myself.

No wonder Darien had looked at me that way.

Everyone in the Blackwood family probably knew.

Kael had been in love with his brother’s wife all along.

There had been so many signs I’d ignored.

He’d stayed up all night the day Darien married Seraphina.

I thought he was just nervous for his brother.

He tensed up every time Seraphina was near.

I thought he disliked her because I did.

It didn’t matter anymore.

I touched my chest. He didn’t love me.

Now that everything was out in the open, I felt strangely calm.

I slept for days. I had no energy left.