He Never Loved Me, Until I Left by Joy Brown Chapter 07

He Never Loved Me, Until I Left by Joy Brown Chapter 07

Nicholas sat on the balcony floor, leaning against the cold wall.

At three AM in Emerald City, every house was dark.

Only a few neon signs flickered in the distance, highlighting his misery.

He pulled his knees to his chest, staring at the apartment building across the street.

Before, whenever he came home late, Isabella would be waiting on the sofa, getting up to greet him warmly when she heard his key in the door.

Not anymore.

The huge house felt hollow, just him alone until sunrise.

Nicholas closed his eyes, but Joseph’s hopeful face kept flashing through his mind.

‘Uncle.”

That word cut deep every time he remembered it.

He jumped up suddenly, rushed to the bedroom to change, grabbed his keys and ran out.

At four AM, only the security desk in the office building was lit.

Nicholas went straight to his office.

He opened his computer. Isabella’s resignation letter was in his inbox.

Short, professional, no wasted words.

Like everything she did-flawless.

Knowing Isabella, she would have prepared everything in advance.

He opened his desk drawer.

There it was.

Divorce papers.

His hands shook.

The first page hit him like a punch-

Both parties agree this marriage cannot continue and reconciliation is impossible. After mutual discussion…”

Party A: Nicholas

Party B: Isabella

He saw his own hasty signature, remembering how he’d signed without reading, then rushed off to find Alice’s documents.

Nicholas laughed, but his eyes filled with tears.

1

“So you’d already given up on me.”

He thought he was the one trying to escape.

Turns out he was the one who couldn’t let go.

He sat in his office until dawn.

He had to get to Harmony City.

He needed to ask why she left without a word, especially after she’d seduced him that night.

She had no right to just disappear like that.

He wouldn’t accept it.

In the hallway, Alice stepped in front of him, eyes puffy from crying: “Nicholas! Are you still angry? I said I was sorry.”

“Move.” His voice was ice-cold.

“But- Alice tried to pout prettily.

“Get away from me.” His glare made her flinch.

Nicholas pushed past her, calling his assistant: “Find Isabella’s current address. Get me on a flight to Harmony City today.”

Alice stood frozen, listening to his footsteps echo down the hall.

Harmony City, seven AM.

I woke up early to help Joseph get ready for school.

We’d only been here two days, but I was managing okay. I’d spent months preparing for this move overseas.

I’d already reached out to friends in Harmony City about finding a house and school,

Originally I hadn’t planned to leave so quickly-I was just being cautious, planning ahead like always.

Thank god I did.

Otherwise Joseph and I would have been stuck.

“Have a good day, Mommy. Joseph shouldered his backpack and stretched up to kiss my cheek.

I knelt down and hugged him close: “You too, sweetheart. I’ll be here when you get home, okay?”

“Okay!” Joseph beamed.

I watched the school bus pull away, then turned to go back inside.

Financially, at least, I had to give Nicholas credit.

He’d never been stingy with money, so I had enough saved to give Joseph and me a fresh start.

“Isabella.”

I knew that voice.

I whipped around.

Nicholas stood there in the morning light, exhausted and frantic, like he’d been searching for something precious he’d lost.

Years ago, Nicholas and I first met.

I was nobody special-no important family, nothing remarkable about me.

But I noticed him immediately in that crowded room.

He was two years older, the star of the economics club.

One look and I was hooked.

So I threw myself into college.

Classes, exams, internships-I was meticulous about everything.

I wanted to earn my place in front of him.

I wanted to introduce myself and have him remember my name.

Eventually, I made it happen.

But now it was over.

Like fireworks lighting up the sky.

Beautiful while it lasted.