His Promise Failed When I Found Out Who He Was Sleeping With Chapter 08

His Promise Failed When I Found Out Who He Was Sleeping With Chapter 08

Amanda filed for divorce.

Derek didn’t fight it. They went to the courthouse and got it done.

At the end, she said, “If you ever see Vivian again, tell her I’m sorry.”

“No matter what, she’ll always be my best friend.”

Derek nodded. Walked away.

He saw me in a colleague’s social media post.

A random landscape photo. But he recognized my back immediately.

He booked the first flight to Northpine Island.

Landed at dawn local time.

He stood on the streets of the city, clutching a screenshot of that photo like it was his last lifeline.

I had my back to the camera. Standing in front of a lake.

Hair blowing in the wind. Wearing a blue dress he’d never seen before.

It hit him. After leaving him, I bought new clothes. Started a new life.

The thought drilled into him, sharp and relentless.

He spent three days in Northpine Island.

From the coast to the countryside.

Went everywhere the travel blogs recommended.

He showed strangers my picture. Asked store owners. Asked an old guy selling ice cream on the street.

No one had seen me.

On the third night, he sat in a coffee shop in his final stop. Almost gave up.

His phone lit up. Amanda texted. Leo had a fever. Could he video call and help calm him down?

He stared at the screen. Then typed: [I’m looking for her. Can’t come back.]

Amanda didn’t reply.

He put his phone away. Looked up.

And saw me walking past the window.

He shot out of his chair. It hit the floor with a loud crash. Everyone stared.

He didn’t care. Ran out the door.

“Vivian!”

I stopped. Turned around.

The Northpine Island sunset was beautiful. Orange light made me look soft.

I’d gained some weight. Had color in my face. My eyes weren’t hollow anymore.

I was wearing that blue dress. Holding a cup of coffee. I looked… peaceful.

When I saw him, I didn’t even look surprised.

“How did you find me?”

My voice was light. Like I was asking a stranger.

Derek stood there. For once, he had nothing to say.

He had a million things to tell her: I’m sorry. I was wrong. Please come back.

But seeing me like this… the words got stuck.

Because I looked good.

Too good for him to ruin.

“I… was passing through.”

I paused. Then laughed.

A small laugh. Like wind over water. Gone as fast as it came.

“Derek, Northpine Island is six thousand miles away. How do you ‘pass through’?”

The lie fell apart. His eyes got red.

“I wanted to see you.”

His voice cracked.

“I just wanted to see you.”

I didn’t say anything. Just gave him a vague smile.

“Vivian, do you hate me?”

“Because of me, you lost your best friend.”

“Because of me, you wasted eight years.”

His voice broke at the end. He looked down.

I laughed. Soft. My eyes calm.

“Derek, don’t flatter yourself.”

“I don’t love you anymore. So how could I hate you?”

He paused. Changed the subject.

“Are you… are you happy?”

“Yeah.”

I leaned against the railing.

“The weather’s nice here. Not too many people.”

“I work at a travel agency now. Take tourists around.”

“When I save up enough, I go somewhere new. Come and go as I please.”

He listened. His chest felt like someone was squeezing it.

Because the old me would never say things like that.

The old me would say, “Where should WE go next?”

“When YOU have time, WE should do this.”

Every subject used to be “we.”

Now it was just “I.”