Nine Years Of Auditions, Then I Walked Away Chapter 10

Nine Years Of Auditions, Then I Walked Away Chapter 10

The cops hauled him away for public disturbance and harassment. 

I went down to the precinct to give my statement. 

The officer across the table looked at me seriously. “What’s your relationship with this man?” 

Sebastian jumped in before I could open my mouth. 

“I’m her fiancé.” 

The officer’s expression hardened. He snapped at Sebastian. “I’m asking her.” 

Sebastian looked at me, begging me to agree. 

I shook my head. Cold and final. 

“I don’t know 

him. I’ve never seen him before in my life.” 

Sebastian’s composure shattered. He held up his 

hand, showing the ring with my initials. 

“Elara…” 

I kept my voice steady. 

Stood outside my shop all day.” 

“He followed me here. 

I showed them the video of him following me 

home. The photos of the wedding setup. 

In the end, they held him for seventy–two hours. 

When I walked out of the precinct, Mom was pacing by the curb. 

back. 

She was terrified I’d caved again. That I’d take him 

I forced a smile and jogged over to her. handled, Mom.” 

She let out a huge breath and took my hand. 

“It’s 

We didn’t mention his name again. It was like he really was a stranger. 

Three days later, he showed up at Bloom & Brew 

again. 

His cheeks were hollow. His head hung low. 

One of my baristas spotted him and raised her voice. “Oh my God. He’s back again? Someone 

needs to tell him it’s over.” 

Sebastian looked mortified. 

He stood a few feet away, glancing at me every few 

minutes. 

I don’t know how long he stood there. Finally, he 

stepped up to the counter. 

“Elara. Can I just get one 

more ‘Whisper‘ Blend?” 

Sebastian was a coffee snob. He never drank 

100.00% 

anything from a café. 

I’d perfected my roasting technique based on his impossible standards. 

The Whisper Blend was something I created just 

for his palate. 

I glanced at the coffee beans tucked away on the 

top shelf. 

Then I gave him my best customer–service smile. “Sorry, sir. We don’t have anything like that on the 

menu.” 

His shoulders dropped. He tried to smile but failed. 

His voice was thick with tears as he reached for my 

hand. 

I pulled back before he could touch me. My brow 

furrowed. 

He pulled his hand back slow. Then he reached into his jacket and set a manila envelope on the counter. 

The deed. To the Homestead. 

“I’m sorry. For everything I did.” 

“I checked the security footage. Seraphina dropped 

the bracelet on purpose.” 

I pressed my lips together and looked down at the 

ugly scar on my knee. 

Sebastian followed my gaze and flinched like he’d 

been burned. 

He knew. Scars don’t fade. 

You can use the most expensive cream in the world. 

It still leaves a mark. 

Just like us. 

Even if he fixed things, the cracks would always be 

there. 

And Mom was right. Home was wherever we were 

together. 

I slid the deed back across the counter. 

“Don’t come back here, Sebastian.” 

“Let me go.” 

His shoulders shook. Tears splattered on the wood. 

He picked up the deed with trembling fingers and 

whispered, “I’m sorry.” 

I didn’t forgive him. But I stopped hating him, too. 

Hating someone takes too much energy. 

I just wanted him to be a stranger. Parallel lines 

that never cross. 

Three years later, I got married. 

Sebastian still hadn’t moved on. There was never 

another woman. 

I heard he spent his nights drunk, muttering at a worn–out photograph. 

But honestly? It didn’t matter to me anymore. 

I was too busy holding onto the happiness right in 

front of me.