Six Times A Fool, This Time, I’m Gone Chapter 01

Six Times A Fool, This Time, I’m Gone Chapter 01

I’d broken up with Luca Marino six times. Every single time, the reason was the same—Celeste Ashford.

To fund that bankrupt socialite’s lavish lifestyle, Luca always secretly fought in underground boxing matches. In the gray club controlled by the Bellandi family, he signed a death waiver, trading his fists and bones for blood-stained cash.

Each time I got ready to break up with him, he’d kneel in front of me, eyes red, swearing it was the last time. He’d press my cold hand to his bandaged chest, letting me feel his still-beating heart, as if to prove he hadn’t died in the ring.

Seeing him so beaten up, I always gave in. I thought if I just endured a little more, trusted him one more time, we could escape this swamp.

Today was our engagement day.

I stood in the banquet hall, putting up with the stares of relatives and friends, waiting from noon until darkness fell. Luca never showed up, not even a single text.

At ten o’clock that night, his brother, Marco Marino, called.

“Seraphina, Luca went to fight. He’s in the ER now, not looking good. You need to hurry—”

“It’s for Celeste again, isn’t it?” I cut him off.

On the other end, Marco stammered, “Celeste saw a limited-edition bag… Luca didn’t want to disappoint her…”

The background was chaos. Someone yelled for clamps, machines shrieked, and a woman’s voice cried Luca’s name—a voice I knew too well. It was Celeste.

Suddenly, I felt so tired. Not physically exhausted, but bone-tired in a way that seeped deep into me, making even breathing feel like too much effort.

This endless back-and-forth, these repeated breakups and makeups, felt like torture with no end in sight.

I closed my eyes and spoke calmly into the phone, “I’m not coming. Tell him we’re completely over.”

I didn’t wait for Marco’s reply. I hung up.

My mother looked at me, sighing with heartache. “Don’t be sad, my darling. He’s involved in underground boxing; your future with him would always be filled with worry. After you break up, you can at least sleep peacefully.”

I held back the rising tears and nodded. “Mom, you and Dad go home first. Don’t worry about me. I have some things to take care of.”

After seeing my parents off, I sat alone in the empty banquet hall. My phone screen lit up. It was a ten-second video from Celeste.

In the clip, Luca lay on a hospital bed, bruised and swollen, his face as white as paper. He struggled to pull his lips into a smile, saying to the camera, “Why are you crying? I told you I’d get you that thing. When have I ever gone back on my word?”

The video ended abruptly.

Immediately after, Celeste sent a text message: “Luca’s awake, and he got me the bag. Don’t be mad at him, and don’t worry, okay?”

I didn’t reply. I just locked my screen.

Half an hour later, I returned to the apartment Luca and I shared. I pulled out the suitcase from under the bed and started packing my things.

My hand paused as I opened the bottom drawer of the closet. A cheap trophy lay there, one Luca had won from the underground fight club. The Bellandi family crest—a pistol entwined with thorns—was engraved on its base.

Looking at that trophy, my thoughts drifted back two years.

That was the first time he’d gone to the underground fight club behind my back. When I found out, I broke down and ended things.

It rained heavily that night. Luca, covered in injuries, blocked the entrance to my rental apartment. He wouldn’t leave, no matter how much I tried to make him. I coldly said I’d never forgive him. He got desperate, his eyes red, and then he just collapsed at my feet.

I was trembling, holding his unconscious body, sobbing uncontrollably. I thought I was really going to lose him. The fear of losing my beloved made me surrender completely.

Then came the second time, the third… Each time he said it was the last, and each time I chose to believe him.

“Buzz, buzz, buzz—”

The vibration of my phone pulled me from my memories. Luca’s name flashed on the screen.

“Seraphina, were you scared? I’m fine, just a few scrapes.” His voice sounded weaker than usual, but his tone was reassuring, casual. “Marco’s making a big deal out of nothing. The doctor said I’ll be fine after two days of observation. You and your parents must be upset that I missed today, right?”

I calmly hummed in response.

Hearing that I wasn’t crying or yelling like before, he visibly relaxed. “Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about something. Can we postpone the wedding for two years?”

He paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully. “Celeste just told me in the hospital room that her friends all bought cars recently, and she wants one too. So, I transferred the money we saved for the wedding to her.”

Seeing I didn’t speak, his tone became coaxing. “You know how much Celeste’s family did for me. I’ve always treated her like a little sister. Her family went bankrupt; I have to help her if I can…”

He continued to ramble on the phone about his deep loyalty.

If it were before, hearing those words, I would have probably screamed at him: What about me? What about my youth and my dignity?

But now, I didn’t even have the desire to argue.

I spoke softly, “You can do whatever you want.”

On the other end, Luca’s voice was filled with undisguised joy. “Seraphina, I knew you were the best. You were so quiet just now, I thought you were going to break up with me again. You scared me to death.”

I smiled. “No. I won’t fight with you again.”

His tone suddenly turned serious. “Seraphina, trust me, this is my last underground fight. I swear I’ll never let you suffer again. Even though the wedding is postponed, I promise I’ll give you the most spectacular wedding in the city and marry you properly.”

I listened quietly.

He’d said the same words too many times in the past five years. The first time I heard them, I cried with emotion; now, my heart was like a dry well, not even an echo stirred.

Just as he was confidently describing our future, the sound of a hospital room door opening suddenly came from the other end of the phone. Then, Celeste’s excited voice: “Luca! Marco just brought my car back! It’s downstairs now, super cool! Come on, will you come down and see it with me?”

Luca’s heartfelt confession to me abruptly stopped, and his tone immediately switched to doting. “Honey, I just got stitches… Alright, alright, I’ll throw on some clothes and go with you. Don’t pull so hard.”

I didn’t listen anymore. I hung up.

The night wind blew in through the window, carrying the cool crispness of early autumn. I stood before the empty closet, suddenly feeling like the past five years had been an absurd dream.

I picked up my phone and called my mentor, Professor Sterling.

“Professor, is that spot at the Iceland Arctic Observatory you mentioned still available?”

On the other end, his voice grew serious. “The spot is still open. But I must reiterate, the security clearance is very high. Once you’re in, you can’t return home for at least three years. Are you sure you want to take it?”

I took a deep breath.

“I’m sure.”

He didn’t ask any more questions, just sighed softly. “It seems you’ve made your decision.”

After hanging up, I squatted down and zipped up my suitcase.

This time, I wasn’t looking back.