Six Times A Fool, This Time, I’m Gone Chapter 05

Six Times A Fool, This Time, I’m Gone Chapter 05

Seraphina POV

A roar exploded behind me, cutting straight into my conversation with Professor Sterling.

“Seraphina!”

I turned around and saw Luca Marino charging toward me.

A few steps behind him, Celeste Ashford walked over slowly in those ridiculously expensive stilettos, completely unhurried.

Luca stopped in front of me, breathing hard. His eyes landed on Professor Sterling, and he let out a cold laugh.

“So that’s why you packed your bags and disappeared in the middle of the night. That’s why you ignored every single message for three days.” His voice was rough and strained. “Seraphina, I really had you wrong. This is why you were so desperate to dump me? You already found yourself another man, and now you’re flying off overseas with him for some honeymoon getaway?”

Before I could answer, Professor Sterling stepped in front of me, blocking Luca’s aggressive stare.

“Sir, watch your tone,” he said calmly. Then he glanced at me. “Seraphina, this is your… ex-boyfriend?”

I nodded once. “Yes, Professor. Sorry you had to see this.”

Professor Sterling turned back to Luca.

“My name is Professor Sterling. I lead the National Polar Geological Observation Project.” He spoke slowly, every word sharp and clear. “Seraphina is one of the most important researchers on my team. We’re boarding shortly for a three-year polar research assignment in Iceland. This is not some ‘honeymoon trip.'”

He paused, looking Luca straight in the eye.

“That position belonged to Seraphina two years ago. If she had accepted it back then, she would’ve returned with a direct placement at a national research institute. But instead, she came to my office in tears and told me she couldn’t leave.”

“She said her boyfriend was an orphan trying to kill himself working to pay back some debt of gratitude to the family that helped him. She was too worried about you to walk away.”

For the first time, real shock cracked across Luca’s face.

Then his eyes turned red.

His lips trembled violently. His throat bobbed over and over, but no words came out.

Two years ago.

That was when Celeste had just returned to the city, and Luca was throwing himself into underground fights almost every night to pay for her lifestyle.

I barely slept back then. Every night, I sat beside my phone waiting for news from him.

I was terrified he’d die in that octagon.

Terrified I wouldn’t even get to see him one last time.

So when he dropped to his knees the first time and swore he’d never fight again, I gave up that opportunity.

I bet my future, my career, everything I had worked for, on his promise that it would be “the last time.”

“N-No…” Luca finally found his voice. “Seraphina, I didn’t know. I swear I didn’t know you gave up so much for me…” His breathing turned ragged. “Don’t go. You can’t go. We’ll get married—we’ll go home right now. I’ll do whatever you want from now on. I won’t fight anymore. I won’t even see Celeste again—”

I looked down at the hand clutching mine.

That hand had broken noses inside the ring.

That same hand had carried me medicine and warm water when I was sick.

But now?

It meant nothing to me anymore.

I lifted my other hand and slowly pried his fingers off me one by one.

“Luca,” I said quietly, “we already broke up.”

“No!” he shouted, almost hysterical. “I’m not breaking up with you! I’d rather die than let you leave me, Seraphina! Just give me one more chance—just one—I’m begging you. I really know I was wrong—”

Professor Sterling stepped between us again.

“Let go,” he said coldly. “If you continue harassing my researcher, I’ll call security.”

Then he raised a hand and waved over the airport security officers patrolling nearby.

Two uniformed guards rushed over immediately.

Luca fought hard, but after three days without properly eating—and with injuries that still hadn’t healed—he couldn’t overpower both of them.

“Let me go!” he yelled as they dragged him backward. “Seraphina! You can’t do this to me—you can’t just leave like this—I was wrong! I know I was wrong!”

I stood there silently and watched them drag him out through the terminal doors.

At some point, Celeste had wandered over to the entrance.

She crouched beside Luca and tugged lightly on his sleeve.

“Don’t be sad,” she said softly. “If she doesn’t want you, you still have me. I’ll stay with you from now on.” Then she blinked innocently. “Oh, right—the dealership called earlier. The insurance payment on my new car still needs another twenty grand. Can you transfer it to me?”

Luca slowly lifted his head and stared at her greedy face.

Then a raw, guttural roar exploded from outside the terminal.

“GET THE HELL OUT—!”

Celeste jumped so hard she nearly slipped on the wet steps in her heels.

I never looked back again.