They Died And Came Back To Destroy Me Again Chapter 09

They Died And Came Back To Destroy Me Again Chapter 09

I stopped and slowly turned to look at him.

“Caleb, have you ever thought that maybe this second life isn’t about giving you a second chance, it’s about giving me one. To get far away from you. To not make the same mistakes.”

Caleb saw me turn to leave. He jumped in front of me, blocking my way, his expression stubborn.

“I don’t believe you can just throw away two lifetimes of feelings. Emma, you can’t be that cruel.”

He reached for me again.

In that instant, a strong arm pulled me back.

Mason stepped forward, wrapped an arm around me, and looked at Caleb with cold, protective anger.

“Hey. Keep your hands off my girlfriend.”

Girlfriend. The word hit Caleb like a punch to the gut.

His face went white, and he stumbled back, staring at me in disbelief.

“Emma… you and him? Is it true?”

I leaned into Mason’s warmth and looked at Caleb with empty, cold, final eyes.

“Caleb, like you said. It’s over.”

I paused, then smiled slightly, my voice flat but sharp, as I brought up the bet.

“Oh, by the way. You promised that if you lost, you’d apologize. Publicly.”

“When are you going to make good on that?”

Caleb stopped in front of the staring strangers. He hung his head low, his voice cracking. “I’m sorry,” he said, loud enough for everyone to hear. “I was wrong.”

He didn’t care about appearances. He stumbled after me, begging. “Emma… I’m so sorry. Please, just look at me…”

He was pathetic. But I felt nothing inside, just dead silence.

I didn’t stop, I took Mason’s hand and walked away without looking back.

Leaving all of Caleb’s regret behind.

Soon, the news of Caleb’s very public meltdown and apology went viral.

Vanessa followed him abroad.

She asked to meet me at a coffee shop, and as soon as she sat down, she glared at me, her voice accusing.

“Emma, what will it take for you to leave him alone?”

“He left Ashfield University against his family’s wishes, went crazy looking for you for months, and made himself a wreck. How can you be so cruel?”

Listening to her twist the truth, I almost laughed. “Leave him alone? Who left me alone in the past life?”

Her face darkened. “How do you know about that? Wait, are you also…”

I didn’t want to play games and got straight to the point.

“The kidnapping right before the SSEE, you set it up, didn’t you?”

Vanessa’s face changed; she hadn’t expected me to be so direct.

She took a sip of coffee, steadying herself, then gave up pretending, her eyes full of jealous hatred.

“It was me. So what?”

“I’m the future Mrs. Thornton. You were supposed to be dead!”

“I didn’t want you to take the SSEE, I wanted to destroy you. And guess what? I changed your application in the past life. That idiot Caleb thought he did it.”

“It worked the first time. But those losers this time couldn’t even keep you from taking the exam. And then you became state champion. Why? Why do you get everything?”

Her voice rose, her face twisted with envy. All her fake innocence was gone.

I watched her, and quietly turned off the voice recorder in my pocket.

I had everything she said on record.

Later, Vanessa went to Caleb’s parents and tried to blackmail them with old secrets.

Caleb had no choice but to go back to the country with her.

But the moment they landed, the police arrested Vanessa for assault and conspiracy to commit kidnapping.

Only then did Caleb learn that Vanessa had me kidnapped before the SSEE.

At the county detention center, Vanessa cried hysterically, grabbing his sleeve and begging him to use their history to get her out.

But Caleb just looked at her coldly. “You’ll have to pay for your own crimes.”

He turned and walked away without a glance. He didn’t look back.

I never saw Caleb again after that.

Years passed. On graduation day, the sun was shining. Mason got down on one knee in front of everyone on campus, holding a diamond ring.

I looked at the warmth and love in his eyes, smiled, and said yes.

After all those years, I knew what I wanted.

I knew Mason was the one.

When the wedding news reached home, Caleb’s parents sent their best wishes, saying they were happy for me.

Not long after, I got a letter from Caleb.

I didn’t open it, I threw it in the fire and watched it turn to ash.

Like two lifetimes of pain. Gone.

Later, I heard that Caleb never recovered, he flunked out of school and got held back.

But it didn’t matter to me anymore.

I looked at the man in the black suit, holding out his hand.

I had broken every chain, escaped every hurt, and become my own light, my own happiness.

**The End**