Too Late to Beg: I’m No Longer Yours Chapter 15

Too Late to Beg: I’m No Longer Yours Chapter 15

He lowered his head, fingers white–knuckling the jewelry box.

“I finally found out what your wish was that night.”

I froze.

His voice violently trembled.

“Brie told me. Before you closed your eyes, she saw the notepad on your phone.”

“You wrote that your birthday wish was to marry Hayes.”

His words fell over me, traveling across the span of years.

They landed gently against my heart, but they couldn’t hurt me anymore.

I stared at him with absolute calm.

“That was the old Nova’s wish.”

“And she died in that private dining room.”

Hayes’s tears finally broke free.

He stood under the harsh ballroom lights, looking completely ruined.

I didn’t give him another glance. I got up and walked away.

As I reached the hotel lobby doors, my phone buzzed.

An email from Cole.

[Nova, I passed my probation period at work today.]

[I wouldn’t dare ask for your forgiveness. I just wanted you to know I can finally support myself.)

[I visited the cemetery on Mom’s birthday.]

[I told her I was so sorry for what I did to you.]

I read the email. I didn’t reply.

Three years ago, I had traced the anonymous IP address. The person who had leaked Delaney’s footage was Cole

He was too much of a coward to even stand by my side in broad daylight.

Maybe time would eventually teach him how to bear his own weight.

And when that day came, he still wouldn’t need to return to me.

Back in Toronto, I officially launched my own independent studio.

Potted plants lined my windowsills. Mom’s portrait hung on my wall.

She looked so young in the picture. Her eyes crinkled beautifully when she smiled.

Every year on my birthday, I bought myself a cake.

I no longer wished for someone to love me forever.

I simply lit the candles, looked at the flames, and whispered to myself:

“Happy Birthday, Nova.”

Once, a business trip took me to a coastal city.

The evening ocean breeze was incredibly gentle.

I clutched Mom’s necklace in my palm and walked along the sandy beach for a very long time.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the water shimmered like crushed gold.

Cole’s ridiculous excuse echoed in my memory.

“Besides, it’s a good chance to take Mom to see the ocean.”

The pain had nearly brought me to my knees back then.

Now, I could finally look down peacefully at the tarnished pendant resting against my chest.

“Did you see the ocean, Mom?”

“I’m the one who brought you this time.”

The wind blew across the water.

The silver kissed my palm.