Two Thousand Kilometers South, Away From Everyone I Loved Chapter 07

Two Thousand Kilometers South, Away From Everyone I Loved Chapter 07

Miami’s winter still carried a gentle warmth. With no classes that afternoon, I walked out of the

lecture hall carrying a stack of blueprints. Cole Turner, a senior from my design group, walked

beside me, helping me carry the heavy case of paints.

“Stella, that exterior facade concept of yours is absolutely brilliant. Let’s grab dinner tonight to

celebrate my treat.” Cole’s smile was bright and warm like the sun.

I nodded. “Sure. But I’m paying next time, that’s the deal.”

We walked shoulder to shoulder toward the main gate, deep in discussion about the next phase of

the modeling details. The moment we stepped through the gate, the smile on my face froze solid.

Lucas was standing under a massive oak tree. He wore only a thin black coat, his face a sickly shade

of pale. Deep, dark circles ringed his eyes, and a rough stubble covered his chin. He looked nothing like the polished, arrogant Lucas Shaw I remembered.

The second he saw me, his eyes flared with light. He strode toward us in large, quick steps, his gaze locked fiercely onto the barely half-meter distance between Cole and me. His brow instantly

knotted into a hard knot.

“Stella.” He walked right up and reached out by force of habit, trying to grab my wrist. “Are you

done with this nonsense? Come back to Chicago with me.”

His tone was still that same condescending, commanding voice. As if I were nothing more than a lost pet-if he just beckoned, I should come wagging my tail in gratitude.

I stepped back a pace and calmly avoided his hand.

Lucas’s hand froze in midair. He stared at me, a flash of sheer disbelief crossing his eyes. “Stella,

what is the meaning of this?”

“Sir.” I looked at him the way I would look at a complete stranger on the street. “You’ve got the

wrong person.”

Lucas’s face instantly went purple. He raised his voice, jabbing his finger toward Cole beside me. “Wrong person? Who are you trying to fool! You threw away your entire future for this guy-for this loser? And ran off to this godforsaken place? Do you have any idea how much Mom and Dad

have been fighting at home because of you? Anna cries every single day saying she wants her sister

back. Have you no conscience at all?”

Cole frowned and stepped forward, positioning himself in front of me. “Sir, I’m going to ask you to show some respect. Don’t stand here and shout at people.”

“Get lost-this has nothing to do with you!” Lucas erupted in rage and shoved at Cole with his

hand.

I grabbed Cole’s arm and pulled him behind me. I looked straight at Lucas’s face, now twisted with

fury.

“Lucas Shaw.” I said his full name, my voice carrying not a single ripple of emotion. “Anna cries because she doesn’t have her free live-in babysitter to clean up all her messes anymore. Mom and Dad fight because they’ve finally realized the precious little princess they cradled in their palms is

actually a completely useless disaster. And as for you” I looked him up and down slowly. “You flew all the way down to Miami because when you were burning up with fever, there was no one

there to pour you a glass of water.”

Lucas stood there as if he’d been struck by lightning, his entire body rigid. His lips trembled, but no

words came out for the longest time.

He thought I didn’t know anything. But I knew everything.

“Stella, I-“His voice suddenly turned dry and raspy. The anger in his eyes was replaced by a flicker of panic. “I didn’t-”

“Good.” I cut him off before he could finish. “Then go back to your Chicago. Don’t come here and dirty up my Miami.”

I turned to Cole. “Let’s go.”

I didn’t spare Lucas another glance. I walked straight past him.

Lucas stood frozen in place, watching my back as I walked away without a trace of reluctance. It was only then that he finally understood. There was no hurt in my eyes. No anger. No jealousy. There was only complete and utter indifference. I was truly, completely done with him.