Chapter 6
559words
He called incessantly. When I blocked one number, he'd switch to another.
When I answered, he'd say nothing.
After work, I'd find him waiting outside my building.
Autumn rain lashed against windows, turning the world into a misty blur.
Harvey stood beneath a tree outside my apartment, wearing only a thin jacket.
He was drenched, his usually styled hair plastered to his head.
Axel glanced out the window, taking an angry drag of his cigarette. "Let the idiot freeze to death."
"I'm moving you out of here tomorrow."
The rain continued all night. When I got up for water and peeked through the curtains, Harvey was still there.
I hardened my heart.
The next morning when I left for work, Harvey was gone.
Just as I thought he'd finally given up,
A few days later, I received a call from Harvey's brother.
"Bella," he said urgently, "Harvey's been in an accident. He's in the ER. Please come quickly."
"Is it serious?" I asked, startled.
"Pretty bad. But he keeps asking for you. Won't stop calling your name."
"He's drunk and refusing treatment."
I gripped my phone tightly. Even divorced, Harvey wouldn't leave me in peace.
But I couldn't be angry at a time like this.
Even for a stranger, I couldn't ignore such a call.
I rushed to the hospital and found him on a bed, bloodied and bruised.
We stared at each other in silence. I had no words.
Before arriving, I'd had so much to say. But facing him, I realized none of it mattered anymore.
"You should rest."
I turned to leave.
"Bella," his voice cracked as I reached the door. "If there hadn't been Lucia, would we still be happy?"
I sighed. "If not Lucia, it would've been someone else."
"You would've cheated eventually."
"While you were with Lucia, did you never consider I had male friends too? Did you think no man ever looked at me during our marriage?"
I thought I'd moved past the pain, but my trembling voice told me otherwise.
Harvey's eyes widened.
After a long moment, he hunched over, sobbing silently like a child who finally understood his mistake.
I stood.
"I won't be coming back, Harvey."
"Because I don't love you anymore."
This incident must have affected Axel, because he suddenly accelerated our relationship, even proposing.
He blinked those dark eyes playfully. "I feel insecure. If you marry me, I'll feel better."
"I just want to make it official. You wouldn't refuse to make an honest man of me, would you?"
My heart melted, and I agreed without hesitation.
Axel smiled slyly and kissed my cheek.
I barely had to worry about wedding preparations.
Axel and my mother handled everything.
On my wedding day, I felt nervous despite everything.
I never expected Harvey to show up.
I thought we'd reached the point of never speaking again.
Harvey stood before me with a bitter smile. "You once wore a wedding dress for me too."
Axel stood beside me, squeezing my hand tightly while maintaining a natural smile.
After a long moment, Harvey's smile turned tragic. "I wish you happiness, Bella."
The sunlight streamed through the windows as I ran smiling toward Axel waiting at the altar.
May we all find the courage to begin again.
