When I Stopped Loving I Stopped Crying by Edward
Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Lily stormed off to her room, changed clothes, and slammed the door on her way out.

“Aren’t you going to coax her?”

I looked at him quietly.

He avoided my gaze awkwardly and slumped on the sofa in a sullen manner.

“No need. We’ve spoiled her. She’s an adult now and needs to take responsibility for her actions.”

This was the first time he didn’t abandon me for Lily’s sake.

Though I found his reaction extremely boring.

“This place is obviously not suitable for me to rest and work on my report this weekend. I’m going to get a hotel room.”

I said, standing up to leave.

Chandler stood abruptly and hugged me from behind.

“Yasmine, don’t take what Lily said to heart. I’ve never hated you.”

“Sure.”

“Yasmine, I suddenly feel like I can’t hold you anymore.”

Silence hung between us.

For some reason, I remembered when he had confessed his love. Under a sky filled with fireworks, he had hugged me from behind.

“Yasmine, let’s be together, okay?”

I had nodded vigorously through dizzy happiness and welling tears.

Now I pried his fingers open one by one.

“Isn’t tomorrow our anniversary? Have a good rest, and we’ll see you then!”

Early the next morning, Chandler waited downstairs at the hotel,

looking every bit the chaebol nobleman in a well–tailored suit.

He opened the car door smoothly for me,

not insisting I take the passenger seat this time.

He took me to an upscale French restaurant.

He doesn’t understand I only like Chinese food.

Soothing music played and the intimate atmosphere was just right.

I had a vague idea of what he was thinking.

“Yasmine…”

He grabbed my hand, about to speak, when a sudden voice interrupted.

Chapter 12

“Brother…”

Lily popped up from nowhere and plopped down next to Chandler.

“Brother, You two came for a nice meal without me? That’s not very nice.”

“I was so sad and upset last night, I came to apologize today.”

She helped herself to a big sip from Chandler’s cup.

Following my gaze, he noticed his cup.

He frowned and said nothing.

Liu Yin leaned in, draping an arm around his neck, and produced a ticket from her bag.

“Brother, I asked Mom for a ticket to an international music festival. Are you satisfied. with this apology gift?”

Chen Yu pushed her away with difficulty.

“I have no plans to perform anytime soon.”

Lily pouted. “Is it because Yasmine can’t bear to part with you?”

“A man with great ambitions has a lot to offer. How can he let his love life ruin his future?”

Her words hit me hard:

She understood something I had only recently realized.

Chandler rarely frowned at Lily’s antics.

“Yasmine and I need to discuss something. Can you go back first?”

Liu Yin’s almond–shaped eyes welled with tears.

“You just dislike me being a third wheel and disturbing you. I’m leaving and won’t bother

you again!”

She ran out crying once more.

Chandler calmed himself, intent on continuing our previous discussion.

But I overheard the waiter whispering,

“She left crying. She was so young and got hit by a car…”

Chandler’s expression changed abruptly. “Sorry,” he said hurriedly before disappearing from sight..

I took a sip of the red wine in front of me.

The night before when Chandler had hugged me, I had felt a fleeting softness and thought it better to part ways amicably.

But…

Chandler never returned after chasing Lily.

Chapter 12

Midway through, I received a message.

“I will always be the first choice in my senior brother’s heart.”

The unfamiliar number was clearly Lily’s provocation.

I slowly returned to our former home and packed my belongings.

Including the group photos – cutting myself out of each one.

I erased all traces of my existence, restoring everything to how it looked when I first opened that door.

The only things I left were two files on the desk.

Then I closed the door and walked away without looking back.

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