I Forced Him Into Marriage For Six Years, Only To Witness Him Sacrifice His Life For Me Chapter 08

I Forced Him Into Marriage For Six Years, Only To Witness Him Sacrifice His Life For Me Chapter 08

Linus listened, his hand tightening and loosening 

around the phone. 

Millbrook. That was the town they’d promised to 

visit together in college, but they’d never made it. 

He’d never expected her to go alone. 

He booked the next flight out and went straight to 

the airport without even going home. 

Three hours later, he stood at the entrance of that 

old town. 

The cobblestone streets were wet from rain. 

Wrought–iron lanterns hanging from the storefront 

awnings hadn’t been lit yet. 

Under the gray sky, only a handful of tourists 

wandered around. 

He walked down the main street, passing small 

cafés, antique shops, and family–run bakeries. 

He didn’t know where he was going. Just followed 

instinct. 

Then he spotted me by a stone bridge. 

I sat on the steps by the river, a cup of latte in my 

hands, staring blankly at the water. 

The sunset slipped through the clouds and 

painted me in a pale gold light. 

I was wearing a white dress he’d never seen 

before. My hair was shorter now, baring the small mole at the nape of my neck. 

Linus stood a few feet away, his heart hammering. 

I must’ve sensed something. I turned my head and met his eyes. 

I blinked. 

Then I looked away, stood up, brushed the dust off my dress, and tried to walk past him. 

“Linette.” 

He reached out and grabbed my wrist. His voice 

was hoarse, barely recognizable. 

“Come home with me.” 

I glanced down at his hand and pulled mine free. 

“Linus, we’re already over.” 

“I didn’t agree to that.” 

I looked up at him. 

The sun was directly behind him, casting his 

whole figure in shadow. 

He’d lost weight. His cheekbones were sharp, and 

there were dark circles under his eyes. 

I studied him for a few seconds. Then I laughed. 

“Linus, don’t you see how ridiculous this is?” 

“When I was threatening to kill myself to make you 

marry me, all I saw in your eyes was exhaustion 

and the urge to run.” 

“Now you’re free. And you came running after me. 

What exactly do you want from me?” 

He opened his mouth but couldn’t find the words. 

Because everything I said was true. 

When he wanted to escape, I held on tighter. Now 

that I’d let go, he couldn’t stand it. 

“Linette.” 

After a long pause, he finally found his voice. 

“I was wrong. I didn’t realize it before. Just give me 

one more chance.” 

“I’ve given you plenty of chances.” 

I cut him off. 

“Linus. Go home.” 

“The evening breeze in Millbrook is nice. I don’t want anyone to dampen my mood.” 

I turned and walked away fast. I disappeared around the corner into the twilight. 

Linus stood there, staring at the empty 

cobblestone street. Slowly, he crouched down. 

He stayed in Millbrook. 

Every morning, he’d wander around the stone 

bridge, hoping to run into me. 

Sometimes he actually did. He’d follow me 

through three alleys, then work up the nerve to 

catch up. 

He held out a bunch of red roses. 

“I remember you like these.” 

I glanced at the flowers. Didn’t take them. 

“You remember wrong. Catherine’s the one who 

likes red roses.” 

“I like hydrangeas.” 

His hand froze in midair. 

I walked around him and kept going. The roses 

wilted in his grip. 

The next day, he brought something else. 

A pair of earrings I’d once pointed at in a 

magazine, saying, “These are gorgeous.” 

He’d glanced at it and said nothing. I never 

brought it up again. 

He’d scoured every jewelry shop in Millbrook and 

finally found a similar pair. 

He put them in a velvet box and waited three 

hours at the town entrance. 

When I came out to get breakfast and saw him, I 

paused. 

“Linette, these are for you.” 

“I don’t want them.” 

I didn’t even turn around. 

“Linus, don’t you see how pathetic this is?” 

“You never gave me these things when I was right beside you. Now that I’m gone, you’re scrambling to find them.” 

“Are you doing this for me or just to make yourself feel better?” 

He stood in the wind, his lips moving, but all he managed to say was “I just want to make you happy.” 

“If you really want to make me happy, stay away from me.” 

Linus didn’t say another word.