The Christmas Prank That Ended Us Chapter 09
Garrett stood alone on a foreign street, dragging a small suitcase behind him.
He looked exhausted, like he had traveled all night without rest.
He had lost a lot of weight. His jaw was covered with faint stubble, and his eyes were sunken from sleepless nights. It was obvious he had taken the earliest flights he could find to reach Santorini.
He had crossed thousands of miles just to see me and say a few words.
The moment he saw me, Garrett hurried over. His voice was low and full of regret.
“Jasmine, I’m sorry for showing up in Santorini without telling you. You haven’t answered any of my messages, and I just… I miss you so much.”
He reached out to hold my hand, but I stepped back, frowning, “Go back, Garrett. There’s no point in you being here.”
But he refused to listen, “Jasmine, just give me some time.”
From that day on, Garrett ignored my refusal and stayed in Santorini.
He rented the apartment across from mine, handed the pack affairs over to his Beta, and tried to prove through his actions that he was truly sorry and wanted us to start over.
He learned my work schedule and waited downstairs for me every day.
—
He never disturbed my work. No matter how the weather changed or how cold the nights became, he always had an extra coat or an umbrella ready for me.
I knew what he was trying to do.
He was trying to make up for all the care and affection he had failed to give me before.
But every time I saw him, all I could remember was the way he had stood by and watched me suffer, completely indifferent, when I needed him the most.
When Imogen found out, she couldn’t help but try to persuade me.
“Garrett crossed an entire country to find you. It seems like he really knows he was wrong. Maybe you should give him another chance?”
I only shook my head.
I might have been weak and hesitant in the past, but once I made up my mind, I never looked back.
Three months later, Garrett finally couldn’t hold himself back anymore.
That evening, he stopped me before I entered my apartment.
It was the first time he had taken the initiative to talk to me since arriving in Santorini.
“I know I was an idiot before. I couldn’t tell right from wrong, and I hurt you.”
“I gave up everything back home to come here because I’ve already
—
decided. I want to stay in Santorini with you, to live with you and work beside you.”
“If you can’t forgive me, that’s okay. Just give me a chance to make things right. I owe you too much. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”
Every word he said sounded sincere. He poured out everything he had been holding back, hoping that I would soften.
But he never expected me to remain expressionless from beginning to end.
After listening quietly, I replied in a calm voice.
“You don’t need to do this.”
Garrett froze.
“These are things I want to do,” he said immediately. “I’m not forcing you to forgive me right away. I can wait. No matter how long it takes.”
I interrupted him.
“If you want us to end things with dignity, buy a ticket and return to the pack now.”
Garrett stood frozen in place.
The sincerity and hope on his face shattered instantly.
Panic appeared in his eyes.
“Jasmine, I don’t want to leave. If I go back, then we’re really over. I’m not doing this on impulse. I really want to change.”
—
I had lost my patience.
I walked past him and opened my apartment door.
“Whether you change or not has nothing to do with me.”
“Everything you’re doing now isn’t for me. You’re only doing it because you want to feel better about yourself.”
“To me, it’s just a burden.”
The word “burden” left Garrett standing there in silence, his face turning pale.