C
Chapter 8
Nathan and I stayed home for three days, and before the holiday ended, we decided to take a vacation.
I didn’t expect to see Kieran the moment we stepped outside.[]
He burst out from the nearby landscaping and grabbed my arm.[]
“Quinn… stop!”
Nathan immediately stepped in front of me protectively.]
“Let me go.”
Kieran stared at me intensely, his eyes full of bloodshot veins.
Tive minutes… please, just give me five minutes![]
I calmly pulled my hand away, Kieran’s hand fell empty, and his body swayed
The next second, his knees buckled and he fell with a thud onto the front steps.[]
“I know I was wrong… the house, Luna, the injury on your back–everything was my fault![]
With shaking hands, he pulled a ring box from his pocket containing the diamond ring I’d once looked forward to most.
“You said that as long as I was willing to turn back, you’d always be waiting for me in the same place…”
I looked down at the ring, finding it only ironic.[]
“Kieran, do you remember what else you said the day you proposed?”
Kieran was stunned.]
“I said… I would treat you well for the rest of my life…”
I looked up at him.]]
“Did you do that?”
“What makes you think I’d forgive you again and again? What makes you think I can’t live without you?”
Kieran’s tears fell, dropping one by one onto the ground.]
“I was wrong. I was too self–righteous… no, I was an asshole.”
My expression remained completely unmoved.]
“Kieran, some mistakes can’t be forgiven just by kneeling down.”
I took Nathan’s hand to go inside, but Kieran’s mother, Mrs. Morrison appeared from nowhere and blocked my path.]
“Quinn, Kieran is a fool, but you two have so many years together–you can’t just throw it all away… He really does have you in his heart.“]
I looked at her and asked calmly.
“Mrs. Morrison, do you believe that if Luna called right now, he’d immediately get up and leave?”
Mrs. Morrison froze, instinctively looking toward Kieran
Kieran looked panicked, his mouth open but unable to say a word.]
I shook my head gently.
“Mrs. Morrison, you’re an experienced woman. You should know that two people truly in love shouldn’t be like this.”
Mrs. Morrison shamefully let go and lowered her head.
As Nathan and I got in the car, Kieran was still kneeling at the door like a statue.[]
“Quinn…”
I didn’t want to see his lovelorn act anymore and got in the car with Nathan.
The next day, Kieran posted on social media.
[Going to that fighting ring one last time, just to say goodbye.]
He tagged me, but I scrolled right past it.]
Javier commented below, trying to talk him out of it.
[That place has been shut down. Why are you still going?]]]
[Are you crazy? You nearly died there last time!]]
Kieran replied with a bitter smile emoji.
I want to take one gamble. If she still has ine in her heart, she’ll come…]
Javier probably had no words and didn’t reply again.
After all, it was his own choice.
Late that night, Kieran did indeed show up at the abandoned underground fighting ring.
He waited for a long time, but my phone never rang.
Javier called him again.]
Come back. She’s not coming.”
“Don’t risk your life over a woman. It’s not worth it.”
it.”
Kieran wouldn’t give up and called me.]
“Quinn… are you really not going to care about me anymore?”
Hearing his pitiful voice, I just found it amusing.]
“Kieran, you’re an adult. You should be responsible for your own actions.”
“But before, you…]
“Before I cared about you. Now I’m tired and don’t love you anymore.“[]
Kieran went completely quiet. I could hear his heavy breathing.]
I hung up, not wanting to get entangled with him anymore.]
Half an hour later, he sent me a video.
He’d actually gone inside.
Dim lighting, rusted cage, Kieran’s lips were pale and his voice was shaking.
“Quinn… look, we watched a match here last year…“]
In the video, he stumbled toward the bloodstained fighting platform, the camera shaking badly.
A second video came through quickly.
“Do you remember? That knife came from this direction that year… you pushed me away…“]
Suddenly, several flashlight beams shone in, and authoritative voices could be heard in the video.]
“Who’s there! Don’t move!”
The video cut off abruptly. The last message showed “sending” and then went silent.
