From “Clingy” to Gone My Independence Was His Biggest Regret novel Chapter 45

Chapter 1

At the bachelor party, my fiancé Alexander Montgomery, who’s obsessively clean casually drank from Chloe Laurent’s glass.

That’s when I knew–Alexander had fallen for his little junior, Chloe.

watched them chat away, all cozy and shit, going from academic projects to life dreams and whatever the hell else. I didn’t lose my cool and just kept my

composure.

But that night? Oh, that night I cornered his ass for a little heart–to–heart.

It’s simple, Alex,” I said, my voice ice–cold. “Either you call off this engagement, or I make sure her academic career goes down in flames.”

he bastard vanished for an entire night.

le came back the next morning, looking hollow–eyed and pathetic.

The wedding goes on as planned,” he mumbled.

ut on our wedding day? When he saw me in that stunning white gown, looking absolutely fucking magnificent?

le froze. Just… stopped breathing for a second.

hen his voice echoed through the microphone for everyone to hear:

The bride I wanted to marry… it’s not you. I’ve made a terrible mistake. I shouldn’t have let her go.”

an you believe this piece of shit? He posted the goddamn divorce papers on his Instagram Story, making me the laughingstock of New York’s elite social circle.

nd him? He ran straight to the airport in his tuxedo, kissing Chloe like some romantic hero. Their little makeout session hit Twitter Trends within the hour.

ut here’s the thing about choices–they come with consequences.

en minutes later, Montgomery Group’s stock plummeted ten points on the NYSE.

Alexander chose betrayal, then he shouldn’t blame me for dragging his ass straight into hell.

y phone screen was frozen on Alexander’s Instagram post.

st one line of text:

his time, I choose love.”

le photo showed him in the designer suit I’d personally picked out, kissing Chloe at the airport like some goddamn romantic movie.

ur mutual friends were having a field day in the comments:

toly shit, Alex has balls! Where the hell is Eleanor supposed to show her face now?”

bitching his bride at the altar, then making out with his little junior at the airport? Poor Eleanor got played hard

lex has lost his damn mind. Throwing away both families reputation for some chick?

tore my eyes away from the screen and spotted out wedding rings sitting on the desk.

he inside of the bands still had our initials engraved–FAA

lexander had designed these rings himself. He’d added magnets to the outer bands, so when the two rings got close, theyd snap together.

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hapter 1

Because of my severe OCD.” he’d said, “I might not always be able to be physically intimate with you. These rings are proof of my love. Deep down, I’ll never eject your touch. I promise I’ll overcome this shit.”

hadn’t pushed him. I’d been willing to respect his boundaries.

at then at that bachelor party, I watched him grab Chloe’s glass and take a sip like it was nothing. Not even a fucking flinch.

Then she noticed me staring at the glass in his hand, Chloe turned to me with this innocent smile:

Miss Sterling, don’t read too much into it. Sometimes we’re in meetings for hours, and we all share water bottles. It’s just habit, you know? You don’t mind. ght?

efore I could answer, someone grabbed my arm.

Come on, this little thing? Miss.Sterling wouldn’t even blink. You’re seriously underestimating her.”

iss.Sterling this, Miss.Sterling that. They kept calling me “Miss.Sterling.” subtly pushing me out of their little circle while putting me on this fucking pedestal. s if I cared. I’d just look like some jealous, untrusting bitch.

it how could I not mind?

hat night when I brought it up to Alexander, he looked embarrassed as hell and apologized.

id he’d be more careful next time.

ow I realize those were all lies. He wanted the Sterling family’s support AND his little sweetheart.

hat a fucking dream.

relyn knocked and entered.

Is. Sterling. Mr. Richard Montgomery is on line one. Should I put him through?”

ooked down at the flashing name on the phone.

low much?”

even points down. Nearly forty million in market value.”

ot enough. That money was nothing compared to the humiliation I’d suffered.

y voice was ice cold.

ell Mr. Montgomery that if he can’t control his son, someone else will do it for him.”

hould I have PR handle the online situation?”

To,”

stared at Alexander’s lovesick expression in that photo.

f he chose love, let everyone see if his choice was worth a damn.”

velyn left. I walked to the floor–to–ceiling windows,

he city lights were just coming on, outlining the cold, glittering skyline,

velyn must have spoken to Mr. Montgomery. He didn’t call back.

ut I hadn’t expected him to go this hard.

oon my phone buzzed again. This time it was Alexander.

00:44

hapter 1

he name I’d once pinned to the top of my contacts was flashing on the screen.

didn’t answer. Let it ring its pathetic heart out until it went silent.

few seconds later, a text popped up:

leanor, you’re fucking shameless! Just ‘cause I picked Chloe, you wanna come after me? Are you seriously this jealous and petty?”

hen another:

know I hurt you, but love can’t be forced. If you really loved me, shouldn’t you let me go? Why use these dirty tricks to make me cave? You’re so fucking isappointing!”

paused, a small smile curling on my lips.

e could have been honest with me from the start. But for those sweet, sweet benefits, he didn’t.

Tho was the one with severe OCD who’d wash his hands a dozen times after I touched him, but didn’t mind Chloe’s saliva?

nd who was the one who gently, firmly said the wedding would go on as planned, then publicly abandoned me at the altar, making me the laughingstock of

ew York?

e thought he could play his little triangle game, keeping both women on the hook.

e’d humiliated me in the most degrading way possible, nailing me to the cross of shame, making me the biggest joke in our social circle.

nd now he had the balls to lecture me about letting go for love?

texted Evelyn:

peed it up. We need to hit ten points down by tonight.”

he replied with a quick “Copy that.”

swiped away from that airport photo and watched Montgomery Group’s market value evaporate bit by bit.

1. r. Montgomery wouldn’t let me down.

by phone lit up again. Still him. This time his tone was way softer:

leanor, can we talk? This shit isn’t good for anyone. My parents are losing their minds. Give me one more chance, please?”

You’re pissed because I embarrassed you today, right? I’ll make it up to you. You can punish me however you want, just leave my dad out of this. He didn’t do wything wrong”

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