It Doesn’t Matter Anymore novel Chapter 23

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We finalized the negotiation, and I added a condition for not just a transfer but also a promotion. Amos said it needed further approval from management.

By the time I left the office,it was already dark and pouring rain.

It reminded me of a similar time in the past,when my colleagues were whisked away by their partners, leaving me to be splashed by careless drivers.

Mud and rain mixed together, and I felt especially pathetic.

Back then,James’s car had stopped nearby,and I thought he had come to pick me up,only to realize he was there for Lorelai, fresh out of a meeting.

I didn’t even get a chance to wave before he drove off.

That day,as I walked under the streetlights,my shadow stretched long and lonely.

Reflecting on the chaos of my past,I quickly shook my head,tightened my coat,and picked up my pace. To my surprise,just as I reached the intersection,sheltered under a borrowed umbrella from a colleague, James’s car was already waiting.

Is it the end of the world?I wondered. But when I looked up,the sky remained gray with a steady drizzle.

I reached for the passenger seat door handle,but James leaned out and said, “Why don’t you sit in the back?I still need to pick up Lorelai,and she gets carsick.”

So he was really here to pick up Lorelai from her camping trip and was just giving me a ride.

The car quickly reached his intended stop.Lorelai waved at us,her camping gear in tow.Three other girls were with her,their faces a mix of satisfaction and exhaustion from their trip.

As soon as the car stopped,Lorelai slipped into the passenger seat,her voice sweet and soft, “James, could you drop my friends off first?”

Before she even finished her sentence, one of the girls opened the back door and hesitated upon seeing me, “Who’s this scruffy one in the back?”

The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward.Lorelai feigned surprise at seeing me, “Roselyn,I didn’t know you were here. Maybe we should just grab a cab so we don’t put James out.”

James quickly held her hand to stop her from opening the door and whispered to me, “Roselyn, you’re pretty close. Why don’t you head back on your own?”

I barely had time to settle in before being shown the door. Then again,it wasn’t the first time. Thankfully, the rain had stopped,and I decided to walk home.

As soon as I opened my front door,my phone rang.Amos,my boss, was calling to confirm the details of my transfer;once the geological survey was complete, I’d be moved to a new position.

14:28

He Chose Her First–So I Chos…

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Chapter 24

Chapter 24

The company had offered me several transfers before, but because of my attachment to James,I had turned them down,passing up great opportunities. Now, at last, I saw things clearly. There was still time to move forward.

Walking through the familiar doorway, a wave of complex emotions washed over me.I had called this house my home for four years, once believing James and I would grow old here together.Initially,he treated me incredibly well.

I remember the time when he stood for hours under the scorching sun just to snag a pair of limited–edition hiking boots for me.After returning from a trip with a nasty flu,he took care of me tirelessly, day and night,for two full days.On another occasion,during a business trip to a rural area,he was so worried about my safety that he changed his work schedule just to accompany me.

Back then,I was convinced I was the happiest woman alive,sure that our journey together would last forever.By the second year, our initial thrill had faded, but our bond felt more solid.I believed that a quiet love was the most genuine

kind.

Things started to unravel at the end of the third year, when he became fixated on board games, often lingering in game stores, and our conversations dwindled.Trying to bridge the distance, I made efforts to join him, yet he always made excuses not to include me.Eventually, I found myself secretly tailing him.

That’s when I discovered he was a regular at a maid–themed board game café.Inside, on the leaderboard,his name was decorated with a heart,linked to one of the café’s maids.It dawned on me–the“childhood friend“he often talked about

was just a cover.

From that point, our arguments were relentless, and silence became our default mode of communication. He kept insisting that Lorelai was like a kid sister to him, yet their closeness was deeper than most actual relationships.She said she was upset over a breakup, and he spent the night at her place,comforting her till morning. During our hiking trip in the Alps,one call from her claiming she was bored, and he abandoned me in the wilderness. The gourmet meals I painstakingly prepared for clients, he gave away to please her.

After repeated letdowns, I finally understood that when someone stops loving you,they don’t bother to pretend anymore. Once I made up my mind to leave,I slowly started packing my things and sending them back to my hometown.James didn’t even notice.

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