The Captain I Married by Chance novel Chapter 144

As a young man, Aaron stood out in the remaining crowd like a sore thumb.

Nora glanced at him once and intended to leave from the other side.

But Aaron saw her first. His eyes lit up instantly, and he started toward her, calling out, “Nora!”

The memory of Aaron’s voice in the basement flashed back—how he'd mocked her for the 'stench of death' on her skin. She jerked back a step as he approached.

Aaron hadn't expected such a strong reaction. His lips turned down in a wounded expression. “Nora, are you still mad at me?”

“I can explain what happened before. Please don’t be like this with me.”

“Can you really just throw away our seven-year relationship?”

Nora looked at Aaron coldly.

Having witnessed his betrayal with her own eyes, Nora now viewed everything about him with suspicion and resistance.

She hated complications, so she didn't bother trying to figure out if Aaron was acting now or how much genuine feeling he had left for her.

All she knew was: once a cheater, always a cheater.

“Since I’m the one who broke up with you, it means it was a decision I made after serious thought. I won’t go back on it.”

Nora took a deep breath. “Aaron, let’s just part ways amicably.”

It wasn't that she didn't want to get revenge on the cheating pair, but she had more important things to do.

Besides, the time wasn't right.

She wasn't going to lose herself just because some jerk had betrayed her.

“Please move. I have urgent business to attend to.”

With that, Nora tried to walk around Aaron.

But Aaron, completely oblivious, blocked her path again.

“Nora!”

But while Nora had seen the light, Aaron clearly hadn't.

As Nora got into the police car, Aaron called out desperately, “I’m taking a few days off! Nora, contact me when you’re done. We need to talk!”

“Remember, Nora! You have to call me!”

Nora’s only reply was the sight of a car door closing.

The officer, having heard enough, stepped on the gas, leaving Aaron with nothing but a view of the car's rear bumper.

Aaron stared until the police car disappeared, then turned wearily. He found a nearby hotel, checked in, and collapsed onto the bed, falling asleep instantly.

***

At 2:00 PM.

Nathan and his team returned to the task force office. His eyes habitually scanned for Nora’s desk. Seeing it empty, he lowered the hand he was about to use to open his own office door and found an officer to ask where she was.

“She’s probably in the M.E.'s autopsy room. Dr. Hayes mentioned in the group chat that there was something unusual about the victims, so she and her assistant have been busy. They probably aren't finished yet.”