The One He Dismissed Became The One He Died For novel Chapter 182

Grandview Heights.

It was well past midnight by the time she got home. She changed into her loungewear and curled up on the sofa.

Her driver had been incredibly kind. The car's heater was blasting, keeping the interior toasty warm. He even handed her a jacket that belonged to his wife, along with a pair of comfortable shoes.

They fit perfectly. She thanked him profusely and tipped him several times the value of the clothes. The driver even offered her a slice of cake to help settle her stomach.

She opened her ride-hailing app and earnestly typed out a five-star review.

[I'm so thankful this driver accepted my ride. If it weren't for him, I would have been stranded at Moonlight Cove all night.]

Her phone vibrated in her hand.

It was a text from her best friend, Chloe Chambers.

[Babe, are you okay? Where are you? I'm coming over.]

[I'm fine. I'm at home.]

If Chloe, who never followed social gossip, knew about it, then whatever happened between her and Miles must have completely blown up online.

Claire lowered her eyes, typing out a reply, deleting it, and typing again before finally hitting send.

[Chloe, can you help me find a new apartment? My mom gets discharged tomorrow, and I want to move straight there. I can't stay at Grandview Heights anymore.]

[On it.]

Locking her screen, she pulled her knees to her chest, making herself as small as possible on the couch.

With the ugly truth completely exposed, there was no way she and Miles could ever go back to the way things were.

-

Moonlight Cove.

The tide had mostly receded, leaving behind endless stretches of wet sand.

Miles had been searching for a solid two hours. The sharp shells had sliced up his bare feet, but he couldn't care less.

He clutched eighteen beads in his palm. He was still missing two.

Pacing back and forth along the tide line near where he had thrown them, he scoured the area dozens of times before finally spotting them.

One had been dragged out further into the water, while the other was wedged into the crack of a jagged reef.

All twenty accounted for. He carefully slipped them into his pocket and drove back into the city to have them restrung. By the time he returned to Grandview Heights, dawn was breaking.

He let himself into unit 501. The prolonged exposure to the chilling ocean wind had spiked his body temperature. He collapsed onto the sofa and closed his heavy eyes.

The next morning, Miles was jolted awake by the harsh sound of wheels rolling over the hallway tiles.

He sat up with a wince. His head was pounding, and his ears rang persistently.

Claire bit her lip, remaining silent. She cracked open one of her boxes and crouched down to gather her things, intending to take them with her.

After all, they were some of the few good memories she had shared with him.

But the man seized her wrist in an iron grip. His voice was dangerously low, his eyes flashing with raw hostility.

"I threw them out. Why are you picking them up? The janitor will sweep them away soon enough."

A heavy weight settled on her chest. He was being so childish, yet so unbelievably cruel.

"Fine. I'll leave them."

She wrenched her arm free and yanked the dolly into the elevator.

The doors slid shut, the floor numbers ticking down one by one.

It wasn't until it hit the lobby that Miles finally tore his gaze away.

He stared at the pile of items he had just discarded. Fetching an empty box, he carefully packed them back in, piece by piece, before carrying it inside.

Staring down at the collection of trinkets, his throat grew tight.

"We're all just things she threw away," he muttered to himself.

Chloe found a two-bedroom apartment near Central General Hospital. Once Claire had it spotless, she went to pick up Susan from the ward.