Wake Up Leave The Liar novel Chapter 10

Chapter 10

When I woke up in the hospital again, it felt like my whole body had been torn apart and stitched back together. I couldn’t move an inch.

Outside, I heard nurses chatting cheerfully in the hallway.

“Did you hear? Lila passed her residency evaluation!”

“No way! But she was… ugh, never mind. Word is, Captain Bennett talked to the Chief himself.”

“Some people really do have all the luck…”

I closed my eyes. All I felt was bitterness-cold and hollow.

Then Noah showed up at my door. He didn’t even step inside.

Menu

“Lila passed her assessment,” he said flatly. “I promised to take her to Miami to celebrate. She’s your student, so you should be happy. But since you’re out of commission, I’ll step in for you.”

He said it like it meant nothing, didn’t even look at me, and turned to leave.

Step in.

The words twisted in my chest.

If he loved stepping in so much, he could step in for Lila for the rest of her damn life.

While I was lying in that hospital bed, Noah was off celebrating with her. Not a single text. Not even a call.

The day I was finally discharged was also the day I was supposed to leave for my Government-Sponsored Study Abroad.

The Chief came personally to see me off. He clapped me on the shoulder, all serious.

“Ella,” he said, “go over there, study hard, make us proud-and then get your ass back here to serve this country!”

I smiled faintly. “Chief, you got it.”

Then I pulled a sealed envelope from my bag and handed it to him.

*Chief, could you give this to Noah for me?”

He looked puzzled but nodded.

I turned and walked away without looking back.

I got into the car headed for the airport-toward a future that was finally mine. A clean slate.

Two days later, Noah figured my injuries must’ve healed by now. He decided to swing by, pick me up, and maybe finally talk wedding plans.

But when he got to my hospital room, it was empty. The bed neatly made, not a trace of me left behind.

He frowned, assuming I’d gone back to work. So he headed to my office.

But there, too-nothing. My desk was spotless. All my books, files, even the little pothos plant I’d nursed for years-gone.

His chest tightened. A strange, icy dread spread through him.

Just then, the Chief walked by. Noah rushed over.

‘Chief! Where’s Ella? All her stuff’s gone-did she move offices?”

The Chief looked genuinely surprised.

“Noah, you don’t know? Ella didn’t tell you? She left two days ago for her study abroad program.”

“Study abroad?” Noah froze, like he’d just been hit by lightning. “When did she decide that? Why didn’t anyone tell me?” The Chief sighed and pulled an envelope from his pocket.

“She asked me to give you this before she left. Read it yourself.”

Noah’s hands shook as he tore the envelope open. Inside was a single sheet of paper.

Three cold, final words stared back at him-

LETTER OF BROKEN ENGAGEMENT.