He Went Mad After I Left

Chapter 3 The Clingy Ex

Orion left, leaving Celeste alone in the spacious private room.

On the TV, a sappy romance movie played. Celeste sat there, staring blankly.

The past twenty-something years of her life felt just like the scenes on the screen—rewinding, fast-forwarding.

Orion's dislike for her had probably started showing a long time ago.

She had just been too stubborn, too blinded by her own feelings, convincing herself that he never meant it.

Celeste remembered it clearly. By junior year of college, Orion had grown increasingly impatient with her.

Back in high school, he used to come looking for her in class every day, holding out his hand. "Where's my milk?"

But in college, he would take the milk she had warmed for him in advance and, right in front of everyone, toss it into the sink. "Who drinks this crap? Smells awful."

There was a time when no matter how she dressed, Orion would always smile at her. But at some point, that changed. Instead, he began mocking her outfits in front of others. "Still wearing that same striped shirt? Guess some people grow up, but their brains don't. Then again… not like there's much to grow."

And when one of Celeste's classmates confessed to her in public, Orion stood off to the side with a bored expression. "Damn, someone's actually into her? Guess it's true what they say—love is blind."

Turns out, he had looked down on her for a long time.

Celeste's nails dug deep into her palm, leaving red marks. Through tear-blurred vision, she murmured, "Orion, I won't bother you anymore."

Then, she got up and walked out without looking back.

*****

When Celeste got home, she turned on the lights and sat numbly on the couch.

Her phone buzzed.

Orion: Celeste, did you get home?

Her heart skipped a beat. He was still checking on her.

And he even took her off his block list.

Celeste typed out a reply, deleted it, typed again, hesitating over how to phrase it so Orion would keep talking to her.

In the end, she only sent one word.

Celeste: Yeah.

His response came almost instantly.

Orion: Good. Don't get lost and blame me for it.

Orion: You're safe. That's all that matters. Blocking you again. Bye.

Celeste's heart clenched. She quickly sent a question mark.

A notification popped up: The recipient has declined your messages.

He had blocked her. Again.

Exhausted, Celeste slumped against the couch, hugging the capybara plush Orion had given her.

Printed across its belly were the words: Life's alright. Death's fine too.

After a while, she aimlessly picked up her phone, only to see that the last remaining shared couple's account she had with Orion had a new post—one where he was publicly roasting her.

Orion: Clingy people stay clingy. My kitten's way better.

He even attached a photo.

In the bottom right corner of the picture, a fair-skinned leg peeked into the frame. A slender hand rested on it, a small mole visible on the ring finger.

It was Orion's hand.

Celeste's nose tingled, and silent tears rolled down her face.

So, he needed a wild little kitten.

And while she had been vanishing from his life, his world had never been lonely.

Back when Orion first started ghosting her, Celeste had searched for him everywhere, desperate to find him.

But no matter how hard she looked in real life, she could always find him on social media—partying on yachts, surrounded by bikini-clad women.

They were always so close to him.

Their slender arms draped over his shoulders and waist, their flushed cheeks resting against his chest.

And every time she messaged him, his replies were always the same.

Orion: Busy.

Orion: In a meeting.

Orion: On a business trip. Don't bother me.

Then the next day, headlines would explode all over the internet—"Lancaster heir spotted vacationing in Valmere with a model girlfriend."