Chapter 8.1 Sean POV : Chaos Inside The Cafe
1722 Words
I let out a short laugh, rolled my eyes, then shot her a sharp look and said, “So what? Is that any of your business? This café isn’t yours — anyone can come here…
Stay calm, avoid a fight, keep your emotions in check…
I reminded myself to stay cool, even though anger was already boiling inside me. I tried to act as if they didn’t even exist in my space. But Laura would never make things easy — of course she was looking for drama.
She pulled out her phone, pointed the camera straight at me, and started speaking loudly. “I never thought my ex‑boyfriend was still so obsessed with me! He followed me all the way here!!”
She shrieked as if she were terrified, pretending to be scared out of her wits.
I turned my head toward her, glaring and clenching my teeth.
“Stop it!” I shouted, stepping closer.
“Oh my god, look! He’s getting angry — how frightening!!” She stepped back, still holding the camera aimed right at my face.
She got on my nerves, and my hand moved on its own — I knocked her phone right out of her hand.
SMACK!
The phone flew through the air, hit the floor, and shattered. The screen looked completely broken.
For a moment she just stared at her broken phone, her mouth slightly open, while her boyfriend glanced over at us.
“You broke my phone!! You crazy stalker!!”
She shouted at me, her voice ringing loud enough to fill the whole café—and it made my stomach turn, while several people turned their heads to look at us.
“You’re the one invading my privacy!” I shot back, pointing out what was really happening.
“Look who’s talking about privacy—stalker!” She let out a short laugh, crossed her arms over her chest, and gave me a sneering look.
A moment later, her boyfriend stepped forward and walked over. He stood beside her, glaring at me, acting like some white knight rushing to save his princess—how ridiculous.
“You owe her an apology and a new phone,” he said, slinging an arm around her shoulders.
“I’m not going to do it! This is not my fault!” My jaw tightened, my teeth clenched.
I ignored them completely and walked over to the counter to order something.
“You…!”
Laura hurried after me, grabbed my hoodie, and yanked it hard.
“Hey, let go!!” I tried to pull my shirt free from her grip, but she wouldn’t loosen her hold.
“You’re a psycho! I hate you—I hate you!” She lashed out, punching me hard in the chest over and over.
“Dammit, I said stop it!” I snapped.
I shoved her away—hard enough to make her stumble backward.
“Hey! What do you think you’re doing?!” Her boyfriend pushed me right back and stepped in front of her, acting like a shield.
“So what?!” I didn’t hold back anymore. I stepped closer, standing my ground. I wasn’t scared. If he wanted a fight, I’d be happy to give him one.
We stood facing each other, glaring. My chest burned with anger, and I had already balled my fist ready—if he dared to step closer, I would punch him first. Now let’s see what he would do.
“No, babe, don’t. It’s useless—don’t waste your energy on him! He’s just bitter because I left him and chose you instead!”
But Laura grabbed her boyfriend’s arm and pulled him back.
“Don’t get your hands dirty,” she said. She straightened his sleeve, looked at him with a concerned expression, then turned her head toward me. “He’s nothing… just a piece of trash…”
Her words cut deep. It hurt more than I thought it would. I never expected her to say something so cruel. I knew she didn’t love me anymore, and I’d realized years ago that she was only after my money—but still… we had been happy once. I’d always treated her like a queen, spoiling her in every way, and now…
“Hahaha… so this is your true face, huh? The moment I had nothing left to give, you just threw me away?” I laughed bitterly at my own foolishness, while onlookers stared as if this were some cheap soap opera.
“No, you’ve got it all wrong. Actually, I was already with him before we even broke up. I was just waiting for an excuse to end things with you…”
My laughter died instantly. So that means she was...
“You cheated on me?!!” I could no longer hold back; I raised my voice, shouting at her as I stepped closer. I needed an explanation.
But before she could reply, a commotion erupted outside the café. A group of people burst inside, making their way straight toward Laura and her boyfriend—pushing right past me.
The whole room felt even more suffocating and unbearable, while Laura smiled broadly and leaned against her boyfriend in a romantic way.
“Hah…” I just snorted, turned away, and walked back to the counter. “Can I get a croissant and a chocolate shake?” I tried to focus on placing my order.
“Miss Laura, we saw your live stream earlier. Is it true you’re being stalked by your ex?”
I heard someone ask that question out of nowhere.
Those annoying reporters…!
I felt my temper flare up, I wanted to smash my fist right into that guy’s face, but I forced myself to stay calm. If I lost control now, things would only get worse. So, I just pretended hear nothing.
“Here’s your order, sir…” It wasn’t long before they set my food down on a tray.
“Thank you…” I gave a faint smile and moved off, looking for somewhere to sit.
“Yes… that’s exactly him…” I could hear her voice, thick with mockery.
I could feel it clearly—every eye turned toward me, staring as if I had just stepped straight out of prison.
“Wait… I know that face from somewhere…”
Someone recognized me?
The woman walked closer, heading straight for me with several others following behind.
Now what…!
I glared at her, but it had no effect. She kept coming until she stood right beside me.
“That’s it—I remember now! I saw you at the Marion Hotel… the guy in the red shirt!” Her voice rose, bright and excited, as if she’d uncovered something far more important than anything else right now.
Wait—did she say the Marion Hotel? Don’t tell me she was there when Caleb made that ridiculous announcement… This is going to be bad.
“N‑no… you must be mistaken… please, step aside…” I spoke quickly and tried to move away.
“As if! There’s no way someone like him could afford a luxury hotel like that! He’s practically broke!” Laura called out from where she sat, flashing a mocking grin.
“No, I’m not wrong at all—because I was the one who took your photo and put it on the newspaper's headline!” She shook her head, then studied me closely, her brow furrowing. “You’re Caleb Bermount’s partner!!”
In an instant, every eye turned toward me, and gasps went up all around. Even Laura stared in disbelief, and her boyfriend looked as if he’d turned pale.
Why such a reaction…? Is he really that well‑known? Just hearing his name makes them act like they’ve seen a ghost? I knew Caleb was incredibly wealthy, but clearly he carries even bigger weight than I thought…
“If you’re here… that means Caleb must be with you too, right?” Her eyes lit up. She stepped even closer, nearly bumping right into me.
“H‑hey—don’t crowd me!!” I backed away, trying to keep my balance while holding tight to my tray of food.
Now others began to push forward, shoving me this way and that—until I stumbled backward into something hard and solid.
“What are you doing in a place like this, Sean…”
That voice…
Everyone fell silent at once, staring past me as if frozen in place.
I glanced back—and found him standing tall right behind me with an icy look, glaring, as if securing his territory.
The reporters unconsciously stepped back in unison, just like prey retreating from a predator.
Then he looked straight at me—clearly irritated. I could tell instantly he was in a terrible mood.
“Why did you leave? Didn’t I tell you to wait for me?”
“I‑I just got bored…” I answered—clearly lying. There was no way I’d tell him I was trying to avoid him.
But right then, the reporters swarmed around us, crowding close and firing questions eagerly.
“So his name really is Sean?” one reporter called out. “He looks young—how old is he?”
“Are you two actually a couple? But everyone knows you’re quite the casanova, popular with women—so what made you settle down with him?”
“What about Candice Wilson? Isn’t there already an arranged marriage in your family? Does this mean you’ve gone against their plans?”
One question followed another, until Caleb finally ran out of patience. His jaw was set so tight you could see a vein pulsing at his temple.
“MOVE!”
His voice boomed like thunder, striking them all at once. Everyone flinched and froze in place.
“Let’s go—now!” He grabbed my wrist.
“W‑wait!! I haven’t even eaten yet!”
I had no choice but to set my tray down on a nearby table before he pulled me along and hurried me out of the café.
But to my surprise, the crowd followed right behind us.
“Faster…!” Caleb sped up his pace after glancing back.
Damn it—these people are literally chasing us…!
- Writer
