He Ghosted Me 88 Times, I Left Him

Chapter 1

We had been together for eight years, and my boyfriend had blocked my phone number eighty-eight times.

This time, the reason was simply that I hadn't answered his call while I was at my best friend's birthday party.

As usual, I should have rushed to buy a gift within an hour, then swallowed my pride and waited for him outside his office building.

But today, I blocked his number instead.

Lines of comments floated across my vision.

A: [Oh honey, don't block him! Go apologize right away! He just never got enough love growing up, so he keeps testing how much you care about him.]

B: [He's going to be heartbroken when he sees you blocking him, his eyes will turn red! Go find him, just sweet-talk him a little and he'll stop being mad!]

Liam Reed tried to call me over voice chat. He stayed silent for more than ten seconds before hanging up.

The comments flashed even faster.

A: [Oh my gosh, he loves you so much it hurts, he just won't say it! Cowards always lose the people they love!]

B: [And tomorrow is your eight-year anniversary! He had already booked the whole amusement park, he was going to propose! Please unblock him already, get back together and get married!]

I stared at the words, my throat tightening.

My heart softened, and I reached to unblock him, then a message popped up from the property manager.

Property manager: Ms. Ainsworth, Mr. Reed said you've broken up. Could you please pay your share of this month's utilities, 44.47 dollars? Also, he's kept a log of every expense from your relationship; the total is 58,441 dollars.

My blood ran cold.

A second later, I transferred the full amount.

Then I packed my bags, clipped the leash to my corgi, and moved out.

Before I left, I sent him one last message.

Nova: I'm being generous, you don't owe me for all the time and care I put into us. The dog is coming with me. We're even, no debts, no hard feelings.

*****

I stood outside my best friend's door with my suitcase and my dog.

The second I stepped inside, I saw Liam stretched out on her sofa, his shirt unbuttoned at the collar.

And my so-called best friend was leaning over him, straddling his lap. Their position left nothing to the imagination.

When she saw me, Mara scrambled up and smoothed her clothes in a panic.

Liam blinked groggily, and all the color drained from his face the moment he recognized me.

"What are you doing here?" Liam asked.

The confusion in his voice felt like a knife twisting in my chest. I could barely breathe.

My dog, Mochi, whined softly at my feet.

Barely half a day had passed since we'd broken up, and he was already with my closest friend.

I dug my nails into my palms, barely feeling the sting.

The comments exploded.

A: [Honey, cry! If you hold it in, he'll just think you don't care!]

B: [Liam, are you blind?! Can't you see her hands are shaking?! Explain yourself, tell her you didn't mean it!]

C: [That two-faced friend invited Liam over, got him drunk on purpose, and made him think she was Nova Ainsworth! He didn't cheat, just say something!]

Mara saw my face and a flicker of satisfaction crossed her eyes, then she put on a hurt tone. "Nova, it's not what it looks like. Liam loves you so much. This is all a misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding?" I tightened my grip on my suitcase handle, leaving four deep, crescent-shaped cuts in my palm. "A misunderstanding that, three hours after breaking up with me, he ended up on your sofa? That you ended up on top of him? Or that you two couldn't have looked more like you belonged together?"

Comments flooded the screen.

A: [Honey, trust us, nothing happened between them!]

B: [That girl is just jealous! She's had her eye on Liam for ages, and this was her chance to ruin everything!]

Mara's face darkened when she read those words.

Liam stood up, pulled her firmly behind him, and looked at me with an expression I couldn't place.

"Mara's right, what happened here is a misunderstanding. But what's between us isn't." His voice dropped to cold, final sharpness. "The second you blocked me, we were over. Don't ever show your face around me again."

Those words hit me like a sledgehammer.

I looked up at him, and suddenly the man I'd loved for eight years felt like a total stranger.

"Liam," I said, my voice shaking, "Do you really think I can't live without you?" I held his gaze, every word tight with hurt and resolve. "Or do you think I'm so desperate that even after you throw me away, I'll still come crawling back?"

He frowned, and I could still see Mara's lipstick smudged on his collar.

"That's not what I think," he said.

"But that's exactly how you've acted this whole time!" I raised my voice, sharp and unyielding.

Mochi circled my feet nervously.

I saw the look in his eyes, the same look I'd seen a thousand times over eight years, the certainty that I'd always come back, the smug superiority of someone who knew they held all the power. It was the same look he had every time he blocked me, then waited for me to beg for another chance.

The comments section flared up again.

A: [Liam, you i***t! You love her more than anything. Why do you have to act so cold?!]

B: [This is so frustrating! Nova, don't get so upset, you're just giving that girl exactly what she wants!]

Liam's fingers curled and uncurled at his sides, and he swallowed hard.

But he said nothing.

A wave of exhaustion washed over me, and I sighed heavily.

"Forget it, Liam," I said, my voice flat and drained. "I'm tired. I don't want to fight anymore."

I lifted my gaze, no anger left, only quiet resolve. "Don't worry. I'll stay out of your life for good."

Before he could reply, I picked up Mochi and walked out.

*****

Later, I checked into a hotel nearby.

The comments kept scrolling frantically.

A: [Why is she so calm? Eight years just gone like that?]

B: [He loves her so much! He just doesn't know how to show it!]

C: [Poor guy, his parents died when he was little, and now she's leaving him too. How can anyone be so cruel?]

'Cruel?' I snapped, and slammed my makeup bag hard down on the dresser.

The loud thud made Mochi duck his head.

For eight years, Liam had treated my life like his personal helpdesk.

Did he feel sorry for himself? What about me, the one who'd given him everything?

Two years ago, I'd put my phone on silent to host our company's annual gala.

In just two hours, I had thirty-two missed calls from him. The last message read.

Liam: If you're going to disappear, then we're done.

That night, at three a.m., I stood outside his apartment for five hours in my formal dress and heels, until my legs went numb.

All he said when he finally let me in was, "Do you get it now?"

Every time it rained, he held his umbrella only over himself.

When I got soaked through, he'd smirk and say, "Now you have an excuse to come over and change clothes."

Back then, I'd thought it was sweet.

But last month, a speeding car splashed water right at us, and he shoved me forward without a second thought.

I stood there covered in mud, stunned. "Why didn't you pull me out of the way?"

He rested his head on my shoulder and mumbled, "Baby, I'm so used to relying on you. I just assumed you'd protect me."

I'd known something was wrong for a long time. But because I loved him, I never said a word.

There are so many ways to love someone. I'd told myself we were just different, that I was the strong one, and he was the one who needed care.

Until today, until I watched the man who'd always pushed me in front of him step straight in front of Mara. With her lipstick still on his collar, he'd stood like a wall, shielding her from the whole world.

That was when I realized he could love someone. He could protect someone.

But for eight years, he'd never once done it for me.

Mochi rested his head on my foot, looking up at me with worried eyes.

I scratched his ears, and tears rolled down my cheeks. My heart ached so badly I could barely breathe.

But I whispered, "It's okay. It's all over now."

I'd be fine on my own.

My phone buzzed. A message from HR.

HR: Ms. Ainsworth, do you have a moment? I'd like to meet you at The Grand Lounge tonight at 8 PM to discuss the branch manager position.