He Chose Her, I Left Him For Good

Chapter 3

After leaving the police station, I immediately booked a train ticket to Cloudwater City.

When we were young, Dashiell and I had made a promise. If either of us ever betrayed the other, the one left behind would go to Cloudwater City.

And the other would never set foot there for the rest of their life.

I never expected that, before I left, I would see Dashiell and Lila again.

Mr. Winthrop's new company was going public, and he had personally invited me to attend the listing ceremony.

At the venue, I spotted Lila nestled against Dashiell's chest.

I stared at the dress she was wearing, my fingers trembling.

It was the very gown Dashiell had designed for me himself at the welcome banquet celebrating my return to the Pembroke family.

He had said back then, "Eulalie, even though I design jewelry, I'll design clothes for you too. And no one but you will ever wear this dress."

Lila seemed to notice me just then. She spun around happily. "Isn't it beautiful? Dashiell gave it to me especially! He said it was the very first dress he ever designed, that it means so much to him, and that he wanted me to look my best today!" She deliberately pointed to the altered neckline. "It was a little too tight here, see? But Dashiell was kind enough to alter it for me!"

Dashiell avoided my eyes, a trace of guilt crossing his face. "It's only a dress. I'll make you another one."

Before I could respond, Lila suddenly gasped. "Oh no!"

A fresh milk stain quickly spread across the front of her gown, ruining it instantly.

Without hesitation, Dashiell grabbed my wrist and splashed the wine from my glass across Lila's chest.

Then he slapped me hard across the face. "Eulalie! No matter how angry you are, you have no right to throw wine at her!"

I stared at him in stunned silence.

He lowered his voice so only I could hear. "Just play along with me. Lila will get married someday. What would people think if they found out about her condition? Just take the blame this once."

Tears slid silently down my cheeks.

I let out a hollow, bitter laugh. "Are you really okay with her marrying someone else? Then why don't you marry her yourself?"

I turned and walked away, ignoring Dashiell calling after me.

He hurried after me and caught hold of my arm. "After the wedding tomorrow, I'll explain everything. I promise!"

I shook my head with a sorrowful smile.

There would be no wedding.

But Dashiell thought I was merely throwing a tantrum.

"Stop being unreasonable!" he snapped before turning back to comfort Lila.

The next morning, I headed straight to the airport.

As my taxi drove past, Dashiell's wedding convoy passed in the opposite direction.

Glancing through the window, I saw him sitting in the back seat beside Lila. Together, they looked exactly like a bride and groom.

It doesn't matter anymore, I told myself.

I'm leaving.

From now on, whatever happens between them has nothing to do with me.

I never saw the moment Dashiell turned his head and his eyes met mine through the passing windows.

In the next instant, he lunged forward like a man possessed and grabbed the steering wheel from the driver. "Turn around! Turn this car around right now!"