The Marriage Bargain - ENGLOT

Chapter 32 : Without you

Flashback:

Emory's POV:

I was scrolling through my phone, searching for a sign that maybe Cadence had read my countless messages and missed calls. I knew it was pointless, but I couldn't help wondering if she missed me as much as I missed her. It had been weeks since she left for Europe without even saying goodbye, and I was still a mess.

As much as I wanted to hate her for leaving me like that, I just couldn't. Every time I tried to, I remembered how much I loved her and how lost I was without her. At first, I was angry. I couldn't understand how someone who claimed to love me could just up and leave like that. But as the days ticked by, that anger transformed into a deep, crushing sadness. I missed her more than words could express, and I couldn't help thinking that maybe I could have done more.

I hesitated a moment before I hit the call button, but my finger hovered over it, and I closed my eyes, hoping she would answer.

"Come on, Cadence. Please answer," I whispered to myself as it rang and rang.

After several rings, her voice mail picked up. I sighed and was about to end the call when I heard her voice.

"Hello?" Her voice was cold and distant, nothing like the warm, loving voice I was used to.

"Cadence," I said breathlessly. My chest tightening at hearing her voice again.

There was a long pause on the other end of the line, and I could hear the sound of her breathing through the receiver. My heart sank a little as I realized just how difficult this conversation was going to be.

"What do you want, Emory?" she said finally, her voice cold and distant.

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure. "I just...I wanted to talk to you. To see how you were doing," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

There was another long pause, and I could sense her hesitation through the phone. It made my heart feel heavy with a sense of dread.

Finally, she spoke again, her voice more forceful this time. "Emory, I can't do this. I can't pretend like everything's okay between us. We can't be together anymore. Not like this."

Her words hit me like a ton of bricks, and I felt myself breaking apart inside. This wasn't how things were supposed to be. We were supposed to be in love, happy together.

"I know it's hard," I said, my voice catching in my throat. "But we can make this work. I'll do whatever it takes, Cadence. I love you too much to just let you go."

There was another long pause, and I could sense her debating the validity of my statement. But finally, she spoke again, her voice firm and unwavering.

"No, Emory. It's over. We can't keep doing this to ourselves. You need to move on, accept that things are different now."

I was stunned, and my heart ached so fiercely I couldn't breathe. "Cadence, please don't do this. I love you. Can't we work this out?"

"I'm sorry, Emory, but I can't. I need to figure things out on my own. I need to focus on myself right now."

I could feel my chest tightening, and I choked back a sob. "But I can't do this without you."

I wanted to tell her everything- about my nonna arranging my marriage to Alexa, about how I don't love her, about how my heart still belonged to her. In the hopes that she'll come back but I can sense that it won't make a difference. She's made up her mind, and now it's all over.

"Cadence, please. Just hear me out. I--"

"I'm sorry, Emory. Please... just take care of yourself, okay?" She hung up without another word, and I stood there with tears streaming down my face, feeling utterly lost.