Chapter 10
Anastasia sobbed into Bastien’s chest, her voice breaking as she confessed, “I never stopped loving you.“]
“I tried to forget everything,” she continued, her hands trembling as she clutched his shirt, “but I can’t stand seeing you with her.“[]
“God, I was so cowardly back then,” she whispered, her words filled with regret.]
“I can’t live without you,” she murmured, the pain in her voice raw.[]
She spoke of the emptiness that had consumed her all this time.[]
“Please, don’t leave me again. Bastien.“]
“She’s a Hartley.What do I have? Just you.“]
“Please,” she whispered. her voice cracking.
Bastien did care about Anastasia–not the way he once had. But he couldn’t just stand by.
After signing the divorce papers, he drove straight to the hospital.]
Anastasia collapsed against his chest when he told her, tears soaking his shirt.
But behind his eyes, all he could see was Ophelia’s face–that brittle smile, the tears she’d quickly blinked back.
What was she doing right now? Had she been crying after he left?]
Once Anastasia’s sedatives kicked in, he texted Ophelia.
“Ophelia,what are you doing?”
Nothing.
He tried again. “Having dinner tonight. French Restaurant?”
Still silent.
Twitter was quiet. No statement yet. He decided to swing by the house while Anastasia slept.
The notification hit while he was in the elevator.]
“Bastien Moreau and I divorced some time ago.Wish him and Anastasia.” [
Comments disabled. His phone blew up instantly.]
He took Mrs.Moreau’s call first, explaining it was just temporary, a solution for Anastasia’s mental health crisis.[]
“Are you completely out of your mind?Finding Ophelia and coming back tonight. No excuses.“]
“I will,mom.”
He refreshed Twitter with shaking fingers and saw her new post: “Goodbye.“]
The word hit him like a physical biow. He floored it all the way home.
The housekeeper was on holiday.[]
“Ophelia?” Nobody answers.
The wall where their wedding photo had hung was still empty.
She’d claimed she was cleaning the frame. How long ago was that? Two weeks? Three?]
His heart hammering against his ribs, he went upstairs.[]
The bedroom looked like she’d never lived there…empty.
Impossible! It had been hours, not days. How could she have vanished so completely?]
He remembered the boxes she’d been packing.
He sprinted to the bookroom. The boxes were gone. Her bookshelvese–stood empty. Her desk was cleared out as well.]
He called again. And again. And again. Each time, that same automated voice,nobody answers…..]
He stumbled to the bathroom. Even her toothbrush was gone.[]
It was like she’d been methodically erasing herself from his life for weeks.[]
His fingers could barely type” This isn’t real!! The divorce is just on paper. PLEASE tell me where you are!!!Ophelia,please!!”
