The Umbrella He Never Held for Me Chapter 04

Simon helped Yvette leave.

Walking out of the office building, sunlight hit my skin. But I felt nothing but cold.

I didn’t know what to do next.

Maybe I’d go back home first and see my parents.

And tell Mom she’d been right all along.

Two months ago when the wedding got called off, she warned me.

“Eight years and no wedding. You’d better pay attention.”

Funny. I’d been so sure Simon wasn’t that kind of man.

I booked a ticket. Then switched to another app.

A post caught my eye. It was Yvette’s burner account.

She was asking for wedding advice. Writing paragraph after paragraph.

Every sentence dripped with sweetness.

I clicked into her profile. Her saved posts were all baby stuff.

I checked the date on the post. It had been published a month ago.

One month ago, Simon started finding faults with me. Picking fights.

He was trying to shake me off. So he could marry Yvette.

Turns out I’d never been part of his future at all.

I was about to head back to the hotel to pack when my phone rang.

It was the police. They said to come to the city hospital.

I went. Simon and Yvette were there.

The man who once promised we’d face every storm together was now meeting me through a police report.

They filed a report saying I intentionally hurt a pregnant woman.

The medical exam showed nothing wrong. But they insisted on pressing charges.

Simon lifted his chin.

“I don’t want anything else. I just want an apology from you, Tessa!”

Yvette tugged his sleeve. “No. I want her to pay.”

Simon froze for a second and pressed his lips together.

He glanced at me. “Forget it. She’s just a clerk making barely three thousand a month. How could she possibly afford it?”

The officers waited for my apology. They knew Simon and Yvette were being difficult, but there was nothing they could do.

I didn’t want to make it hard for anyone else.

“I’m sorry.”

I bowed ninety degrees and apologized to Yvette.

The moment those words left my mouth, Yvette’s smug smile couldn’t be hidden.

The officers left, and I turned to leave as well.

Simon grabbed my arm.

“Aren’t you going to thank me? I saved you from paying.”

I didn’t answer. I didn’t have the energy to fight with him.

Simon didn’t like my reaction. He kept going.

“If you’re going to be stubborn, fine. I take it back. I want compensation now. Pay up, Tessa.”

He sneered, still holding my arm.

I spoke slowly.

“You can keep the car. I put fifty thousand into it. Consider that my compensation.”

Yvette nodded from the hospital bed, satisfied.

Simon froze, and his grip on my arm loosened instantly.

“Why are you splitting the car? What’s wrong with you? Hey, Tessa…”

I didn’t answer. I walked away fast.

Two weeks later, I left my hometown.

Mom said thirty is still young. Anything is possible. Don’t trap yourself in one relationship.

I left again.

At the airport.

Simon called.

I thought about it. Then I answered.

His voice had a hint of something—joy, barely noticeable.

“Tessa, give me your address. You’ve still got some junk at my place. It’s getting in the way.”

I said flatly, “Throw it away. I don’t want any of it.”

He fell silent for a long moment.

Then his voice softened.

“When are you coming back? I didn’t just find your stuff. I bought you something too.”

“That wedding veil you wanted. I got it.”

I didn’t answer.

A cold automated voice echoed through the terminal. “Final call. Check-in for this flight is now closed.”

Simon’s breathing changed. He rushed out the words.

“Where are you?”

“The airport.”

“Where are you going?”

I pulled my suitcase and glanced at the gate.

“None of your business.”