He Said Caring For Girl Best Friend Was Duty, So I left Chapter 04

He Said Caring For Girl Best Friend Was Duty, So I left Chapter 04

By the time I finished handling everything after Mr. Collins’s death, it was already late at night.

When I returned to the villa, every light was on.

Almost all of Derek’s childhood friends were there.

And Bellamy sat at the center of the room like she was the only person who mattered tonight.

The moment she saw me walk in, her eyes lit up.

“Wren, you’re back.”

She raised her wine glass with a bright smile.

“Perfect timing—everyone’s here.”

“My big day’s coming up soon, so I invited all of Colt’s old friends over.”

“I wanted them to help me make sure everything’s right.”

Someone chimed in. “Of course we should.”

“It’s a huge moment. Colt’s watching from heaven.”

I looked at Bellamy.

“What big day?”

Bellamy opened her mouth to answer.

But Derek cut in sharply. “That’s enough.”

I turned to him, my jaw tight.

“Why didn’t you come today?”

“Did you ever care about us at all?”

The room went dead silent, every pair of eyes landing on us.

Derek’s face darkened instantly.

“Wren, what the hell is wrong with you now?”

I smiled, but I didn’t explain.

I just grabbed the suitcase I’d packed days ago and headed for the door.

Derek’s voice turned ice-cold.

“You’ve always been like this, ever since we were kids.”

“The second something doesn’t go your way, you throw a fit.”

“I’d love to see where you’ll end up without me.”

My grip tightened around the suitcase handle.

But I never looked back.

The door closed behind me.

And with it, whatever was left between Derek and me.

—

Two days later, I went to St. Anne’s Chapel on the outskirts of Fairview.

Mr. Collins had been a man of faith.

Every year, he came here to pray.

Now that he was gone, I wanted to do one last thing for him.

To pray that wherever he was, he’d find peace. A life free from sickness and suffering.

The moment I stepped into the courtyard, I saw the last people I wanted to see.

Bellamy sat quietly in a pew, her hands clasped in prayer.

Derek stayed beside her the entire time.

After the service, Father Thomas approached them with a gentle smile.

“Would you like me to say a blessing for your future together?”

He rested a hand on Bellamy’s shoulder and closed his eyes briefly.

When he opened them again, his expression had grown solemn.

“Love alone isn’t always enough. It takes faith, patience, and commitment.”

“Without them, even the deepest feelings can fade.”

Bellamy’s expression changed immediately.

“What kind of terrible blessing is that? New one, please.”

Father Thomas shook his head.

“That’s fate. It cannot be undone.”

Bellamy’s eyes instantly reddened.

Derek frowned. Then he pulled out his checkbook.

“A million dollars. A donation to the church.”

“New blessing, please.”

Father Thomas was stunned.

Bellamy’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

Derek nodded. “Go on, then.”

She finally got a different result.

God’s blessing—a perfect match, a lifetime together.

Bellamy finally satisfied. She happily wrapped both hands around Derek’s arm.

“I knew it. I knew the first one had to be wrong.”

At that moment, Derek suddenly turned around.

His gaze landed directly on me. A trace of satisfaction crossed his face.

“Wren? Were you following me?”

I blinked. “Derek, do you own this chapel or something?”

He was momentarily speechless. Then he frowned.

“Then what are you doing here?”

I looked down at the prayer bracelet in my hand.

“I came to pray for Mr. Collins.”

“And while I was here, I asked Father Thomas for a blessing.”

His expression softened slightly. “For what?”

I looked up and smiled. “For my future relationship.”

Derek cut me off right away.

“You don’t need to compete with Bellamy like this.”

“When everything on her side is settled, I’ll marry you.”

“Wren, stop acting like a child.”

I was about to answer.

Then a familiar male voice sounded behind me—warm, amused.

“Derek. It’s been a long time.”

“You’re still just as confident as you were when we were kids.”

Derek went rigid.

The man walked over and stopped beside me, casually taking the prayer bracelet from my hand.

Then he looked directly at Derek.

“Who told you—that the blessing Wren asked for had anything to do with you?”