All Chapters of Let The Years Be: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Chloe shut her door, popped in her earbuds, and tuned out the noise from outside.Having made up her mind to return home and tie the knot, she knew she would have to resign from her job. Still, she was determined to wrap up her projects, aiming to avoid causing any inconvenience to others.She sat alone in front of the panoramic window, diligently finishing up her work.As the sun dipped below the horizon, the evening sky faded to dusk.Chloe removed her earbuds, stood up, and stretched. After a long stretch of focused work, she was finally done.The building had quieted down completely.She flicked on her phone for a bit of mindless scrolling.That was when a message from Helen popped up. Without a second thought, Chloe tapped it open.[Why didn't you 'like' my post?]A minute barely passed before another message followed.[Oops! Sorry, Chloe. Wrong person. Don't be upset, okay?]Driven by curiosity, Chloe checked Helen's social media feed to see what the fuss was about.H

Helen clutched the trophy, but her face was missing the spark of victory. She did not look like she wanted to celebrate, and she definitely was not about to hand it over to Chloe.Instead, she bit her lip, her eyes wide and pleading as she spoke. "Chloe, the director told me to give you the trophy. It's such a big deal, and you're so awesome. I'm going to be super bold and ask you something. I've never won this award. Can I borrow the trophy for just a few days?"Borrow?Chloe had never heard anything so ridiculous. She raised an eyebrow and said with a fake smile, "If you know it's bold, then don't ask. If you want one so badly, go win one yourself."With that, she reached out to take the trophy from Helen's embrace.Chloe's frosty response left Helen flustered, looking like she was the victim of some great injustice. "Chloe, why are you being like this? I'm not taking it forever. I just want it at home to inspire me, is that so wrong?"As Chloe went to grab it, Helen hugged the

It took a while, but Chloe finally got her breath back. She leaned against the wall, her medicine gripped tight in her hand, shielding her face to keep the pollen at bay.She had not even had a second to catch her breath when Andrew's accusing voice hit her like a slap."Why are you always picking on Helen? She gives us these flowers and you just throw them on the ground!"Stephen's voice, thick with anger, was not far behind. "Chloe, you've been acting so unreasonably lately. What's gotten into you?"Chloe inhaled deeply, shaking with a mix of anger and frustration. She had a storm of words inside her, ready to burst out, but all that came out was a choked sob, her eyes brimming with tears."Me, changed? Have I really changed, or is it you who changed? I have asthma, and I'm allergic to pollen. How could you forget that?"Her voice was weak, but her words hit Andrew and Stephen like a bolt of lightning.They used to be so attentive to her needs.Whenever Chloe had an asthma at

Chloe spun around, and the guys looked relieved to see she was not mad.Andrew closed the distance, taking her hand. "Forget about packing. It's way too much hassle. I'll send our driver later, and we'll move your stuff to the new place together."Stephen nodded like one of those bobbleheads.In that moment, Chloe could almost see the way they used to look at her, like she was the only one in their world.Back when they were just kids, chatting and laughing was all it took. However, those childhood promises were just words in the wind.Chloe glanced at Helen, shook her head, and said, "No need. I've got things to sort out on my own."Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and walked away.Chloe had just settled into her room, freshened up, and flopped onto her bed when her phone buzzed with an incoming call from Helen. Helen's voice, sugary and smug, trickled through the line."Chloe, guess what? I visited the Lewises and the Joneses tonight, and both Andrew's

Chloe stepped onto the plane, her back to everything she was leaving behind, her heart untouched by the thought of Andrew and Stephen's worry.The moment the plane's wheels lifted off the ground, a wave of lightness washed over her, the kind she had never felt before.Back at Marina City's Lagoon View Villa, though, the air was thick with tension.Three hours ticked by since Andrew and Stephen, with Helen in tow, had made it to the villa. However, Chloe was a no-show.Their bags were the only ones sitting in the villa. Chloe's were nowhere in sight.Andrew's heart was doing somersaults, a sense that something was off gnawing at him.Stephen was a statue on the couch, his face so pale it was like he had seen a ghost.Helen, with her secrets, kept mum.The silence was getting loud until Helen could not take it anymore."Chloe's probably just running late, you know. Last-minute packing and all. Let's get the place ready. We've got that dinner tonight, and Chloe wouldn't miss it f