All Chapters of I Chose to Say Goodbye: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Serena Whitfield and Sean were lying on a bed in the home goods section, their bodies close together. Serena leaned toward Sean, whispered something in his ear, and the two exchanged a smile, the atmosphere unmistakably intimate. They looked every bit like a happy couple shopping for furniture for their cozy home. Just then, my sister walked over with a duvet cover in her hands, asking me to pick a design. When she saw the scene, she instinctively wanted to march over and confront them, but I stopped her. "I’ll like whatever you pick,” I said, handing her a small planter. "I don’t have much to give you, but these are my cherished succulents. I’ve been taking care of them for years, and they can’t be transported by plane. Take good care of them for me, okay?" I took my sister’s arm and walked past Sean as if I hadn’t seen him. But for once, he felt the need to explain. "Gina, don’t get the wrong idea. I was just helping Serena test if the bed was comfortable," Sean said, pausi

I put down the phone and continued packing my luggage. My eyes landed on the journal of our relationship.I turned on the cooker hood, placed the journal in a metal basin, and lit it on fire. The flames devoured the pages bit by bit, reducing them to ashes.Suddenly, the sound of something shattering came from behind me. Turning around, I saw Sean standing at the kitchen doorway, his face filled with disbelief. On the floor lay a broken wine bottle, its crimson liquid spreading freely, resembling blood."What are you doing?" Sean shouted, yanking me away forcefully, causing me to fall onto the icy floor littered with shards of glass and spilled wine.He lunged for the metal basin, but the fire was too intense, and the basin itself had become scorching hot. The moment his hand touched it, painful blisters began to form.Ignoring his injured hand, he swiftly tipped the basin into the nearby sink and turned on the faucet. The flames were extinguished instantly, leaving behind an acrid whi

In the end, it was the restaurant staff who pulled me out of the pool.Shivering, I made my way home. I filled the bathtub with hot water and soaked for what felt like forever, staying until my fingers wrinkled and my cheeks were flushed from the steam. Yet, no matter how hot the water was, it couldn’t warm the coldness in my heart.When I finally stepped out and finished tidying up, the sky was already lightening. I took one last look around the house we had lived in for nine years. Memories flashed through my mind, stopping at the moment Sean pushed me into the water yesterday.I placed the keys and the ring on the shoe cabinet by the door, then dragged my suitcase out of the house.On the plane, just before the announcement to turn off phones, I sent Sean one last message, "I’m leaving. Don’t contact me again. Don’t disturb me. I don’t want you anymore."Nine years of my youth ended with that. It was time to move forward.Four hours later, the plane touched down. As soon as I turned

"Where are we going?" I asked after a long silence."To let some furry friends heal you," Swaine said with a small smile.He took me to his stray animal shelter. Handing me a bag of cat food, he said it was feeding time. The pets here didn’t look anything like strays or abandoned animals—they were clean, healthy, and visibly adored. Every single one seemed to love Swaine. Watching him flail his arms to catch a mischievous kitten climbing up his back, I couldn’t help but laugh. My mood lightened considerably. Sitting on a bench, I felt a brave little cat climb onto my lap, purring contentedly as it nestled against me. Swaine sat down beside me, and together we looked up at the round moon in the night sky. "Your mom told me everything," he said after a pause. "Do you regret leaving him?" "No," I replied softly but with unwavering certainty. "Good," he said with a serious tone, then turned to me. "Because I’m not letting go. I won’t let him hurt you again, Gina. I’ll do my b

I looked into his eyes and shook my head. "Gina, are you still mad at me? It’s all my fault. Please forgive me, okay? We promised to grow old together. If you want to get married, let’s do it tomorrow! I’m proposing to you right now. Marry me, Gina!" As he spoke, Sean pulled out a ring and dropped to one knee, right on the shattered glass. He didn’t seem to notice the pain. "Gina!" Swaine’s voice cut through the tension as he entered the scene. The moment Sean saw Swaine, he completely lost control, lunging toward me in desperation. "Stay away from her!" Swaine pulled me behind him, shielding me as he stepped between us. "Gina, we’ve been together for nine years," Sean said, his voice trembling with anguish. "We had so many beautiful memories, so many dreams for the future, so many promises. Are you really leaving me for him? Gina, you can’t do this to me!" A cold laugh escaped my lips. He had the audacity to accuse me when he was the one who destroyed my life by bringing