Ch. Mr.chatterbox for her, Mr.Icebox for me? Ice melts and so did my love. 20 Mr.chatterbox for her, Mr.Icebox for me? Ice melts and so did my love. 20

Chapter 10 

Brendan went back to the States. Sarah kept me posted. 

“He’s a wreck.” Text came through with screenshots. “Fired his whole exec team. Calling partners himself to say sorry. Company’s tanking.” 

Board was ready to kick him out. 

Used to be obsessed with work. Now? Totally gone. 

Zoning out in meetings staring at his hand. Ordering matcha stuff without thinking. Going pale every time someone 

mentioned Paris. 

Sarah: “Good. Serves him right. You were there forever-he didn’t give a shit. Now you’re gone? Oh NOW he cares.” 

Didn’t reply to that. 

Actions have consequences. Brendan’s? He lost me. 

Tina kept making scenes. 

Got fired, couldn’t get hired anywhere else. Deleted her Instagram after the comments got too brutal. 

Blew up Brendan’s phone with crying voicemails about being blacklisted. 

He ignored all of them. 

Final time she showed up outside his building. Someone filmed it. 

“You started this! You made me think-” 

Brendan cut her off. Voice flat. “Yeah. And I’m dealing with it too.” 

But dealing with it doesn’t fix anything. Doesn’t bring back the birthday I spent alone. Doesn’t erase the seventeen times he forgot about me. 

Six months later, Echo won some international design thing. 

Ceremony in Paris. Wore all black-my own design. 

Lights came on. People started clapping. 

Jeshow for Me? Ice Melts and So Did My Love! 

16.1% 

Chapter 10 

Host turned to me. “Who are you thanking tonight?” 

Three years ago someone asked me the same thing. I said Brendan’s name. He wasn’t even there. 

This time I didn’t hesitate. 

“Myself. For getting out when I needed to.” 

Place went crazy. Howard and Emma stood up. 

Sarah flew in just for this-makeup running everywhere, grinning like an idiot. 

Chest got tight. Good kind of tight. 

Later that night, email came through. 

Brendan. 

Never blocked his email. Didn’t need to. Seeing his name didn’t hurt anymore. 

Long message. Watched the livestream. Said I looked like I used to-back when I was happy. 

He got so used to me always being there, forgot I was my own person. 

Went to that dumpling place we used to go to in Chinatown. Lady asked where I was. 

Couldn’t tell her. 

Found my old design award while cleaning. Buried on some shelf. Covered in dust. 

Cleaned it off. Kept cleaning. Started crying. 

Last part said: 

Lily-took me way too long to realize. I didn’t just lose someone who stuck around. 

I lost you when you actually gave a damn about me. 

Not trying to get you back. 

Just want you to be happy. 

Read it once. Closed it. 

Moved it to a folder called “Done.” Shut my laptop. 

Chapter 10 

Sarah looked over. “Him?” 

“Yeah.” 

Her jaw tensed. “Please don’t-” 

“I’m not.” Looked right at her. “I’m good.” 

She breathed out. “Okay.” 

Window showed Paris at night. Streetlights. River. 

Couples kissing. People walking solo. 

Both looked fine. 

Love’s great. But being alone? Doesn’t mean something’s wrong with you. 

What’s wrong is staying with someone who makes you forget who you are. 

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