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What I Left Behind

What I Left Behind

Short Story · Romance
By:  Eggs TomatoCompleted
Language: English
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9Chapters
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Synopsis

Winning Back the Husband

Face Slapping

Bias

Mistress

Feel-Good Story

Plot Twists

Melodramatic

After seven years of running a noodle shop near her university so I could support my girlfriend through graduate school, she finally earned her doctorate. It was her birthday. I closed the shop early to prepare a proposal, only to see her walk into the restaurant next door with a group of friends. Then my phone buzzed. "I have research tonight. I'll be home late, so go to bed without me." Something made me follow her inside. She was seated at the center of the group while everyone laughed and celebrated her birthday. I smiled and started toward her. Then the man beside my girlfriend stood, dropped to one knee, and held out a diamond ring. It was much larger than mine. "Nat, today is also our third anniversary. You've done so much for me over these three years, and I'm truly grateful. "You knew I had no money, so you quietly sent me eight hundred dollars every month. You knew I was proud, so you found me a part-time job instead of calling it charity. "My laptop, tablet, and every other device I own came from you. "Nat, I love you. Will you marry me?" Every drop of blood in my body seemed to freeze. I gave my girlfriend eight hundred dollars every month for living expenses. I had bought every one of her electronic devices, too, but each one somehow disappeared soon afterward. I had only smiled, told her it was fine, and bought another. When I learned that her classmate was struggling financially, I hired him at my shop without hesitation and paid him another eight hundred dollars a month. So that was the truth. All these years, I had not been supporting one graduate student. I had been supporting my girlfriend and her boyfriend.

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Chapter 1

Chapter 1

"Of course I will, you idiot. I..."

She never finished the sentence.

A second later, as though she had sensed me, she looked in my direction.

The rest of her words died in her throat.

Our eyes met.

Natalie Brooks shot to her feet so abruptly that she knocked over the bowl of dipping sauce in front of her.

It splashed across her clothes.

I walked over.

I handed Natalie the napkins in my hand without saying a word.

"Nat, who is this?"

The classmates sitting nearby studied me with open curiosity.

"Let me introduce him. This is Natalie's cousin."

Caleb Monroe answered before she could, smiling as he greeted me.

"They're very close. He's run a restaurant near campus for years so Natalie could focus on school."

Understanding dawned immediately.

Everyone looked at me again, this time with friendly enthusiasm.

"Her cousin? Then sit down!"

"Exactly. You're just in time to witness Natalie's big moment."

From beginning to end, I kept my eyes on Natalie.

She could not even bring herself to look back at me.

"What about the ring? You haven't put it on yet! Finish proposing, Caleb! And you two still owe us a kiss!"

The group began cheering again, driving the mood to a fever pitch.

Perhaps Natalie was afraid I would make a scene.

When no one was watching, she blinked rapidly at me in a silent attempt to calm me down.

Then she stood.

Amid the cheers, she held out her hand.

Her gaze fell on the plain band already on her ring finger, and she hesitated for a second.

The next moment, she pulled it off without hesitation and smiled as Caleb slid the sparkling new diamond onto her finger.

She set the plain band carelessly beside a plate on the table.

It was the promise ring I had made for her with an entire month's salary.

"Hey, Nat, this old ring is actually pretty."

A woman I did not know picked up the simple band and examined it.

"You like it?"

"Then you can have it."

At that moment, Natalie was too busy admiring her new diamond to care that she had just given away the symbol of our relationship.

"By the way, Daniel, Caleb said he wanted noodles this afternoon. Go make him a bowl and bring it over."

As though she had only just remembered, Natalie looked up and issued the request in the most natural tone imaginable.

After speaking, she blinked at me again, this time urging me to hurry.

I was about to refuse.

Then my phone rang.

I had only just turned away when another wave of delighted shouting erupted behind me.

"What just happened? Did Nat secretly kiss Caleb?"

"She did! Didn't she always say she'd never dated anyone? Where did she learn to be that smooth?"

"Kiss him again! Come on, one more!"
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9 Chapters
Chapter 1
"Of course I will, you idiot. I..."She never finished the sentence.A second later, as though she had sensed me, she looked in my direction.The rest of her words died in her throat.Our eyes met.Natalie Brooks shot to her feet so abruptly that she knocked over the bowl of dipping sauce in front of her.It splashed across her clothes.I walked over.I handed Natalie the napkins in my hand without saying a word."Nat, who is this?"The classmates sitting nearby studied me with open curiosity."Let me introduce him. This is Natalie's cousin."Caleb Monroe answered before she could, smiling as he greeted me."They're very close. He's run a restaurant near campus for years so Natalie could focus on school."Understanding dawned immediately.Everyone looked at me again, this time with friendly enthusiasm."Her cousin? Then sit down!""Exactly. You're just in time to witness Natalie's big moment."From beginning to end, I kept my eyes on Natalie.She could not even bring
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Chapter 2
I stopped.Then I turned around.Natalie was hiding her blushing face behind one hand, but she had already leaned over and planted a quick kiss on Caleb's cheek.I had never seen her take the initiative like that before."Keep moving. You're blocking the aisle!"The annoyed passerby's voice caught Natalie's attention, and she looked up instinctively.The woman who had been glowing with happiness a moment earlier sprang up and hurried toward me.She pulled me into an empty corner."Why are you still here? Didn't I tell you to go back?""Aren't you going to explain?"At that,she sighed helplessly, as though my question had given her a headache."Explain what?"I keep telling you that your thinking is old-fashioned. See? There really is a generation gap between us."It was only a joke."My eyes settled on the diamond on her ring finger as I asked quietly,"Was the ring a joke too?"Natalie's brow furrowed, and impatience crept into her eyes."Daniel, why are you acting
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Chapter 3
For a moment, I drifted into the past.Once, she had treated me the same way.During the worst period of my life, nightmares kept me awake night after night.Natalie would hold me and whisper the same reassurances again and again.I knew too well what Natalie looked like when she loved someone. One glance was enough to tell me she loved somebody else now.I stood.Without hesitation, I dumped the entire box of cards into the trash.Then someone wrapped both arms around my leg from behind, and Caleb's drunken voice floated up to me."If you're Nat's cousin, then you're family to me too. Daniel, you can trust me to take care of her."I love her so much. We started dating three years ago, on May eighteenth."We agreed that we would get married after the first snow this year."Then we'll start trying for a baby. Nat never wanted children, but she changed her mind because I do."Oh, and the cats. She's so busy, but she takes wonderful care of all my cats. Wait, I haven't fed the
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Chapter 4
When I returned to the noodle shop, I taped a printed notice to the front door."BUSINESS FOR SALE."Natalie came downstairs wearing the revealing nightgown that had sat untouched at the bottom of a trunk for years.I had given it to her as a birthday present long ago.It had also caused our first serious argument."What's this supposed to mean? How am I supposed to wear something this revealing? Is that really how you see me?"It had only been one item among everything I bought from her online wish list.After that, she buried the nightgown in storage.Now, red marks covered the skin above its neckline, and her hair was slightly disheveled.She seemed not to notice. She stood beside me with a puzzled expression."What's going on?"Why are you selling the shop out of nowhere? Has business been bad lately?"I have some money saved. I can give it to you if you need it..."Her eyes looked genuinely concerned, but mine kept drifting toward the marks across her chest.At last,
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Chapter 5
"Local restaurant owner betrayed by doctoral-candidate fiancee. According to people familiar with the couple, the woman studies at the university across from the shop and has been engaged to the owner for seven years..."Natalie's voice grew quieter with every word until it disappeared entirely.She suddenly grabbed my hand, panic entering her voice for the first time."Daniel, none of this is true. You don't believe it, do you?"People online have nothing better to do than invent rumors. Please don't misunderstand."I calmly pulled my hand away and continued packing."I don't misunderstand."After all, it had nothing to do with me anymore.Natalie abruptly cupped my face in both hands and searched my eyes."What's wrong with you?"Normally, you would be furious by now. You would demand answers and ask me a hundred questions. Why are you so calm today?"I smiled.When I looked up at her, none of my old love remained in my eyes."Nothing's wrong."I simply did not love her
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Chapter 6
The memory made me take out my phone and message my mother."Mom, I booked a flight home for tomorrow."Her reply came almost immediately."That's wonderful."Then, as though worried she had sounded too eager, she sent another message."Are you sure you can come? Doesn't Natalie need you there? Is school less busy now, or is she coming with you? Will you stay this time?"I could see the caution behind every question.Since I began dating Natalie, I had not returned to Willowbrook, New Albion, once in seven years.The first year, Natalie developed a high fever just before my flight.I canceled the ticket and stayed awake for several nights caring for her.The second year, she suddenly complained of severe stomach pain before I was due to leave.Once again, I stayed for her.Year after year, excuse after excuse, Natalie kept me from going home.In the seventh year, after she completed her doctorate at Bellmere Institute of Science and Technology, we finally agreed to spend s
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Chapter 7
I gave a wry smile, but my eyes were calm."Then this is where it ends."After seven years together, I had hoped we could part without tearing each other apart.But this was how she wanted it.So this was where it ended.Natalie stared blankly at the disconnected call. It was the first time Daniel had ever hung up on her.For no clear reason, her chest tightened until breathing became difficult.Meanwhile, I was completing the paperwork to transfer the shop to its new owner.Once everything was finished, I stood outside Hearthline Noodle House for a long time.This place held too many memories of Natalie and me.Whenever I worked at the noodle station, she would stand quietly beside me with tears gathering in her eyes."Daniel, thank you. Thank you for supporting every decision I have ever made. I never would have made it this far without you."When overwork made me sick, she stayed awake through the night, gripping my hand tightly."Please get better. If anything happens
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Chapter 8
The realization struck her.Pain clenched Natalie's heart, and tears slid down her cheeks.No.She had to find Daniel. She had to tell him how deeply she loved him.She had to explain everything and save the relationship she had destroyed with her own hands.With that thought, she reached for her phone to book a flight, only to realize she did not know where Daniel's hometown was.All these years, she had never cared enough to ask.She called one friend after another until someone finally gave her the address in Willowbrook, New Albion.Natalie booked the earliest available flight.Then she rushed toward Bellmere Regional Airport.Meanwhile, I had just pushed open the gate to my mother's small house in Willowbrook.A second later, she hurried toward me with an uneven step.My gaze fell on the white bandage wrapped around her left foot.My eyes reddened before I could stop them."How did you hurt yourself? Why didn't you tell me? I knew nothing."My mother wrapped me in a
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Chapter 9
When I still said nothing, Natalie pulled out her phone and called Caleb in front of me.Before he could say a word, she spoke with sudden determination."Caleb, don't contact me again. I don't love you. Daniel is the only person I love."Then she ended the call without hesitation and looked at me with cautious hope.I laughed softly.My voice remained calm."Natalie, you seem to have forgotten that I once had a promising career. I resigned because of you."You said you could not adjust to life at the university. You could not eat or sleep, and you wanted me beside you all the time. You asked me to leave my job. I believed you, abandoned everything, and moved across the country."Wherever your studies took you, I followed. For seven years, I paid for your food, clothing, housing, and everything else. You had only one responsibility: pursue your dream with everything you had."You are close to achieving that dream now, but you seem to have forgotten who made it possible for you
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