All Chapters of Ten Days to Goodbye: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

Tears streamed down Finley Morton's face. Grief and shock poured from his eyes as he kept murmuring under his breath, "How could this happen?"I couldn't answer him because I didn't know either.All I could say was, "You won't be happy if you marry her, Finley. Promise me you won't."He wiped away his tears and looked at me with bloodshot eyes."But she's not with me right now. She went to Redstone County to ask a reclusive miracle doctor to treat my legs."I froze.Right.I'd almost forgotten.Back then, a racing accident had crushed both of my legs so badly that I could barely stand.Claire suffered even more than I did. She stayed by my bedside night after night, changing my bandages and massaging my legs until dawn.Then, by chance, we heard about a reclusive miracle doctor living in Redstone County who might be able to help me.Without a second thought, she left to find him.She waited outside his cabin for three days without food or water. By the time he finally agree

People all around me were stealing glances my way.Some looked at me with sympathy. Others were openly enjoying the spectacle.I ignored every last one of them. Keeping my eyes forward, I walked into the main house and handed Grandpa O'Neill his birthday gift."Happy eightieth birthday, Grandpa. Wishing you many more years of good health."He smiled warmly. "Thank you, I appreciate it."Claire came in a moment later, standing shoulder to shoulder with Kenneth. The two of them looked far more like a happily married couple than we ever did.Grandpa O'Neill paused. Then he took Claire's hand and mine, placing them together."So? When are you two going to give me a great-grandchild?"We both froze.I pulled my hand away first. Ignoring Claire's surprised look, I said, "Grandpa, Claire and I...""Finley." Claire cut me off before turning back to Grandpa with a smile. "Don't worry. It won't be long."Grandpa burst into laughter.Claire grabbed my wrist and pulled me into the back

Claire's mind was in complete chaos. She stared at Grandpa O'Neill's deeply furrowed brow, utterly confused."Grandpa, what are you talking about? What do you mean we haven't seen each other in ten years?"Kenneth's eyes reddened with hurt.Grandpa O'Neill patted his hand before turning back to Claire, his face dark with anger."Claire, let me make one thing perfectly clear. The O'Neills don't tolerate people who can't stay faithful to their marriage."Claire was completely stunned. Her lips parted, but she didn't even know where to begin.Grandpa O'Neill let out a cold snort."The Finley you're still hung up on? Ten years ago, you finally found a doctor to save his legs, and he dumped you the moment he recovered. Have you forgotten that?"It felt like a bolt of lightning struck her. The whole thing was absurd."Dumped me? Grandpa, have you lost your mind? Finley and I have been married for ten years! Weren't you always so fond of him?"Kenneth finally broke down crying. "Cla

Spring gave way to summer, then autumn, then winter. To me, time was nothing more than the rhythm of sunrise and sunset, the ebb and flow of the tide.Before I knew it, five years had passed.The memories I still had of Claire had faded into scattered fragments. The happiness we'd once shared had long since drifted away like smoke.All that remained was the pain she'd left behind after that accidental video call five years ago. Thankfully, I could start over.I took my phone from my bag and dialed the familiar number out of habit.This time, no one answered.Ever since our final conversation five years ago, history had corrected itself.The call that had once connected me to my younger self would never go through again.I let out a quiet sigh, slipped the phone back into my bag, and reached for the other one as it buzzed.The moment I read the message, my expression softened.[Off work yet? I'm outside waiting for you.][I brought your favorite pastries.]Without a second t