It was a cowardly thing to do—hiding away—but at this point, I had to start picking up my life again.
That night, I woke up several times, checking my phone most of the time. It was sickening, but I kept hoping that he might’ve messaged me, wondering where I was. Alas, I never got a missed call or a message.
That was a big indicator that he was done with me.
It was time to let him go.
After the burial tomorrow, I was putting Callum and my life with him behind me and starting anew.
Chapter 26
Stella
When the burial took place quietly without a hitch, I wasn’t in their line of sight, but I watched from a distance, which was just enough to see Callum and Zara.
It was an intimate ceremony with about fifty people. As I scanned the unfamiliar faces, I noted that Callum’s mother and grandmother were not present. I didn’t know anyone here, and for that I was relieved.
Zara clung on to him while I watched as he murmured into her ear.
There was no question in my mind that something was going on between the two. It was the way he touched her. Yes, he was touching her now.
I was glad that our “fake” engagement was never confirmed. This would’ve been embarrassing for the both of us.
I didn’t know how I would get through it all without breaking a tear because the entire somber theme that surrounded me definitely matched how I was inside. Dead. Bleak.
Anyhow, I pedaled through the ordeal with great hardship, but I got through it; thank goodness.
The burial was followed by a reception in a nearby hotel, I was contemplating if I should even bother, but when I saw that Callum was checking his phone before he joined Zara in the tinted chauffeured car, I decided to approach him and say my goodbyes. There was no point in prolonging the inevitable was there?
At first, he didn’t see me approach. It was only when I cleared my throat a few feet away, loud enough for him to hear that someone was waiting for him, that he spun around and saw me standing there. He cut the call with Brian, his PA.
“Hey, are you coming to the reception?” Callum inquired, not bothering to come over and kiss my cheek or any sort of greeting at all. Wasn’t it only a few days ago that I shared his bed? Yeah, he got the award for the biggest tool of the year.
I didn’t need for them to flaunt their rekindled relationship right in front of me. Besides, if I saw Zara giving me triumphant looks, I might just rip her a new one. So for everyone’s sake, it was best to leave from here.
“No, I have to get back.” I fidgeted with my hands a bit. It didn’t escape my notice that we were acting all weird and rather awkward. Sigh. “Well, I‘ve got to get going. Take care.” I pressed my lips together and gave him a bland smile.
“Wait, Stella—”
I frowned. “Yeah?”
He was looking away, then his gaze landed on his shoe, then my shoe and then whatever was behind me. “Could we talk later? I have to go back to Zara now, but I’m hoping we could talk soon?”
My heart ached. I love you… but you will never know, I sadly thought as I looked at him.
Callum couldn’t even manage to look me in the eye. Talk? Sure, I was so certain he really wanted to talk.
His frown deepened. “Stella, I’m sorry, but this is really difficult for me. Zara needs me right now and I…”
…want to be with her, too, I finished the sentence in my head. I meant nothing to him.
We were nothing.
With a small nod, I understood him fully. “Of course. See you around, Callum Kensington.” I started walking away, not looking back at him.
Since work was the last thing on my mind, I walked around London. I ended up right outside of Foxtons. A nice chatty bloke my age started inquiring if I was looking to let or buy a flat and somehow—I vaguely remembered all the events—I ended up buying myself a three-bedroom flat in Hyde Park Gardens.
The more I thought about the place, the more I felt better. The flat was spacious and airy with white walls, large windows and wood flooring. The view of the park was gorgeous, but not only that, the flat had that homey feel I connected with the moment I entered its door. I suppose, it was what I needed. I needed to make a home—a home of my own—away from my real home, St. Lucia.
Since I was buying it cash, I was hoping the closing deal wouldn’t take as long as twelve weeks. As much as I loved living with my best friend, I thought it was time to have my own place. We were advancing into that age that needed more stability in all aspects of our lives, be it in our personal or career wise.
It was a day of new things. I was exhausted, but there was still one more task I had to finish before I could go home and call it a day.
Last stop, Chelsea, Callum’s home. I needed to get some of my things, important things like my mum’s jewelry and other things that held value to me. The rest of my wardrobe I planned to have shipped back to me.
I was relieved to find his house empty. There was a big part of me thinking that Zara had moved in and had all of my things thrown out, but I was surprised that my items remained as they were, untouched.
Gathering my important baubles, it didn’t take me that long to finish up as I carefully placed them inside my purse.
“It was fun while it lasted,” I murmured into the walk-in closet that had my belongings in it. As I was walking out, I wasn’t expecting to find Callum in the bedroom, waiting.
Chapter 27
Callum
I was rubbing the back of my neck as I entered my bedroom, pausing when I heard noise coming out of the closets. Stella was here?
“It was fun while it lasted,” she spoke, dispirited.
Her voice tugged at me. I was sure she was feeling like I was throwing her out, but it wasn’t like that at all. I was more than confused, being pulled in all directions. There was so much to be done. Even after burying my father, there was still his company to sort out. Not to mention Zara’s clingy pleas and demands, thousands of employees worried if they still had a job, my mother’s constant blabbers and the list just kept on growing. The only person who was in my life before all this happened, was the only one who wasn’t demanding anything. It proved what a great woman she was, but at the same time, it seemed that she was willing to move on from me.
I didn’t blame her. Things between Zara and I were complicated. I wasn’t even sure where to begin. As much as I pondered about where Zara and I were heading to, the thought of saying goodbye to Stella didn’t sit well with me, either. I knew I couldn’t have both and that I had to let someone go, but I was dreading the thought of not seeing Stella again. I cared for her, I truly did.