He Never Ran Out of Words—Just for Me Chapter 02
At midnight, the moment my head hit the pillow, Garrett’s phone lit up with a sharp chime—a text.
Before I could say a word, he grabbed his jacket and bolted. His retreating back was absolute and unyielding.
I kept watch over the empty room.
I unlocked my phone, watched the screen go dark, and unlocked it again.
Our chat log was a graveyard.
I meticulously scrolled through our past conversations.
Amidst the massive blocks of green text I had sent, his responses were nothing but a few dismissive words: “Yeah,” “K,” “Haha.”
That night, I stayed awake until the sun came up.
The next day, my fever spiked to 104°F. I called in sick to work.
I texted Garrett, but got no reply. I called, but it went straight to voicemail.
By the third day, the fever broke slightly. I dragged my exhausted body back into the office.
The moment Janice saw me, her eyebrows knitted tightly. “Hannah, are you okay? Your eyes are completely swollen and dark. Do you need to take another day off?”
I forced a weak smile. “I’m fine, Janice.”
She sighed deeply.
“Are you really going to pass up the Metro Fashion District design position? You studied in France, Hannah. Spending your life as a basic design assistant… are you truly content with that?”
Before this, because of Garrett, I had never allowed myself to think about contentment.
Being an assistant was a waste of my talent, but it meant leaving work early and taking care of our home.
But now, staring at that dead chat log on my screen, I suddenly asked myself: was this sacrifice actually worth it?
“Janice, let me think about it a little more.”
Her eyes ignited instantly. “Yes! Think it over properly. We still have a week left. The moment you change your mind, let me know.”
As she reached the door, she turned back with a solemn look. “Hannah, do not let this opportunity slip away again.”
I was caught in an agonizing spiral of hesitation.
Suddenly, a breaking notification popped up on my phone: #FormerTechFounderReturns, Saving the Company from the Brink of Bankruptcy.
In the attached photo, Garrett stood tall and commanding in a flawless suit.
The sloppy, careless gamer look was completely gone.
Standing right beside him was Vivian, looking striking and sophisticated.
The fire in his eyes had returned.
The comment section was updating at lightning speed.
[Garrett is still an absolute powerhouse! A few sentences and he completely revived the firm!]
[It’s been seven years, but he and Vivian still look so perfect together!]
[If this isn’t a rekindled flame, I don’t know what is. I heard Vivian just got a divorce!]
[Wait, isn’t Garrett married? Honestly, anyone would choose Vivian over his wife. She’s gorgeous, fierce, and can actually build an empire with him!]
[Garrett needs to file for divorce and get back with her already. They are literally endgame!]
…
Every single word felt like a needle driving deep into my already shattered heart.
I remembered five years ago, right after we got married, when I was laid off through a corporate restructuring.
My job hunt was nothing but a string of slammed doors.
I had asked Garrett to look over my resume, but he was always “too busy.”
I asked him to do a mock interview with me so I could practice, but he had just snapped impatiently, “Hannah, you know I hate talking. Stop pushing me.”
My interviews had turned out to be an utter disaster.
Eventually, it took a mutual connection just to land me my current assistant job.
Yet here he was, speaking with effortless eloquence in front of the cameras. He looked so foreign I felt like I had never known him at all.
My phone vibrated.
After forty-eight hours of total radio silence, Garrett finally sent a message.
[Hannah, things were crazy the other night when I left.]
[The issue is resolved. I’ll be back tomorrow.]
[Are you feeling any better?]
As it turned out, his emergencies never had anything to do with me.
His crumbs of concern were only handed out after he was entirely finished playing savior to Vivian.
I didn’t reply with a single word.