15 Days Before I Left Him Chapter 18
Two years later, Chicago Airport.
Genevieve pushed her luggage, turning her head from time to time to observe the changes happening around her.
She had not expected that the first experimental research in the laboratory would take two whole years.
Fortunately, the final results were perfect, and Colton had given them a full two months off. Now, she finally set foot on Chicago soil once again. For a moment, she felt emotional; it had been two years since she left this city.
But what was different was…
Genevieve’s gaze softened considerably when it landed on Derek’s excited figure beside her. The difference was that two years ago, she had left alone. But two years later, she returned with someone by her side. And this time, there was also an important matter to accomplish.
Derek glanced at the time, hurriedly grabbed her wrist, and started jogging with her. “Genevieve, if we don’t hurry up, we’ll be late!”
When Adrianna heard that Genevieve was coming back to Chicago, she insisted without hesitation on throwing her a welcome party. After two years apart, friends needed a proper reunion. Genevieve missed her old friends very much, so she agreed. The welcome party was scheduled for the day she and Derek landed.
By the time they reached the restaurant entrance, it was already the agreed-upon time. Derek pulled Genevieve along as they hurried inside.
Genevieve was not sure if it was just her imagination, but she seemed to catch a glimpse of a familiar figure while going up the stairs. But she did not think much of it, assuming she had been in too much of a rush and seen wrong. Right now, finding the private room was more important.
On the other side, Anthony clutched his chest, his eyes brimming with excitement, his whole being overwhelmed by the joy of regaining what was lost. It had been two years. He had waited for two whole years and finally saw Genevieve again.
No one knew how he had spent those endless nights alone in that empty house over the past two years. At first, he suffered from insomnia night after night. Even when he finally drifted off in a daze, the first thing he did upon waking was subconsciously call Genevieve’s name. But the only response he received was a room full of loneliness. No one would make him breakfast anymore, nor would anyone wait for him to come home.
He searched every corner of the house but could not find a single item related to Genevieve. Even the couple’s pajamas he had once bought were gone. All he could do was place that calendar by his bedside. Even though it bore Genevieve’s breakup notice, it was the only thing she had left him.
Moreover, he stubbornly believed that as long as he did not agree, they would not break up. As long as he saw Genevieve again, he would explain everything to her, tell her that he had only mistaken his savior, that he had completely ended things with Dorothy, and that the child was gone. He thought that after being by her side for twenty years, Genevieve would not let go so easily.
He had been waiting for her to come back, wanting to tell her everything in his heart. That way, they could reconcile. Finally, after two years, fate gave him this chance.
But when Anthony thought of the young man beside Genevieve just now, he felt that their relationship seemed quite close. However, he vaguely heard the young man call her Genevieve. Two years ago, Genevieve had gone to Colton’s laboratory; that young man was probably just her classmate.
Thinking of this, Anthony felt much more at ease. Watching them enter the restaurant, Anthony followed after them.
As soon as Genevieve opened the private room door with Derek, there was a loud bang. Colorful streamers rained down on them from all directions. Adrianna walked up, smiling as she grabbed Genevieve’s hand and acted playfully.
“Not a single letter in two years! If I hadn’t known you went to the lab, I would have gone to the police to file a missing person report.”
Everyone in the private room burst into laughter, teasing her from all sides.
“That’s right, after you said you were canceling the wedding two years ago, you just vanished! If Adrianna hadn’t told us, we wouldn’t have known. That’s not cool at all.”
“Exactly, you didn’t tell us anything. And now you’re late to your own welcome party—you must be punished!”
“Yes, tonight we won’t leave until we’re drunk! Let’s have a blast!”
Derek had never met Genevieve’s childhood friends before, so he felt a bit uneasy, worried that her friends might not like him. Genevieve sensed Derek’s nervousness beside her and quietly held his hand. Their eyes met, and Derek immediately felt much more at ease. Seeing her friends genuinely happy for her return, Genevieve was deeply moved.
However, she needed to introduce Derek to everyone first. She cleared her throat, raised her hand intertwined with Derek’s, and announced loudly.
“By the way, this time I’m back to introduce you to my junior, Derek.” She paused, then continued, “He is also my fiancé.”
Originally, Genevieve thought that after her relationship with Anthony, it would be hard for her to start a new romance. She had even prepared herself to devote her life to scientific research. But unexpectedly, during these two years, Derek gradually entered her heart.
Derek and Anthony were completely different. If Anthony was a stone that could never be warmed, then Derek was a little sun radiating warmth. It was from Derek that she truly understood what it meant to like someone, what real love was.
So, two months ago, on the anniversary of their first year together, Derek proposed to her, and they agreed to hold the wedding after the experiment ended.
Everyone looked at each other and then erupted into thunderous cheers.
“Well, well, you said you were doing experiments but were secretly dating, huh!”
“Fiancé?! When is the wedding? I want to be a bridesmaid!”
“Me too!”
The joyful atmosphere made Derek’s slightly tense mood relax a lot. Genevieve smiled and was about to announce the wedding date when a trembling voice sounded behind her.
“He is your fiancé, then what about me?”
