After This Life, We’ll Never Meet Again 6

She flinched, clearly rattled, and pointed with a shaking hand. “The morgue. They took her down to the morgue.”>

My heart seized. My face turned as pale as a ghost.”

I raced down stairs to the morgue, pushing past the staff who were preparing the body. My hands trembled as I yanked the white sheet

back.

“Don’t touch her,” I shouted, my voice raw, almost breaking.

I shoved people aside, bracing myself for the worst.

But then I saw the body and froze. Blinked.§

It wasn’t Avery.

Relief hit me like a tidal wave. You could see it on me instantly. My shoulders slumped. My eyes softened. I didn’t even need a second

look to know.

Thomas stepped forward, apologizing repeatedly, “I’m so sorry, sir. We made a mistake. It wasn’t her. Miss Avery probably just went

home.”

I stood there, stunned, my phone still clutched tight. I tried calling her–no answer.

That’s when it hit me.

Avery was always the one who called first. Always the one chasing, the one staying.”

And now, besides her contact number, I had no way to find her.”

…D

Avery’s POV

By that time, I’d already opened my eyes in the lab. Just long enough to see the sterile white ceiling, and then I was gone again.”

My body crashed, and my mind dropped straight into a strange, long dream.}

In it, I heard Eleanor’s voice calling out:>

“Kevin, get back here! Avery’s things… all of them are gone!“}

I watched as Kevin received the text, and without even finishing the message, he bolted out of the house like someone lit a fire under him. He tripped halfway down the steps and nearly face–planted.}

And I stood there, watching it all from the outside, sneering a little.

‘Kevin, panicking over me? Really?‘}

He tore through every room in the house. Ripped open closets, flipped over drawers. But I’d made sure.}

There wasn’t a single trace of me left. No photos. No clothes. No notes. Not even a paperclip.

Gone.❞

Finally, he sank onto the couch, head in his hands.}

He stayed like that, silent, motionless, and completely empty.

Avery’s POV

I think it really worked this time. Kevin gets to have the life he always wanted, and for once, it doesn’t come at the cost of mine. And me? I finally stopped holding on to someone who was never mine to begin with. I let him go, fully and completely, without looking back. And that felt more like freedom than loss.

Even now, drifting in this strange, fractured dream, half–conscious and half outside myself, I could still see everything as if I were watching the world through one–way glass.}]

I saw the living room I used to call home. Kevin was sitting there, acting like nothing mattered. And I saw the exact moment Eleanor said my name.

“You’re always out with Tiffany. No wonder Avery left,” she said, offhand but sharp.

Kevin’s head snapped up the second he heard it.”

Then he smirked and said, “Oh, Avery’s whining again? What’s she pulling this time? Another one of her pity parties? Just ignore her. She’ll crawl back once she’s done throwing her tantrum.”}

Kevin scoffed. “That’s all she ever does. Same tired tricks.”

Eleanor stared at him like he’d just grown a second head.”

“Excuse me?” she snapped. “Whining? Avery’s never once asked you for more than you were willing to give. Everything she’s done has been for you. But you’re too wrapped up in that manipulative little fox to even notice.”

“She gave you everything. And you threw it away like it meant nothing. Meanwhile, you’re worshiping a woman who’s been playing you like a fool. Honestly? It’s a good thing Avery left. At least she’s not wasting her time on you anymore.“>

Gregory shook his head and let out a long, heavy sigh.}

You never treated her right, Kevin,” he said quietly. “Not once. Not through all these years. And all because of some woman like Tiffany. You’ve been nothing but a fool.“}

Then he looked away and added, almost to himself, “Still, it’s probably for the best. At least we won’t be dragging Avery down anymore.

Mather This Life We’ll Never Meet Again

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9.38 PM

LIENT LOCK UNICE Ses done nowiny nei tantium. A

Kevin scoffed. “That’s all she ever does. Same tired tricks.”

Eleanor stared at him like he’d just grown a second head.}

“Excuse me?” she snapped. “Whining? Avery’s never once asked you for more than you were willing to give. Everything she’s done has been for you. But you’re too wrapped up in that manipulative little fox to even notice.”}

“She gave you everything. And you threw it away like it meant nothing. Meanwhile, you’re worshiping a woman who’s been playing you like a fool. Honestly? It’s a good thing Avery left. At least she’s not wasting her time on you anymore.“>

Gregory shook his head and let out a long, heavy sigh.”

“You never treated her right, Kevin,” he said quietly. “Not once. Not through all these years. And all because of some woman like Tiffany. You’ve been nothing but a fool.”

Then he looked away and added, almost to himself, “Still, it’s probably for the best. At least we won’t be dragging Avery down anymore. Guess we just weren’t lucky enough to keep someone like her in this family.”

Kevin’s face darkened, and his jaw clenched tight.

“That’s Avery, isn’t it?” he snapped. “She’s been feeding you this nonsense, and you actually bought it?”

He let out a bitter laugh. “I knew it. She’s always hated Tiffany and acted like she was too good for all this, trying to guilt me into marrying her like she’s some saint. Well, she’s gone now. Good. Let her stay gone. I’ve got a life to build–with Tiffany and the baby. I don’t need her coming back and ruining everything.“”

His words cut sharply, but for a brief moment, I caught it–the flicker of panic in his eyes. His hands trembled slightly.”

I wasn’t anger, pride, or guilt.

It was fear.

Kevin was scared I’d come back and tear everything apart.}

But he didn’t need to worry. I had no plans to return. I’d done what I came to do.”

This time, he and I were done.

Eleanor was so furious she could barely breathe. Without a word, she pulled out the report I had given her and threw it at Kevin.”

The report landed in his lap.

I’d told her not to show it to him unless necessary, but I hadn’t expected ‘necessary‘ to come this fast.}

I watched Kevin’s fingers shake as he flipped through the pages, and even though I’d promised myself I was done, a wave of sorrow still

washed over me.

No one knew better than I did how much he truly loved Tiffany.”

That love, at least, was real.

But the woman he loved? She had spiraled a long time ago.”

Back in college, Tiffany ran with the wrong crowd. She was always chasing money, attention, and anything flashy. It was always about who had more, who could give more. She was a professional at knowing exactly how far to push and when to charm.”

Kevin? He was just another prize.

And when she decided to become a celebrity, she didn’t hesitate to climb over people or into their beds to get what she wanted.}

Kevin’s eyes went red. He stormed straight into Tiffany’s hospital room and threw the report onto her lap.}

Tiffany’s face went pale. She froze, lips parting, breath catching in her throat.”

Then, barely above a whisper, she said, “Kevin… please. It’s not what it looks like. Someone’s trying to set me up. You know me. You know what we’ve been through together. Don’t let this ruin that.”

Kevin didn’t say a word.

Instead, he grabbed her by the throat, tight enough that her eyes widened in panic. He didn’t squeeze, but it was close.

Then he laughed, bitter and broken.

“I hurt Avery again and again for you,” he said, voice shaking. “I made her give you blood. And this is who you are?“}}

He let go and stepped back like he couldn’t even stand to be near her.”

“You’d better pray I find her,” he said, low and dangerous. “Because if I don’t, you’re going to wish you never met me.”

Then something caught his eye.}}

Kevin’s gaze landed on the sapphire necklace resting against Tiffany’s collarbone. He stared at it. His pupils dilated, his face went pale, and he stumbled backward like he’d been punched.

Then, all at once, it hit him.

“She wanted that necklace so badly…” he muttered. “Why did I give it to her? I told her I wouldn’t… I promised her…”

Tiffany started coughing, a sharp rasp of laughter slipping through.

She gave him a dark, bitter smile. “Kevin, you are such a goddamn hypocrite. You think I’m the one who destroyed Avery? You did that all by yourself. I was just your excuse.”