Where Destiny Forgot Us 23

Where Destiny Forgot Us 23 Summary

Chase arrives furious, having spent the day expecting Nora to apologize, but instead receives a legal notice accusing him of damaging Dominic and Nora’s reputations. He lashes out, claiming Nora belongs to him and insulting Dominic, who calmly defends his love for Nora and dismisses Chase’s accusations. Later, Nora gathers courage and agrees to give Dominic a chance, leading to their engagement being planned. Chase is devastated and angry upon hearing the news, realizing Nora is moving on without him.

 

At the engagement party, Nora and Dominic face whispers and judgment from the crowd due to Nora’s past with Chase. When Chase sends a humiliating message, Nora boldly reveals the painful truth about her history with Chase—the neglect, abuse, and betrayal she endured. Dominic supports her, and her honest confession shifts the crowd’s attitude from scorn to sympathy. The party continues smoothly, and the next day Nora receives sunflowers from strangers, symbolizing growing support.

 

Chase appears unexpectedly, presenting eleven sunflowers for their anniversary, but Nora coldly rejects him, affirming her new relationship with Dominic and demanding he stop bothering her. Despite Chase’s desperate pleas and promises to change, Nora remains unmoved, recognizing that his regrets come too late and that her heart has already healed from their past. She walks away, leaving Chase behind.

 

Nora and Dominic retreat to a mountain lodge, where Dominic lovingly cares for her, allowing her to experience being cherished rather than the caregiver she was with Chase. Overwhelmed by the contrast, Nora embraces the healing love Dominic offers. Their tender moment is interrupted when Chase confronts them, his anger turning to terror as a heavy sign falls on him, causing a severe injury.

Chapter 15

Chase burst into the room, his anger blazing like a wildfire.

He had spent the entire day waiting, convinced that Nora would come to him, apologizing and begging for forgiveness. But instead of an apology, what landed in his hands was a cold legal notice from the lawyers representing the Faulkner Group.

The accusation? That he had tarnished the reputations of Dominic and his fiancée.

It was absolute nonsense.

“Nora belongs to me—past, present, and future,” he yelled, his voice thick with rage. “Dominic Faulkner, you’re nothing but a side piece. A shameless homewrecker!”

“You’ve seen the pictures, haven’t you? She’s already been in my bed. You’re just picking up my leftovers. You disgust me!”

Nora’s cheeks flushed with a mix of shame and fury, her heart pounding fiercely. Suddenly, a tall figure stepped forward, positioning himself protectively in front of her.

Dominic stood firm, shielding her with his presence.

“I love Nora,” he declared calmly. “All of her—past and present. Your words don’t affect me.”

He paused, then added with icy resolve, “If anything, they reveal just how low you truly are.”

Chase’s fury nearly strangled him, his breath catching in his throat.

Nora’s eyes glistened, red-rimmed with emotion.

That evening, back in the quiet of her home, Nora found herself staring intently at Dominic’s sharp jawline. She took a deep breath, gathering every ounce of courage she could muster.

“So… about what you said earlier,” she murmured hesitantly, “maybe we could… give it a try.”

Dominic blinked in surprise. “Try what?”

Her face flushed a deep crimson. “You said I should give you a chance… so, I’m saying yes.”

It wasn’t until she caught the teasing curve of his smile that she realized she’d been gently coaxed into this moment.

Flustered, she turned abruptly to leave—only to collide with his solid chest.

“You said it,” he whispered, his voice low and teasing. “No backing out now.”

Three days later, the engagement party was officially planned.

When Chase caught wind of the news, his body froze in disbelief.

First came shock, then the burning fire of rage.

She was truly going to marry someone else.

She would never be his wife again.

He clenched his eyes shut tightly, but the tears slipped free regardless.

On the day of the engagement, Nora wore a sleek white cocktail dress. Dominic stood proudly beside her, his hand firmly clasping hers, his face glowing with happiness.

Their joy was interrupted when their eyes fell upon a wedding gown displayed prominently in the main hall—and both of them froze.

A whisper floated through the crowd. “Isn’t that the gown Mr. Whitmore’s ex-wife wore at their wedding?”

“Shhh! Didn’t you hear? The woman engaged to Mr. Faulkner today is Mr. Whitmore’s ex-wife. Looks like he couldn’t handle it and decided to crash the party.”

“Tsk tsk, seems the rumors were true. She jumped right into Faulkner’s arms after the divorce. What a move…”

Nora staggered, her body rigid with shock.

Her phone buzzed sharply in her pocket.

A message from Chase Whitmore appeared:

[Feeling humiliated yet? Call off the engagement, and I’ll come pick you up myself.]

She almost laughed, but it was the bitter kind born of fury.

Even now, Chase believed he was her savior—offering her an escape as if it were some kind of favor.

But in that moment, fear no longer held her captive.

Stepping forward, her voice steady despite the trembling in her hands, she faced the crowd.

Then, in front of everyone, she spoke—laying bare every painful detail of her past with Chase.

Why he married her in the first place.

How he had neglected her for years.

How Camila had come between them.

How he had abused her, time and time again.

By the time she finished, her legs wobbled beneath her, sorrow crashing over her like a relentless tide.

A warm hand found hers.

Dominic stood by her side, his gaze steady and filled with reassurance.

His presence gave her the strength to continue.

“Yes,” she said clearly, “I fell in love with Dominic after my divorce from Chase. It’s real. It’s honest. And it’s mine.”

“If that’s worthy of judgment, then what about Chase? He betrayed me first. He humiliated and hurt me. Does that make him a saint? Or just a coward who hurts the woman he once vowed to protect?”

A heavy silence blanketed the room.

Only the buzzing of her phone broke the stillness.

Without hesitation, she switched it off.

The crowd’s attitude shifted.

Disdain softened into sympathy.

Scorn melted into admiration.

The engagement party went on without a single hitch.

The next morning, as Nora walked to work, a stranger approached her and handed her a single sunflower.

She blinked in surprise, murmuring a quiet thank you.

A few steps later, another stranger offered her one more.

By the time she reached her office, she was holding eleven sunflowers.

Just as she was about to toss them into the trash, a voice startled her.

“Surprise!”

Chase suddenly appeared, grinning foolishly.

He looked terrible—unshaven, worn out, clearly sleep-deprived—but still, his smile was wide and hopeful.

“Today is our eighth anniversary,” he said, holding out the flowers. “Eleven sunflowers—for one heart, one soul, one love. Still mine, Nora. Do you like them?”

Nora didn’t hesitate. She threw the bouquet straight into the garbage.

“We’re divorced,” she said, her tone icy. “I have a fiancé now, and we love each other. I’m happy. Please stop bothering me.”

Turning to leave, she was stopped when Chase grabbed her wrist.

“Don’t go, Nora!”

Desperation shone in his eyes. “You used to say I never remembered the important days. But look—I remembered this one. Nora, I can change. I’ll fix everything, okay?”

His voice shook, humble to the point of pleading.

Nora felt nothing but bitter amusement.

So he did know what mattered to her. What she needed.

He just never cared enough before.

Only now—after she had left—did he finally remember.

But her heart was already broken beyond repair.

What good were regrets when love had long since died?

Without another glance, she walked away.

A few days later, Nora and Dominic escaped to a secluded mountain lodge.

Dominic played the perfect fiancé, taking care of everything himself. Yet Nora felt a flicker of unease watching him rush from task to task.

“You don’t have to—really, I can manage,” she said softly.

But Dominic gently guided her back into her chair. “Future Mrs. Faulkner, your only job today is to be pampered. As your fiancé, that’s my duty.”

Then he turned and resumed his work.

A lump formed in Nora’s throat.

With Chase, she had always been the giver.

If he was thirsty, she poured his water.

If he was hungry, she cooked for him.

If he forgot important documents, she delivered them—even though he had a full staff.

When he was sick, she cared for him around the clock.

She had grown accustomed to sacrificing, to serving, to being the caregiver.

She had forgotten what it felt like to simply be loved.

But now, in this quiet mountain air, she realized she could be cherished too.

Her eyes welled with tears as emotions overwhelmed her.

Without a word, she wrapped her arms around Dominic.

Under the soft whisper of the mountain breeze, their lips met in a kiss both tender and healing.

That evening, as they prepared to leave, they encountered Chase at the lodge entrance.

The moment he saw Dominic holding Nora’s hand, his face darkened with fury.

“You—”

But before he could finish, his eyes widened in terror.

“Nora—get down!”

Before she could react, he shoved her violently aside.

She hit the ground just as a heavy sign crashed down.

It landed squarely on Chase.

He collapsed immediately.

Blood blossomed across the grass in a vivid crimson pool.