Ditching Me for His 'Soulmate'? His Loss. Next Stop: My New Life novel Chapter 104

Chapter 7

Nate kept his distance from every conversation that night, worried that Zoe might cause another scene if he got involved. He remained quiet, avoiding any chance to stir up trouble or draw attention. Several people approached him for brief chats, but he kept his replies curt and polite, eager to stay under the radar.

Most of the evening, he settled into a shadowed corner on a worn couch, nursing one drink after another. The dim lighting and soft hum of distant chatter created a muted backdrop, but Nate’s mind was far from at ease. His gaze often drifted toward the exit, silently counting down the minutes until he could leave.

When the event finally wound down, he made a quick, almost mechanical farewell to the hosts, his voice tight and hurried. Without waiting for a proper goodbye, he practically bolted out the door, desperate to escape the suffocating atmosphere.

As soon as he crossed the threshold of his own home, the alcohol’s effects crashed over him in a wave. The room spun slightly, and he had to steady himself by pressing his back against the wall. He stumbled inside, the quiet house feeling unusually cold and empty.

“Sophia, water,” he called out, his voice hoarse.

Only silence answered him.

He lifted his head, eyes adjusting to the dark living room. Of course—Sophia had left with their son yesterday.

He flipped on the overhead lights, the harsh brightness making the emptiness of the space even more pronounced. Slowly, he wandered into the kitchen, the tile floor cold beneath his bare feet. Opening the fridge, he reached for a can of soda.

That’s when he noticed it—an array of colorful stickers plastered across the fridge door. Cartoon characters, superheroes, animals—all the kinds of things Leo adored.

Nate stared at them for a long moment, a strange warmth creeping into his chest. Usually, he found those childish decorations irritating, but tonight, they made him smile softly.

He could almost picture Leo sneaking into his office again, clutching a picture book. The little boy tiptoeing over as if on a secret mission.

“Daddy, will you read this with me?”

Nate’s hand froze mid-air, soda forgotten. What had he said back then?

“I’m busy. No time.”

That memory stabbed sharply at his heart, a pang of regret so sudden it took his breath away.

Without thinking, he pulled out his phone and typed a message to me.

Send me the address. I’ll come get you two tomorrow.

But then he hesitated, deleting the text and rewriting it.

Where are you and our son staying? I’ll come pick you both up tomorrow.

He exhaled deeply and pressed send.

Seconds later, a cold notification popped up.

Sophia Hart has enabled friend verification. You are not on their contact list. Please send a friend request before messaging.

The soda can slipped from his fingers, clattering to the floor and fizzing out across the tiles.

Nate’s face twisted in frustration. He quickly opened the company Slack group, scrolling through the list of members.

Scrolling again.

Nothing.

Hundreds of employees, and yet no sign of Sophia.

Had she left the group?

“Two mornings ago,” Olivia explained quickly. “She said her husband’s been reassigned to Australia, and she wants to join him with their son. Maybe take some time to study too. She was very firm about it.”

“I went ahead and filed the paperwork—didn’t you know?”

Nate gripped the phone so tightly his knuckles whitened.

He almost laughed bitterly.

Since when did Sophia have a husband in Australia?

He opened his mouth, ready to erupt with questions, but a small voice interrupted from Olivia’s end.

“Daddy, why aren’t you watching TV with me yet?”

Olivia’s tone softened instantly.

“Almost done, sweetie. Just a minute, okay?”

It was remarkable—how every parent’s voice softened when speaking to their child.

Nate stood there, listening to the gentle exchange over the phone.

And once again, Leo’s face emerged in his mind.

He used to have that kind of life too—a full, happy family.

But somehow, he had lost it all.