Ditching Me for His 'Soulmate'? His Loss. Next Stop: My New Life novel Chapter 106

Chapter 9

Australia.

This morning marked Leo’s very first day at his new school.

I woke up early, carefully packing his backpack, making sure everything was just right.

We had only been in this new place for two days.

But truthfully, this move wasn’t a last-minute decision.

Months ago, I had already started planning for this moment.

About six months back, I reached out to an old friend who lived here.

I asked him to help me find a house and secure a spot for Leo in a good school.

I hadn’t expected to move so soon, but I’ve always been someone who prepares well in advance.

Looking back now, I’m thankful I did.

Otherwise, I would have been completely overwhelmed.

And to be fair, Nate never held back financially.

At least, he wasn’t stingy when we were married.

I watched Leo climb up onto the school bus, his small frame settling into a seat.

I zipped up my jacket against the cool morning air and began to turn away.

Then—

“Sophia.”

The voice stopped me in my tracks.

I recognized it immediately.

I turned slowly.

There stood Nate.

He looked older, wearier.

His shirt was rumpled, his jaw unshaven.

Yet, despite everything, he still carried that same effortless charm.

That charm was exactly why I fell for him in the first place.

No one ever knew this—

I had applied to that company because of Nate.

He had been my senior in college, three years ahead of me.

One look at the freshman mixer, and I was completely smitten.

I didn’t come from a wealthy family.

Nor was I blessed with stunning looks.

All I had was my intelligence and relentless work ethic.

So for four years, I pushed myself harder than ever—

Studying late, interning, networking—

All just to land an interview at Cole & Partners.

All just to stand in front of Nate Cole and say my name.

Five years of chasing a dream.

And in one night—

He shattered it all.

I forced a smile, clinging to the last shred of dignity I had left.

I opened the door and stepped inside without looking back.

“Come in.”

Nate’s eyes brightened, and he followed me into the room.

“Two sugars, no cream,” I said, setting a cup of coffee in front of him before settling onto the opposite couch.

“You still remember.”

His voice was rough, almost hesitant.

I smiled faintly but said nothing.

“You’ve seen the divorce papers, right?”

“I’m not asking for half. I just want full custody of Leo.”

Nate flinched, then looked up at me.

“Sophia, I don’t want a divorce.”

I nodded, unsurprised by his response.

I helped him back to the hotel suite we’d reserved.

I cleaned him up, placed a glass of water on the bedside table, and was about to leave.

Then—

He grabbed my hand.

Pulled me into bed.

Rough. Unrelenting.

I fought back. I screamed.

But it didn’t matter.

I had loved Nate for four years.

Yet I never imagined this was how it would all begin.

Afterward, I lay awake through the night, convincing myself—

It’s okay.

It’s fine.

You love him, right?

Nate didn’t remember any of it.

Maybe that was for the best.

It allowed me to keep pretending it wasn’t what it truly was.

I closed my eyes.

Then opened them again, steady.

“It’s in the past now, Nate. Let it stay there.

Please stop showing up in my life.”

Nate opened his mouth, utterly lost.

“What do you mean by that?”

“It doesn’t mean anything.

I have things to do.

You should go.”