Ditching Me for His 'Soulmate'? His Loss. Next Stop: My New Life novel Chapter 126

Chapter 3

After the argument that had fractured our night, John Sterling threw himself headlong into his work, disappearing into the office late into the night for several consecutive days. The silence between us stretched, heavy and unspoken.

Three days later, Clare Harper reached out and asked to meet with me.

She picked an upscale café, its polished interiors reflecting a world of privilege. When I arrived, she was already seated, poised and composed. Draped in an aura of sophistication, she regarded me with a barely concealed air of superiority, her gaze sharp and dismissive.

“So, you’re Claire Dawson?” Her voice was laced with biting sarcasm as she began, eyes narrowing slightly.

It was clear she knew everything about me—that I was merely a replacement, a paid stand-in John had brought in. And she wasted no time making it obvious she considered me utterly beneath her.

“Claire,” she said, a cruel smile tugging at her lips, “you’re just a cheap imitation John hired because you happen to look like me. Don’t tell me you actually fell for him?” Her words hung in the air, dripping with disdain.

I chose silence, refusing to feed her venom with a response.

Lighting a cigarette, Clare exhaled a slow plume of smoke in my direction, a smirk playing on her lips. “John’s never been short of women in his life,” she continued, voice heavy with scorn. “You’re the only one who’s managed to stick around this long—what, five years?” She let out a derisive laugh that echoed through the quiet café.

She offered me a cigarette, but I declined politely. “I don’t smoke anymore.”

Her lips curled into a sneer, as if she wanted to roll her eyes at my refusal. “Word is, you nearly landed yourself in the hospital trying to learn to smoke like me. You were that desperate—was it for the money, or for John himself?”

I chuckled softly, not bothering to hide my amusement. “The money, of course.”

Clare’s face brightened with a knowing expression that screamed, ‘figures.’

“Well, if it’s about the money, that makes things simple.” She reached into her designer handbag and pulled out a sleek wallet, extracting a gleaming credit card before tossing it onto the table in front of me.

“There’s a hundred grand on this. Take it, and disappear from John’s life for good.”

Free money? Who could say no? I smiled as I leaned forward to pick it up. “Don’t worry, Ms. Harper. You’ll get exactly what you want.”

After leaving the café, I hailed a cab and spent the day wandering through Silverlake, ticking off the famous spots I’d never had the chance to visit before. It felt strange—after all these years living in the city, this was the first time I truly explored its hidden corners and bustling streets.

Later, I stopped by a government office to change my name.

“So, Ms. Dawson, you’d like to change your name to Claire Avery? Are you certain?” the clerk asked, glancing up from her paperwork.

I nodded firmly. “Yes, I’m sure.”

She hesitated for a moment. “Why the change? Claire Dawson is such a lovely name.”

I offered a faint smile. “The old name brings bad luck.”

Shrugging, she resumed her work. After a short wait, she handed me a receipt. “Your new ID will be ready in seven days. Come back then to collect it.”

By the time I stepped outside, the sun had dipped below the horizon, and a cool night breeze whispered through the empty streets. Wrapping my coat tighter around me, a thought settled in my mind.

The contract John and I had—it was always something either of us could end whenever we chose. This time, the decision was mine.

That moment had been the beginning of something real for me—I had started to fall for him then.

But now, bitterness curled in my chest as I smiled sadly.

“Did you forget, Mr. Sterling? Smoking was part of the contract. How else am I supposed to be like Clare?”

His frown deepened, the lines on his face hardening.

“Claire,” he said firmly, “I told you. You don’t need to imitate her anymore.”

“I just want you to be yourself,” he added softly.

I laughed, the sound sharp and hollow, echoing my doubts.

But did he truly mean it?

If he wanted me for who I really was, why did he lose himself the moment Clare stepped back into his life?

His heart had always belonged to her.

I was nothing more than collateral damage—a mere pawn in his twisted game of love.

Yet this time, I vowed silently, I wouldn’t let myself be ensnared in his lies again.