Ditching Me for His 'Soulmate'? His Loss. Next Stop: My New Life novel Chapter 47

Chapter 7

“Yes, I did go to the Kayden concert with her. On the night of the earthquake, I was with her first,” Rhys admitted, his voice steady but defensive.

“But there’s absolutely nothing going on between us,” he insisted quickly, as if afraid I might jump to conclusions. “We’re completely innocent. Nothing inappropriate happened, I swear.”

He paused, gathering his thoughts. “When I was first asked to mentor her, I noticed she was shy, so I just tried to look out for her a little more. Over time… I guess we did become closer.”

He looked me straight in the eyes, as if that would prove his honesty. “But I swear on everything, we’re just lab partners. No kissing, definitely no sleeping together.”

His words came out with such conviction, as though physical boundaries alone were the only things that mattered. He seemed to believe that as long as nothing physical had crossed the line, everything else was harmless.

Sure, that night during the earthquake, they had lain on the field gazing at the stars for hours. But beyond talking, nothing else had happened. Or so he said.

I looked at him, feeling a mix of anger and hurt. “But what about your heart?” I asked quietly.

“You think you’re such a good guy, bound by morals so tight that you don’t dare cross the line. But you let yourself wander emotionally. That’s just as bad.”

“When we’re together, Rhys, I want your whole attention. Not just your presence, but your heart too. Yet yours drifted away.”

His face drained of color, and he stammered, unable to find words. After a long, heavy silence, he finally whispered, “People have feelings and desires. Life is so long… can’t you let me stray just once?”

His voice trembled, his eyes shining with red-rimmed vulnerability. “Yo, I was really wrong. Please, forgive me this one time. I promise I’ll never make this mistake again.”

His sudden promise felt like a check handed over with hope. But this time, I wasn’t interested in cashing it.

“Rhys, I want a relationship that’s faithful from beginning to end. Maybe you think I’m too harsh, but I won’t tolerate even the smallest crack in what we have.”

“Now that you’ve already tainted it, I don’t want it anymore.”

He looked at me, guilt and regret etched deep into his features. Like a child caught doing something wrong, lost and desperate.

“Yo, you’re the person I love most. I really can’t lose you,” he pleaded.

Hearing him say he loved me again, I felt numb. I pulled my hand away from his, swallowed the bitterness rising in my chest, and took a step back.

“Rhys, let’s end this here. Don’t come looking for me again.”

Without looking back, I grabbed Stella’s hand and walked away.

But from that day forward, Rhys seemed determined to wait for me to change my mind. He didn’t return to L.A.; instead, he stayed in Salt Lake City.

After graduation, he came home maybe once or twice a year.

He was always busy with research, studies, and countless responsibilities. But this time, for me, he abandoned everything.

Stella and I were discussing the possibility of taking over a bed and breakfast in the city center — something I had dreamed about for years.

As I negotiated prices with the landlord, I constantly felt his presence like a shadow, following me wherever I went.

He rarely spoke, quietly trailing behind me like a silent, steady tree.

For almost a month, he lingered in Salt Lake City, wasting away with me.

During that time, his advisor called repeatedly, urging him to return immediately because his research project was delayed.

But Rhys was stubborn, determined to wear me down here.

Day by day, he grew more haggard and disheveled. His once-trendy haircut had grown out into a rough buzz cut again.

I knew this was his way of showing me how serious he was.

His heart was now rock solid — it would never waver for anyone else again.

After a full month, his advisor finally gave him an ultimatum: if he didn’t return, he’d be kicked out of the program.

With no other choice, Rhys had to comply.

Before leaving, he came to see me one last time.

“Yo, wait for me,” he begged. “Once I handle things at school, I’ll come back for you.”

I ignored him.

Whether he returned or not no longer mattered to me.