Ditching Me for His 'Soulmate'? His Loss. Next Stop: My New Life novel Chapter 49

Chapter 9

“Mr. Brennan, Mrs. Carter, what are you doing here…?”

Seeing Rhys’s parents standing there, I felt a wave of helplessness wash over me. The weight of their presence made the room feel smaller, heavier, as if the walls themselves were closing in.

Yolanda, we heard about the fight between you and Rhys,” his mother began softly, her voice tinged with exhaustion and worry. “He’s been in such a dark place recently, thinking about nothing but you. As his mother, I just can’t bear to watch him suffer like this anymore.”

She raised a trembling hand to dab at her reddened eyes, her sigh filled with years of pain and hope mixed together. “I know Rhys made mistakes, but he understands now. After all the time you two have spent together, how can you just end things so suddenly?”

Rhys nodded vigorously beside her, his face earnest, desperate. “I came here because my mother wants us to fix this. We’re adults now. It’s rare to find someone who truly matches you—if you let this slip away, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”

“Yo,” Rhys added, his voice thick with emotion, “getting to where we are wasn’t easy. I’ve thought everything through. I swear, I will never make the same mistake again. If I do, may I suffer the worst fate imaginable.”

He lifted his hand solemnly, as if making a sacred vow. I found myself staring into his eyes, searching for that familiar spark, hoping to feel something—anything—that would stir my heart.

But as I watched him plead with such humility, a strange emptiness settled inside me. No love. No anger. Just a hollow nothingness.

“Yo, I really don’t want to lose you…” he whispered, reaching out to take my hand.

The instant his cold fingers brushed my arm, another hand abruptly knocked his away.

“Rhys, you’re already broken up. Stop clinging to her like a desperate fool,” a sharp voice cut through the tension.

Seth had returned from Costco, standing there with a steely glare. His protective stance positioned me behind him, as though daring anyone to cross that line.

“Who are you?” Rhys demanded, his voice low and dangerous. “This is between Yolanda and me. What business is it of yours?”

Turning to face Rhys, I spoke slowly and firmly, each word deliberate and resolute: “Rhys, I don’t love you anymore.”

Those words hit him like a blow. His pupils dilated, his gaze unfocused, and a frightening redness filled his eyes.

“Yo… that can’t be true. You’re just angry, right?” he pleaded, voice cracking.

I shook my head. “No, I’m not angry. When I look at you now, my heart doesn’t race anymore.”

“Eight years of feelings… I thought I’d be hurting for a long time, but I’m not.”

“I really don’t love you anymore, Rhys. It’s time for you to move on, too. Chasing after me won’t change anything.”