Ditching Me for His 'Soulmate'? His Loss. Next Stop: My New Life novel Chapter 58

Chapter 8

After two long months of silence, it was Lily who finally reached out to Samuel. The unexpected message stirred a mixture of hope and frustration within him. Despite his lingering anger, Samuel made sure to dress impeccably, determined to make a good impression. He held onto the fragile hope that this meeting could heal the rift between them.

Yet, fate had other intentions that day.

As Samuel drove toward their rendezvous, a runaway truck suddenly careened off the road, crashing violently into his car. The force of the collision was overwhelming, spinning his world into chaos. A sharp, burning pain exploded through his chest, and then darkness swallowed everything.

It was rush hour, the streets crowded with cars and anxious commuters. A passerby noticed Samuel lying motionless, surrounded by a pool of blood, and immediately dialed 911. The ambulance arrived swiftly, sirens wailing as they rushed him to the nearest hospital.

Once there, the medical team worked quickly, but the news they delivered was grim. The doctor’s face was somber as he explained the severity of Samuel’s injuries. Extensive tissue necrosis had set in, leaving no choice but to amputate his left leg. The weight of the diagnosis hung heavy in the sterile hospital room.

Meanwhile, the police wasted no time. Using traffic surveillance footage, they identified the truck driver responsible for the crash. His confession was eerily reminiscent of Jason’s father’s—he admitted guilt without hesitation. The man claimed that his impotence had led to his divorce, and that his bitterness toward younger men had driven him to lose control behind the wheel.

On the surface, his story seemed plausible.

But just as the case was on the verge of being closed, I requested a private meeting with the driver. In a cramped, dimly lit interrogation room, I slid a bank card across the cold metal table. “You didn’t hit him because of impotence, did you?” I asked quietly.

His eyes flickered with suspicion, but I continued. “I know about your wife’s accident at work. You’ve been drowning in medical bills, struggling to keep your head above water. Life can be cruel, I understand that.”

I paused, watching his guarded expression. “But I’ve been down a similar road before. I recognize a cover-up when I see one.”

The card lay between us, its promise clear. “There’s two hundred thousand dollars on this card. Tell me the truth, and it’s yours.”

His gaze lingered on the card, the weight of temptation evident. After a long, tense silence, he finally broke. He named Lily as the architect behind the crash. She had known about Samuel’s plans all along and, desperate to remove him from the picture, had orchestrated the accident to clear the way for herself and Jason.

When the police stormed into Samuel’s hospital room, Lily was sitting dutifully by his bedside, playing the role of the devoted partner. Shock twisted her face as they placed her under arrest.

“What are you doing? I’m a law-abiding citizen!” she protested, disbelief ringing in her voice.

But the officers were prepared. They presented the driver’s revised testimony, which detailed how Lily had paid him twenty thousand dollars to stage the “accident.” With irrefutable evidence against her, there was no denying the truth.

The court sentenced Lily to eight years for conspiracy to commit assault.

Lying in his hospital bed, Samuel stared blankly at the empty space where his leg once was. A guttural scream tore from his throat, raw and filled with anguish. “Why… how could she do this to me?”

Tears welled in his eyes as he turned to me, his expression a mixture of regret and desperation. “Emily, I was wrong. I was such a fool to trust someone like Lily. Now I see—you’re the only one who ever truly cared.”

His hand gripped my sleeve tightly, eyes pleading like a frightened child. “Please, give me another chance. Let me make things right.”

I looked down at him, a cold smile playing at my lips. “Your naivety is truly pitiful.”

The hospital door creaked open at that moment, and Jason stepped inside.

“My dad didn’t last long after he went to prison,” Jason said quietly. “The guilt ate him alive.”

After paying our respects, Jason knelt before the grave, bowing deeply. “My father’s debt is paid today. Ms. Emerson, please accept my apology… and my gratitude.”

I stared at the modest engraving on the stone, my emotions tangled and complex. Once, I had been consumed by hatred for Samuel. But now, knowing the full truth, I felt a pang of pity—for the life he had destroyed. His greed had been the root of all this darkness. We were all merely casualties of his ambition.

I exhaled slowly and turned away. “You’ve made up for your father’s mistakes. From now on, live well—for yourself.”

These days, I’ve grown accustomed to my empty sleeve. Even on uneven ground, my steps remain steady. I lifted my face toward the sun, letting its warmth brush gently against my skin.

Somehow, without realizing it, I had managed to climb out of the quicksand that once threatened to swallow me whole. The dark clouds of the past had finally parted, and the heavy weight pressing on my heart was gone.

From this moment forward, I will continue to write the story of my life—even with this incomplete body.

Clenching my fists, I felt the warmth in my palms, a quiet reminder: despite my scars, I am still capable of moving forward.

A new chapter is beginning.

And I am ready for whatever tomorrow may bring.