Ditching Me for His 'Soulmate'? His Loss. Next Stop: My New Life novel Chapter 90

Chapter 3

“WILLA!”

Reed’s shout cut through the night air sharply, startling me. Suddenly, he rose from his wheelchair with an agility that defied everything I’d believed for the past two years. His movements were quick, almost too quick for someone who was supposed to be paralyzed.

Without hesitation, he lunged forward, wrapping his arms tightly around my waist and yanking me away from the railing. The cold wind whipped around us, the rain tapping relentlessly against the terrace as I struggled against his grip.

“Let me go, Reed! Please, let me go!” I pleaded, my voice trembling with desperation.

But my protests were useless. I caught my eyes on the dark river below, watching helplessly as the last shimmer of my mother’s ring disappeared beneath the swirling, murky water. The cold rain mixed with my tears, stinging my skin and blurring my vision until everything around me seemed to dissolve into a gray haze.

“Calm down! You’re going to throw your whole life away over some stupid ring?!” Reed’s voice cracked with frustration, a hint of panic barely masked beneath his irritation at what he saw as my irrational behavior.

A stupid ring? How could he say that? That ring was the only thing my mother had left me. And yet, his precious Sage had tossed it away like it was worthless trash.

In that instant, every ounce of my anger, sorrow, and humiliation froze into a numb, icy stillness inside me. I stopped fighting, letting him hold me, my body stiff and unyielding as stone.

“Let’s break up.”

The words escaped my lips in a tone so calm it was almost chilling.

Reed’s body tensed immediately, then he burst into a laugh, as if I’d just told him the most absurd joke.

“Willa, don’t be ridiculous! I know you’re upset about the ring. I’ll make Sage apologize. We can fix this…” he started, his voice pleading.

I had no energy left to argue or explain. Without a word, I turned and walked back into the living room, my heart pounding. I grabbed the filthy, empty delivery bag from the floor, the weight of it grounding me in the reality I no longer wanted to deny.

I didn’t look back—not at him, not at the smug crowd gathering on the terrace. I stepped out into the pouring rain, feeling the cold droplets soak through my clothes as I walked away.

Behind me, Sage’s sweet, mocking voice floated on the wind.

“Reed, if the truth’s out, it’s out. You’re not seriously worried about that crazy girl’s feelings, are you?”

“Come on! Don’t tell me you, a millionaire prince, actually fell for some delivery girl?”

I didn’t hear Reed’s reply. I didn’t want to. I just kept walking, letting the rain wash away the last traces of everything I thought I knew.