Ditching Me for His 'Soulmate'? His Loss. Next Stop: My New Life novel Chapter 94

Chapter 7

Reed’s eyes roamed over me as if I were a stranger, searching desperately for any sign of the “Lynn heiress” beneath my disheveled exterior. It was almost as if this was the first time he had truly looked at me, not just glanced.

Truth be told, I bear a strong resemblance to my father—maybe fifty to sixty percent. Judging by the way his gaze cleared and sharpened, I suspected he had never really studied me closely before.

“Willa…” Reed’s voice cracked, a mixture of shock, anger, and a flicker of panic coloring his words. He pointed at me, as though trying to pin down the truth in front of his eyes.

“You have to explain what’s going on here!” His tone was sharp, accusing. “Have you been lying to me all this time? You’re obviously from some wealthy family—why pretend to be poor? Why deceive me like this? Did you get some sick satisfaction out of watching me make a fool of myself? Watching me beg you just to survive?”

His voice grew harsher, the hurt barely masked by rage. “And what about Sterling? Why is he saying you’re his fiancée? What’s going on between you two?”

“Answer me!” he demanded, his words heavy with bitterness and betrayal.

It felt like he was the one wronged, the victim of some cruel trick. Yet, knowing him, cold and ruthless as he is, I doubted he even remembered his own two-year charade of fake paralysis.

I hugged Sterling’s jacket tighter around myself, its warmth a small comfort amid the storm of emotions. Looking at Reed, I found his hypocrisy sickening.

By the time his lies were exposed, the rain had already washed away my tears of humiliation. What remained was a clear, cold awakening.

“Reed,” I said, voice steady but laced with irony, “your talent for crying ‘thief’ while being the real thief is impressive.”

“Who was pretending to be poor? Who faked paralysis? Who pawned my mother’s belongings just to please his childhood sweetheart? Who spent two years weaving an elaborate lie, just to get revenge for Sage? Enjoying watching me run around like a fool in the pouring rain, delivering overpriced food for you all to enjoy—that made you happy, didn’t it?”

I stared at him, my voice growing sharper. “Who really wronged whom here? Can you spell it out for me?”

Then my gaze shifted to the pale-faced Sage, who was staring down at her now-empty ring finger.

“The ones who wore masks, performed, deceived deliberately, sought revenge, and trampled on genuine feelings—that was you and Sage.”

Though my voice was low, each word landed like a hammer blow on Reed. And on everyone else who had mocked me mercilessly.

Sterling’s dark amusement cut through their words. “My sister?”

“Isn’t she?” one of them pressed.

“STOP!” Sage snapped, silencing her friends. “If my brother hit me, he must have his reasons…” She blinked back tears, trying to hold herself together.

But when her eyes met Sterling’s cold, unreadable stare, she dared not say another word. Only venom and fear remained in her gaze.

Sterling turned away from her, his attention drawn to the spilled liquor on the floor—millions of dollars’ worth, wasted and shimmering under the lobby’s lights. His eyes settled on the few of Sage’s cronies who had held me down and shouted the loudest.

“Who was it just now that said they wanted my fiancée to kneel down and lick it clean?”

His voice was calm, but carried an edge so chilling it sent a shiver through the room.