That Killed Us 17

Chapter17 

Chase Rylan landed in London in a rush, dragging his suitcase behind him as soon as he cleared the gate. 

With only a vague location ping on his phone, he hailed a cab to the city center. 

For days he combed the streets–cafés near Harrington College, the library, every little bookshop, even the parks she might visit. 

A week passed. His feet blistered, but he never once saw the face he had crossed an ocean for. 

Then, one dusky evening, he stopped outside the glowing marquee of the Alderton Picture House. 

He almost kept walking. But in that instant, his breath hitched. 

There she was. 

Lydia Rivers. 

Wrapped in a cream–colored coat, hair falling loosely across her shoulders, she stood at the entrance, head tilted slightly as she spoke to someone beside her. Her lips curved in an easy smile–the kind of unburdened smile Chase hadn’t seen in months, as though all the weight she once carried had finally slipped away. 

Chase’s heart slammed hard in his chest. The exhaustion of the past week evaporated. He broke into a run. 

“Lydia!” 

But he stopped dead halfway across the pavement. 

The young man beside her turned. Sharp jawline, clean–cut features–and his hand, laced tightly with hers. Their fingers interlocked, warm light spilling over them, as if mocking Chase’s desperation. 

“No…” His voice cracked, bare 

a whisper. His eyes widened with disbelief. 

The girl who once tore up her overseas offer for him. The girl who clung to him, swearing they’d go from letterman to wedding veil. How could she be holding someone else’s hand? 

She had loved him too much. Too completely. She couldn’t have replaced him in just a few months–could she? 

Lydia saw him then. The smile vanished. Her gaze turned cold, sharp as frost. Not recognition–rejection. 

She didn’t pause. Instead, she tightened her grip on Noah Sterling’s hand and pulled him forward, as if to shield herself. 

“Lydia! Don’t go!” Chase snapped out of his shock, le 

apart. 

“What is he to you? Are you doing this just to hurt me?” 

to block their path. He reached for their joined hands, trying to pry them 

“Let go, Chase!” Lydia’s voice cut like ice, filled with nothing but loathing. “Who do you think you are to ask me that?” She yanked her wrist free, stepping back to stand firmly at Noah’s side. Her chin lifted in quiet defiance. 

“This is my boyfriend. I’m with Noah because I like him. It has nothing to do 

th 

” 

you 

n’t like anyone but me. You can’t!” 

“Like him?” Chase laughed bitterly, eyes rimmed red. “I don’t believe that. You His voice broke, frantic. “Did you forget tearing up your plane ticket for me? Did you forget swearing we’d be together forever? How can you say you love someone else?” 

“Those promises…” Lydia’s words were calm, but each one cut deep. “They burned out a long time ago,” 

Her eyes didn’t waver. 

“When you left me cornered in that alley for Sienna Quinn. When you stood by while I was crushed under the crowd at Crown Arena. When you pulled her from the Merriton River and let me drown.” 

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Her voice shook, but only with conviction. 

“When you ignored every call for help–when you tangled yourself with her in front of me- piece by piece.” 

-whatever love I had left for you… it died 

Chase’s chest constricted. His vision blurred. He took a step forward, voice breaking into a plea. 

“No. That’s not what it was. I only cared for Sienna because she once saved me. That’s all. You’re the one I love, Lydia. It’s always been 

you!” 

1 

Chapter17