That Killed Us 18

Chapter18 

Lydia Rivers stopped. Her gaze was icy; there wasn’t a trace of warmth left. 

A faint, cutting smile touched her lips. 

“Chase Rylan,” she said evenly, “you never truly understood me. You never once treated me like I mattered.” 

“You always assumed I’d wait. That I’d forgive you, no matter what. But you forgot that feelings can fade. Everything I did for you back then? It doesn’t mean anything anymore.” 

“No… no, that’s not true!” Chase’s voice cracked. He grabbed her arm, desperation raw in his eyes. 

“Lydia, please—I was wrong. I shouldn’t have ignored you. I shouldn’t have let you suffer. Just give me one more chance. We can go back, we can be like before. Please.” 

His grip tightened, too forceful, making Lydia wince. 

That was when Noah Sterling finally stepped forward. His hand shoved Chase’s arm away, pulling Lydia behind him. 

“Show some respect,” Noah said, his voice low, gaze sharp as steel. “She told you already–she wants nothing more to do with you.” 

Chase stumbled from the shove, but the sight of Noah shielding Lydia only stoked his jealousy into fury. 

“You think you matter here?” Chase lunged, reaching to shove Noah back. “This isn’t your business!” 

Noah’s expression hardened. Before Chase’s hand even touched him, his fist connected with Chase’s jaw. 

Crack! 

Chase staggered, clutching his face, staring at Noah in disbelief. His gaze darted instinctively toward Lydia, waiting–hoping—for her to rush to him like before. To fuss over whether he was hurt. To grab his hand and tell him to calm down. 

But she didn’t. 

She didn’t even spare him a glance. Instead, Lydia caught Noah’s hand, eyes brimming with concern. 

“Noah, are you okay? Does it hurt?” Her voice trembled with worry. She even rubbed his knuckles gently, as if they mattered more than anything else. 

Her tenderness, her warmth–once his–now belonged wholly to someone else. 

And it wasn’t an act. 

Chase’s chest caved in, agony searing sharper than Noah’s punch. Could it be true? Had she really stopped loving him? 

Yes. Her smile, her care, her love–they were no longer his. 

And it was his own stupidity, his selfishness, that had driven her away and into someone else’s arms. 

Noah gave a small shake of his head and offered Lydia a reassuring smile. “I’m fine.” 

Then he turned back to Chase, his gaze warning and unyielding. “Don’t come near her again.” 

With that, he laced his fingers with Lydia’s and led her away. 

She didn’t look back. Her steps were steady, resolute, her silhouette vanishing under the glow of the streetlamps until there was nothing left, 

Chase stood frozen, staring after them. The throbbing in his jaw was nothing compared to the hollow ache splitting his chest. When the night wind hit, he realized his cheeks were wet. He had been crying without noticing. 

All along, he had believed Lydia would never leave him. That no matter how far he strayed, if he turned back, she‘ there. 

I still be waiting right 

Chapter18 

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But he was wrong. No one waits forever. 

His hand tightened around the velvet box buried in his pocket- 

the necklace he’d bought before flying to London, meant to be his apology gift. 

But now… there might never be a reason to give it. 

The cinema marquee glowed brightly above, crowds laughing and chatting as they passed. 

And in the middle of it all, Chase Rylan stood alone, sobbing until he could barely breathe. 

Chapter18