Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right by Rosie Steppe

Chapter 528

+25 BONUS

The lights in the Johnston main hall were blinding, making everything feel sharper, more intense.

Lindey didn't give me her usual warm welcome. Instead, her expression was all nerves.

Matthew just sat there, still as a statue.

I couldn't ignore how frail he looked now-thinner, with hair that had gone almost completely white. But as Hayden and I stepped in, he barely reacted, his face a blank slate Lindey got up, awkwardly. "Rea, Hayden... you're here."

"Lindey. Matthew," I greeted, same as always.

Matthew gestured for us to sit, and Isabel brought over tea.

"Are you hurt?" Matthew asked, breaking the silence.

painful reminder of hours

twitched like she wanted to reach out, but she held back. It was like she wasn't sure if she could still show

Lindey put some ointment on that later," Matthew

filled my mouth.

voice was

her. He looked at me directly.

tight. "Is

him-the man who'd been like a father for so long. And

his answer would wreck everything

words I dreaded still came from his

word hit like a punch to the

breath caught, and I stared at him, my gaze shaky. Matthew held my eyes, steady. "Your

world collapsed right

out, I'd clung to the hope

But now he'd confessed.