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

Chapter 529

"Rea, calm down. Let Matthew finish," Lindey tried, her voice soft but strained.

Matthew adjusted his glasses, looking almost... regretful. "Rea, if I told you I never intended for your father to die... would you believe me?"

Thorsten had already told me everything. And now Matthew wanted to rewrite the story?

Fine. I'd hear him out.

"Your father had a gift for distribution, something I couldn't match. But he didn't want to partner with me; he wanted to go solo. If he did, Seavora would've been his for the taking," Matthew paused, gathering himself. "People are selfish by nature-it's unavoidable. "So yes, I was jealous. More than that, I resented him. It felt like his refusal to work with me was a judgment, like he was saying I wasn't good enough.

"And when he landed that contract with Thorsten-the one I'd been fighting for-it only proved his talent.

"I knew that contract was the key to everything I wanted. Fueled by jealousy and a need to win, I decided I'd take that project from him."

Matthew pulled off his glasses, rubbing his eyes. "So I hired someone to scare him, to push him away from the deal with Thorsten.

I hired went too far. He thought 'solving the problem for good' was the

cold. He was shifting

myself I'm the one responsible for their deaths. Even with my success all these years, I've carried that guilt," he

giving a small nod. Lindey stepped in, her tone gentle, almost pleading. "Rea, it's not like that. We really

remembering how Jace and I shared the same blood type. "You cared for me so that if Jace ever needed saving. I'd be there. Isn't

Matthew was blunt. "We did consider that possibility... but that doesn't mean our

real.

with my parents' lives. Their care was just a thin mask,

I've told you today is the truth. And, honestly, saying it out loud... it's been a

just rest in peace? And my parents-how are they supposed to

Chapter 529-

+25 BONUS

in tears. "I'm so sorry... Matthew has suffered with this guilt for ten years. He rarely sleeps through the night, wakes up in terror half the time. And

are gone. Their lives, their futures-all stolen by your selfishness," I spat, my voice

to make it up, nothing could heal the pain of growing up without