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

Hello 670

Chapter 670

Chapter 670

Mr. Yule set the tea down and walked over to the old photo on the wall. "This is my family portrait," he said softly. "I'm the only one left now."

"Family portrait?" I asked, pointing to the little girl in the red dress. "She's part of your family too?"

"That's my younger sister. She was two when we took this photo," Mr. Yule replied, his voice heavy with sorrow. "Where is she now?" My breath hitched as unease crept in Was I wrong about the connection I thought I'd found?

For a moment, Mr. Yule just stared at the picture. My chest tightened. "Mr. Yule?" I prompted.

"She went missing," he finally said, his voice trembling. "She disappeared the same day this picture was taken."

My heart raced. "Missing? How? What happened?" My hand darted out, clutching his sleeve as if that could steady the whirlwind in my mind.

His eyes stayed glued to the photo. "It was supposed to be a happy day. After this photo, my parents had a keychain made from it-turned it into a necklace for her. We went to the amusement park to celebrate..." His voice faltered.

He swallowed hard. "Later that day, my mom took her to the restroom. While they were inside, my mom fainted. When she woke up... my sister was gone."

My stomach dropped. A cold realization swept over me. It's her. It has to be.

She had told me she was an orphan. And she always wore a necklace-a keychain with a tiny photograph inside it.

of my mom, forced to grow up in an orphanage, made my chest ache.

and after that, the whole country. But..." His voice dropped to barely a whisper. "My mom

finish, but the silence hung like a

after what felt like forever, he spoke again. "She drowned herself," he said. "My dad arranged the funeral, but he couldn't let go. He kept searching. Every lead, every rumor, he followed it. Until..." Mr. Yule's voice cracked. "Until he died in a car accident, chasing what turned out to be another

weight of his words sinking in

her childhood it had shattered an entire family. What should have been

didn't keep looking?"

darkened. "I tried. Narelle helped me post online, on forums, anywhere we could think of. She even wanted to take it to

could life be so cruel? So

for a long time.

left me

+25 BONUS

Chapter 670

softer. He looked

earlier words stung, but I couldn't blame him. He'd been through

much.

photo just like this. She wore it on a round keychain

froze. His face paled, his lips trembled, and his

I said quickly, stepping closer to

mother..." He could barely get the

he looked, I wasn't sure he could handle the truth. "Let's sit

alright?" he asked again, his voice

away," I said