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

Chapter 802

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Jace's hand fell to his side, his phone slipping onto the floor. His whole body seemed to collapse under invisible weight. His voice cracked. "Mom said... Dad... he's gone." Wayne didn't react, like he'd already seen this coming.

They stood there in tense silence before Wayne nuttered, "Let's go."

***

Jace called while I was half-asleep. My dreams had been all over the place, and the phone's ringing yanked me out of that foggy mess. I groaned, fumbling for it. "Hello?" "Rea..." Jace's voice wavered, then broke.

"What is it?" I mumbled, still groggy.

"My dad... He's gone."

His voice was barely a whisper, yet it snapped me awake. My heart thudded as his words sank in.

Matthew Johnston. The man who took my parents from me-but also the man who treated me like his own daughter. I hated him, but I couldn't hate him completely.

Lindey to visit the Johnston house. And now? He

hear Jace quietly

to anyone who hasn't felt it. I had. Losing my parents left a wound that's never

fixed with words, and I had nothing to give him. All I could do was hold the phone

a while, when his voice evened out, I finally asked, "When's the

said,

to say I'd be there, but I wasn't even sure I could get out of bed, let alone show up. All

"Rea, will you come?"

silent, the same question swirling in my own

could I really go?

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Chapter 802

freight train. "Mom told me that in his last moments, when he could barely

head back, staring at

say anything

***

after I told her I needed to leave. She ran a few tests, poking and prodding, before giving me a once-over with her usual doctor glare. "You're not bleeding anymore, and everything looks stable. But no heavy lifting, no tripping, no wild movements, and if