Chapter17 Chase Rylan landed in London in a rush , dragging his suitcase behind him as soon as he cleared the gate . With only a vague location ping on his phone , he hailed a cab to the city center . For days he combed the streets - cafés near Harrington College , the library , every little bookshop , even the parks she might visit . A week passed . His feet blistered , but he never once saw the face he had crossed an ocean for . Then , one dusky evening , he stopped outside the glowing marquee of the Alderton Picture House . He almost kept walking . But in that instant , his breath hitched . There she was . Lydia Rivers . Wrapped in a cream - colored coat , hair falling loosely across her shoulders , she stood at the entrance , head tilted slightly as she spoke to someone beside her . Her lips curved in an easy smile - the kind of unburdened smile Chase hadn't seen in months , as though all the weight she once carried had finally slipped away . Chase's heart slammed hard in his chest . The exhaustion of the past week evaporated . He broke into a run . " Lydia ! " But he stopped dead halfway across the pavement . The young man beside her turned . Sharp jawline , clean - cut features - and his hand , laced tightly with hers . Their fingers interlocked , warm light spilling over them , as if mocking Chase's desperation . " No ... " His voice cracked , bare a whisper . His eyes widened with disbelief . The girl who once tore up her overseas offer for him . The girl who clung to him , swearing they'd go from letterman to wedding veil . How could she be holding someone else's hand ? She had loved him too much . Too completely . She couldn't have replaced him in just a few months - could she ? Lydia saw him then . The smile vanished . Her gaze turned cold , sharp as frost . Not recognition - rejection . She didn't pause . Instead , she tightened her grip on Noah Sterling's hand and pulled him forward , as if to shield herself . " Lydia ! Don't go ! " Chase snapped out of his shock , le apart . " What is he to you ? Are you doing this just to hurt me ? " to block their path . He reached for their joined hands , trying to pry them " Let go , Chase ! " Lydia's voice cut like ice , filled with nothing but loathing . " Who do you think you are to ask me that ? " She yanked her wrist free , stepping back to stand firmly at Noah's side . Her chin lifted in quiet defiance . " This is my boyfriend . I'm with Noah because I like him . It has nothing to do th " you n't like anyone but me . You can't ! " " Like him ? " Chase laughed bitterly , eyes rimmed red . " I don't believe that . You His voice broke , frantic . " Did you forget tearing up your plane ticket for me ? Did you forget swearing we'd be together forever ? How can you say you love someone else ? " " Those promises ... " Lydia's words were calm , but each one cut deep . " They burned out a long time ago , " Her eyes didn't waver . " When you left me cornered in that alley for Sienna Quinn . When you stood by while I was crushed under the crowd at Crown Arena . When you pulled her from the Merriton River and let me drown . " Chapter17 BALIONAIRE CECY'S Dreame - Read Romance Stories Book Title Cheers to Comeuppance 4.4 FREE Installed Open 77.27 % 酒 Her voice shook , but only with conviction . " When you ignored every call for help - when you tangled yourself with her in front of me- piece by piece . " -whatever love I had left for you ... it died Chase's chest constricted . His vision blurred . He took a step forward , voice breaking into a plea . " No. That's not what it was . I only cared for Sienna because she once saved me . That's all . You're the one I love , Lydia . It's always been you ! " 1 Chapter17