Chapter21 Chase Rylan arrived at the Grand Armitage Hotel a full thirty minutes early . He was dressed in a tailored suit , hair perfectly styled , and in his hand he clutched . read countless times over the past five years , until its edges had worn soft . а single folded sheet of paper - the same one he had His gaze swept the room until it snagged on a figure by the window . Lydia Rivers . She wore a champagne - colored dress , a delicate pearl stud at her ear . She was laughing softly with a classmate , her expression bright but composed , every gesture steady with quiet confidence . Chase's breath caught . He straightened his tie , forced air into his lungs , and crossed the room : " Lydia . " His voice trembled ; even his fingers shook . She turned at the sound . Her smile didn't fade , but it didn't warm either . She gave the faintest nod . " It's been a while , Chase . " " Yeah ... it has . " He sat opposite her , eyes fixed on her face . " I heard you're an international lawyer now . Saw your name in the news once . Honestly , I wasn't sure it was really you . " " I've been working in London , " she said , lifting her glass of water for a measured sip . Her tone was polite , careful , distant . " This trip back is just for some business . " Chase's eyes darted to the empty chair beside her . Hope sparked . He asked , hesitant , " So ... you came alone ? " She met his gaze briefly , then countered , " Why do you ask? " " I just ... wanted to know how you've been these past years . " His voice softened , aching with hope . " My life has nothing to do with you anymore . " Lydia set her glass down with calm finality . " Chase , we ended a long time ago . There's nothing left to talk about . His chest constricted . He fumbled in his pocket , pulled out the worn letter , and slid it across the table . " I know I was wrong . I shouldn't have believed Sienna Quinn's lies , shouldn't have ignored you , shouldn't have hurt you over and over . I've regretted it every day these past five years . His voice cracked , desperate . " I never let you go . You loved me once - couldn't you ... couldn't you give me one more chance ? " He lowered himself further , words almost a plea . " Sienna's out of my life . I've stayed single all these years . I never stopped thinking about you . Even if I'm nothing more than a afterthought , just let me stay close . I'll take whatever you give me . " Lydia's eyes flicked to the letter , then back to him , her expression unchanged . She gave a small , almost pitying smile . " Chase , you still don't get it . " " I was young back then . I thought you were just shackled by some misplaced sense of obligation , that you went too far for Sienna because you felt you owed her . " Her voice sharpened , every word clear and cold . " But now I see it . You didn't act out of duty - you wanted her . You had feelings for her and couldn't admit it , so you tried to have it both ways . " She leaned closer , her tone cutting like glass . " You talk about regret . Do you know what I remember ? The night in the Merriton River . I was drowning , and I saw you turn your back and swim toward her . That despair - I'll carry it for the rest of my life . " Her gaze hardened . " You only dared to be so cruel because you thought I'd always love you , that I'd never leave . But you forget it was you who pursued me first . " Chase went pale . His lips trembled , but no words came . Just then , the door to the private room opened . A man in a crisp white shirt stepped in , exuding calm assurance . He walked straight to Chapter21 95.45 % Lydia , picked up her coat , and said gently , " It's getting late . We should go . " Noah Sterling . Older now , his features sharper , his demeanor more refined - but still the same steady grace . Lydia rose , accepted her coat , and smiled at him , her voice soft in a way it had not been with Chase . " Give me a second - I'll just say goodbye . " She turned , said a few polite words to her classmates , then walked out with Noah at her side . Chase sat frozen , the letter slipping from his hands to the floor . The chatter around him blurred , fading into nothing but the sound of his own heart breaking . 95.45 %