After 999 Nights, He Said We Were Never Together Chapter 09

After 999 Nights, He Said We Were Never Together Chapter 09

Ryan hadn’t even asked what happened before accusing her.

The hurt and injustice inside Sophie reached their limit.

Still, she kept enough control to explain.

“She hired someone to hurt me. She staged the fall too. If you don’t believe me, go to the private room at the

end of the hall. The homeless man is still…”

Panic flashed across Isabelle’s face. She immediately began to cry.

“That’s not true, Ryan. She called me the other woman and accused me of destroying the bond you two had growing up. Then she pushed me down the stairs. I didn’t do anything. Why is she making up something this

horrible about me?”

Between the two women, Ryan believed Isabelle without question.

He held her tightly and poured all of his anger onto Sophie, his voice cold enough to freeze the air.

“Isabelle would never do something like that. You pushed her down the stairs, and now you’re trying to frame her? You’ve followed me around since we were kids. The only reason I kept you in my life was because our families have been close for years. If you’re this delusional, then get out.”

With those few sentences, the last warmth in Sophie’s heart died.

She stared directly at him, every word clear and final.

“Fine. I’ll give you exactly what you want. From now on, you’ll never hear from me again.”

Her absolute coldness only made Ryan angrier.

As he watched her stumble down the stairs, he refused to back down.

“Don’t ever show your face in front of me again.”

Sophie knew they truly wouldn’t see each other again.

So she never slowed.

She walked away without looking back.

After a night’s rest, Sophie woke and tore the final page from her calendar.

She had just picked up her suitcase and started toward the garage when her parents called out to her.

“Sophie, Richard and Grace invited us over for a farewell lunch. Put your luggage away and come with us.”

She didn’t want to go, but she knew that whatever had happened between her and Ryan had nothing to do

with their parents.

After a few seconds of hesitation, she agreed.

To her relief, Ryan wasn’t home.

Richard and Grace kept calling him, trying to get him to come back.

They called more than a dozen times, but he never answered.

When the food was already on the table, Sophie spoke softly.

“He’s probably with his girlfriend. It’s only lunch. Missing one meal isn’t a big deal. You shouldn’t interrupt

their date.”

The Whitfields had a flight to catch, and they truly couldn’t wait any longer.

Richard and Grace finally put away their phones and invited everyone to sit.

The lunch was filled with nostalgia. The two families spent most of it talking about the past.

Sophie listened quietly, keeping her attention on her food and speaking very little.

Afterward, they took one final group photograph in the yard.

At one in the afternoon, the Whitfields left with their luggage. Richard and Grace accompanied them to the

airport.

Once they arrived, the Blackwoods tried calling Ryan several more times.

Still nothing.

The couple sighed and looked apologetically at their longtime friends.

“Ryan has been busy with the engagement. He doesn’t even know you’re leaving today. When he comes home

and sees your house empty, he’ll be heartbroken.”

Sophie shook her head lightly.

“He won’t be.”

All four parents looked at her in surprise.

“Why not?”

A boarding announcement sounded overhead.

Sophie didn’t answer. She merely said a polite goodbye to Richard and Grace.

Thomas and Helen handed them a card containing a check.

“We won’t be able to attend the wedding. Richard, please tell the couple that Thomas and Helen wish them a happy marriage.”

The farewell left both families emotional.

Sophie stood slightly apart and opened her phone. One by one, she blocked and deleted every way Ryan

could contact her.

When she was done, she linked arms with her parents, waved to the Blackwoods, and turned toward the

gate.

She never looked back.