Page 132 of When Hearts Collide

“Oh no, you poor thing.” She flutters around the apartment, a determined glint in her eyes, and begins cleaning up.

I grab Taylor’s wrist after we sit down. “You’ve seen Ryland? He won’t pick up when I call. How is he doing? Is he okay?” Amidst the anger and pain inside me, my concern for him still apparently takes priority.

Taylor lets out a ragged sigh. “He has handed all his work to the others and doesn’t leave his apartment. He hasn’t shaved and is barely eating. I’ve talked to the others, and no one has ever seen him like this before. I think Gretchen and the staff practically have to force-feed him sometimes. And whenever we try to talk to him, he’ll say everything is his fault and how he’s the one to bring down our family.”

She bites her lips and clasps my hands in hers. “But he misses you. I know it. He doesn’t say anything, but whenever Grace and I talk about you, his eyes will brighten for a moment, like a spark flaring to life.”

Grace traipses around the room, stacking loose sheets of papers into piles, placing all the wrappers, cans, empty cup noodle containers into a plastic bag before setting it on the floor. She hurries over and sits on the other side of me as the front door opens.

“How is she? If I didn’t have that stupid meeting at the office today, I wouldn’t have left her.” Belle hurries over, shrugging out of her peacoat along the way.

“I’m fine, girls. Just heartbroken,” I whisper, my voice unsteady. “Grace, now I know how you felt when you went through what you did with Steven.”

“It was only a day for us, not weeks and not with the press breathing down our necks!” Grace mutters.

“I just miss him s-so much,” I cry, my voice thickening, “and I’m so worried about him and so damn angry at the same time. Do you know teaching is his dream? That’s the one thing he wants to do more than anything else in the world. It gives him purpose. And now, it’s taken away from him.”

I shake my head. “I should’ve stayed away. I don’t know what I was thinking, believing we wouldn’t get caught. And now, he lost everything because of me.” I bury my face in my hands.

“It’s not on you, Millie. How can anyone stop true love? That’d be cruel,” Belle murmurs.

“I didn’t know teaching was his dream,” Grace whispers. “I always thought it was like volunteering for him. He never told us.”

Sniffling, I look up and stare at the Peyton sisters. That stupid man. Keeping everything in his heart. Always the one to sacrifice for others around him.

“It is. He would’ve done it full time, and he had the opportunity before I came along and messed everything up. But the family trust…”

Grace and Taylor share a knowing glance. I guess their siblings have clued them in on this secret.

“He told you about the trust?” Grace asks.

I nod. “He didn’t want everyone to lose everything because of him. But teaching is his lifeblood, the fuel driving him out of bed each day, his legacy, and now that’s gone.”

“What trust? What’s going on?” Belle frowns, and I shake my head sadly at her.

“Sorry, Belle. That’s not my story to tell.” I’ve already said more than enough.

She nods, her eyes softening with understanding.

“So, what do you want to do?” Taylor asks. “Do you want us to take you to him? Or make him answer your call? ’Cuz I’ll do it.”

“No, I can’t keep fighting for us anymore. I can’t be alone in this, like how he has left me to deal with everything by myself.” I look at Taylor, my hands fisted on my lap. “God, I’m so pissed at him, Tay. He just left. He didn’t give us a chance to talk this through. Even if we were supposed to end, didn’t I deserve closure? What the fuck is this?”

Taylor’s face darkens and her eyes narrow. “That’s it. I’m going over there and kicking his ass.” She stands up and I pull her back down.

“You know, he knew this would happen, but I wouldn’t listen to him. So, if he wants to pull away, it’s his right. But still, couldn’t we have at least talked about this? That’s what mature people do, right?”

My heart pounds, each thump painful in my chest, and I struggle to get the next words out. “If w-we are meant to be together, he has to choose me for himself this time. I won’t force him anymore.”

I shake my head and Taylor folds me in her arms. Closing my eyes, I whisper, “But I can’t let him lose his dream over this.”

My lips tremble and I let out a rough exhale.

I need to set him free.

It’s the right thing to do. I feel it deep inside my soul. Despite my fury toward him, my love for him is too deep and I can’t bear to see him languishing away after watching everything he cares about getting destroyed in front of him.

I pull back from Taylor’s embrace and look at my girls, my hand gripping my shirt. “He has been living for everyone else around him, but he’s dying inside. Ryland deserves to have his dream. He deserves to be happy. Despite his issues, he’s a good man.”

---