Anovel of My motherś ex chapter 4 by authoress rose
“I’m so sorry, Theo.” Rylee’s voice trembled as she sat on the edge of Theo’s bed, her hands clenched tightly in her lap. She could barely look at him, guilt gnawing at her as she took in his battered state. His face was swollen, his lip stitched, and his left arm in a sling.
Theo, propped up by pillows, managed a weak smirk.
“Sorry doesn’t exactly fix two broken ribs, a split lip, and… oh yeah, a brain injury.” His voice dripped with sarcasm, though the underlying pain was evident.
“Don’t forget the high blood loss.”
Rylee’s breath hitched.
“Theo, I didn’t mean for this to happen. I—I tried to stop them, I swear.” Her eyes filled with tears as she reached for his uninjured hand.
“I know what they did was unforgivable, but please… can we just move past this? I’ll do anything to make it up to you.”
Theo sighed, shifting uncomfortably.
“Rylee, your brothers are like a pack of rabid wolves. They didn’t just beat me up; they practically left me for dead. And now you’re asking me to just let it go?” He sighed running his uninsured finger through his white hair.
“I was naked and bleeding, If not for the motel janitor. I’d be dead”
“I’m begging you,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Please, Theo. Just one more chance.”
He stared at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he shrugged, wincing at the movement.
“We’re going to the same college, right? Maybe we can be… I don’t know, friends with benefits or something.”
Rylee’s heart sank.
“Friends with benefits?” she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Yeah,” Theo said, his tone dismissive. “Nothing serious. No drama. Just… casual.”
She forced a small nod, swallowing the lump in her throat.
“Okay,” she murmured. “I understand.”
But deep down, she didn’t. She didn’t understand how everything had gone so wrong, how she had ended up here, begging for scraps of a relationship that had once meant everything to her.
*****^********^*****
“Are you sure you packed everything?” Zachary asked, hefting another box into the back of the truck. His tone was casual, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of sadness.
“Yes, Zach, I’m sure,” Rylee replied, rolling her eyes. She was trying to stay composed, but the knot in her stomach grew tighter with every passing minute.
Leaving home was supposed to feel liberating, but all she felt was a strange mix of fear and excitement.
Her father, Michael, closed the trunk and dusted off his hands. “It’s a big step, Lee. But you’re ready.”
“Thanks, Dad.” She smiled, hugging him tightly. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Where’s Mom?” she asked, glancing around the driveway. “I thought she’d be here to see me off.”
Michael’s expression flickered, but he quickly masked it with a smile. “She’s… tied up with something at work,” he said. “She wanted to be here, but you know how it is.”
Rylee frowned but nodded. “Yeah, I guess.”
Zachary stepped forward, pulling her into a tight hug.
“Promise you’ll call me if you need anything,” he said. “I mean it, Lee. Anything.”
“I will,” she promised, squeezing him back.
As they prepared to leave, a sleek black car pulled up to the curb. Rylee’s heart skipped a beat as the doors opened, and her other brothers—Matthew, Lucas, Ethan, and David—stepped out.
“Seriously?” Rylee said, crossing her arms. “What are you guys doing here?”
Lucas was the first to approach, his hands stuffed in his pockets.
“We’re here to apologize,” he said, his voice uncharacteristically soft. “We messed up, Lee. Big time.”
Matthew nodded, his usual stern expression replaced with one of regret.
“We’ve been way too overprotective. And we’re sorry for how we handled things.”
David stepped forward, offering her a small smile.
“You’re our little sister. We just want to keep you safe. But we know we went too far.”
Ethan, always the quietest, simply said, “We’re sorry, Lee. Really.”
Rylee stared at them, her emotions a whirlwind. Finally, she let out a small laugh and threw her arms around them. “You guys are idiots,” she said, her voice muffled against Lucas’s chest. “But I love you.”
“We love you too,” Zachary said, joining the group hug.
Michael chuckled, watching the scene unfold. “All right, that’s enough,” he said. “Let’s get her to school before she decides to stay home after all.”
&&&&&&&&&&&&
Rylee’s dorm room was small but cozy, with pale yellow walls and a single bed tucked against the far corner. She stood in the center, taking it all in, while Zachary and Michael unpacked her things.
“This is it,” Zachary said, placing a box on the desk. “Your new home.”
“It’s perfect,” Rylee said, her voice tinged with both excitement and nervousness.
Michael placed a hand on her shoulder. “You’re going to do great, Lee. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks, Dad,” she said, hugging him tightly. “For everything.”
“And don’t forget to eat,” Zachary added, smirking. “And call us. And don’t—”
“Zach,” Rylee interrupted, laughing. “I’ll be fine. I promise.”
They said their goodbyes, and Rylee watched as they left, her heart aching with a mix of sadness and anticipation. She was finally on her own, ready to start a new chapter of her life.
She turned to start unpacking, but before she could take a step, she collided with someone in the hallway.
“Whoa, sorry,” she said, looking up. Her breath caught in her throat.
Standing before her was a tall, dark-haired guy with piercing green eyes and a mischievous smirk. He had an air of confidence about him, the kind that was both intimidating and intriguing.
“Don’t apologize,” he said, his voice smooth. “I should’ve been watching where I was going.”
Rylee blinked, momentarily speechless. “Uh, no, it’s fine,” she managed to say.
He extended a hand, his smirk widening. “I’m Cole.”
“Rylee,” she replied, shaking his hand.
“Nice to meet you, Rylee,” Cole said, his gaze lingering on hers for just a moment too long. “Looks like we’ll be seeing a lot of each other.”
Before she could respond, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing there, her heart racing.
“Is this room 567” a cute female voice interrupted her thoughts……………………………chapter 5 press here