Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right
Hello 30

Chapter 30

""Hey Cutie Pie."

The voice on the other end was husky and familiar, yet distant.

A familiar face popped into my mind, and I blurted out, "Wayne!"

I had hoped that changing my number would keep me off the Johnston family's radar, but I never expected Wayne to replace this number and actually call me.

"Looks like you kept my number and didn't forget about me," Wayne's voice had that teasing edge.

He was only two years older than Jace. Before he left for abroad, he used to look out for me a lot and loved calling me Cutie Pie.

For a moment, I had no idea how to respond. His words sounded almost like he was complaining.

In the first couple of years after he left, I'd sometimes reach out, just to see how he was doing. But eventually, we lost touch.

Wayne was never the type to keep in contact. He barely talked to his family, so it was no surprise he didn't stay in touch with me.

Now, out of the blue, he was calling me. I knew it had to be about my canceled wedding with Jace.

Even if Wayne rarely spoke to his family, they always shared important news.

"How'd you get this number?" I asked straight out. I hated playing guessing games.

"You asked me for money to top up your phone credit back then."

Wayne's response made me admire him. No wonder he was a top student. He remembered my number for ten years after topping up my credit just once.

After my parents' accident, my dad's phone became my cherished keepsake. One day, I found the number suspended due to unpaid bills, so I needed to recharge it.

At the time, I had no money and felt too embarrassed to ask Lindey and Matthew, so I turned to Wayne.

He questioned me about why I needed the money, thinking I might use it for something else. When I explained, he still didn't believe me and went with me to the payment center. Eventually, he paid for the recharge and remembered the number.

I had forgotten to repay him, so when I saw his call now, I joked, "Are you calling to collect the debt?"

"Yep," he admitted.

I knew he wasn't serious but played along. "I can transfer the money to you right-"

"Rea." Wayne cut me off.

My grip on the phone tightened, but I said nothing. Wayne stayed silent for a moment too.

+15 BONUS

After a brief pause, his calm voice broke the silence. My parents are freaking out about you. They can't replace you, and my mom... she fainted from the stress."

My heart sank. I knew they'd be worried, but I hadn't expected it to be this bad. Guilt and concern weighed heavy in my chest. "Is Lindey okay?"

"She's hanging in there, just a spike in blood pressure from all the stress," Wayne reassured me before hesitating. "Rea, did Jace mess up?"

It seemed like I couldn't dodge this question. I knew I'd have to explain it over and over once people knew about it.

Just the thought gave me a headache. I rubbed my temples. "Didn't you talk to him? Maybe you should ask him first?"

"I did. He said he has no clue," Wayne replied, almost making me want to laugh.

"Did he also mention how unreasonable and overreacting I am?" I asked, my smile tinged with

bitterness.

Wayne didn't answer directly but instead said, "You loved him so much, you were determined to marry him. If you suddenly changed your mind, he must have done something to hurt you, right?"

His words pricked at my heart, a dull ache settling in. Despite being abroad for years, Wayne seemed to understand my feelings for Jace better than Lena ever did.

We had shared meals and lived under the same roof. Wayne had witnessed firsthand the little gestures of my love for Jace- the candies I left out for him, the chicken wings I saved, the hidden slices of watermelon, and the secret diary entries I wrote...