His After The Heartbreak (BL)-Chapter 129: Why

Chapter 129- Why?

Tyler's POV

I stared at Mom, my fork frozen halfway to my mouth, my appetite vanishing in an instant. The food on my plate might as well have been rocks because there was no way I could swallow a single bite after what she just said.

"Tell me you're joking, Mom," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, but she didn't laugh, didn't crack a smile, didn't even say anything to reassure me. She just kept eating, like she hadn't just shattered everything I thought we had planned.

She was serious. She was actually serious.

I swallowed hard, my chest tightening as I searched her face for any sign of a joke, a prank, something—anything—but all I saw was quiet determination. No hesitation. No doubt.

"Mom," I said again, a little louder this time. "I know this is a joke. It has to be. I don't believe a single thing you're saying right now because this... this isn't funny. This is just—" I let out a short, breathless laugh, shaking my head. "This is ridiculous. And you're messing with me, right? Right, Mom?"

She still didn't answer.

"Mom," I called again, my voice rising. "Mom! Say something!"

She just looked down at her plate, pushing food around with her fork like we weren't talking about something life-altering.

I slammed my fist on the table. "Fucking answer me!" My voice cracked, raw with frustration. "Tell me it's a joke! Just say it!"

Still nothing.

I shot up from my chair, my body shaking with anger, with disbelief, with something too big to even name. The chair scraped against the floor as I stormed out of the dining room, my breath coming too fast, too sharp.

No. No way. This wasn't real.

I needed proof. I needed to see it with my own eyes.

I ran to my room, yanked open my nightstand drawer, and grabbed the letter. This was it. This was what she had been trying to make me read all day. This was where the real truth was. And I already knew what it was going to say—that it was all just a misunderstanding, that she had been joking, that we were still leaving.

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That we had to leave.

Clutching the letter in my hands, I rushed back to the dining room, my heart hammering so loud it drowned out every other sound. Mom was still sitting there, barely looking at me as I tore open the envelope.

I skimmed the words. My breath hitched. My hands trembled.

No.

I read faster, flipping through the letter like there had to be another page, another explanation, something that made this make sense.

But it wasn't there.

The words blurred as my mind tried to reject them.

She wasn't joking.

"Mom," I croaked, my throat tight. "So you weren't joking?"

She finally looked up, her face filled with something that almost looked like guilt.

I let out a short, bitter laugh, my vision burning. "I thought this was all a prank. I needed it to be a prank." My voice broke on the last word, and I hated how weak I sounded.

Mom sighed, her voice soft. "That's what I was trying to tell you in the letter, Tyler. I didn't want to hurt you. I didn't know how much this would—"

"Shut up," I snapped, cutting her off. My hands clenched around the paper, crumpling it. "Don't say that to me. Don't tell me you 'didn't mean to hurt me.' That's bullshit."

She flinched but didn't argue.

My breathing was ragged, my entire body tense as the realization fully sank in. "Why?" I demanded. "Why did you suddenly change your mind?"

Silence.

"Was it because of Dad? Was it because of the threats Declan gave you?" My voice rose with each word, my anger unraveling. "Please tell me that's not why. Tell me this isn't because of him!"

Mom's face twisted with emotion. "Tyler, please calm down and listen to me—"

"Hold it!" I cut her off again, my hands shaking as I pointed at her. "There's nothing to listen to!"

She tried to reach for me, but I took a step back.

"You want me to listen to what, exactly? That we're just going to stay here and do nothing?" I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. "Do you even hear yourself right now?"

Mom's lips pressed together, her expression pained, but I didn't care.

"You know what staying here means, Mom. You know what it means for us. For you." My voice dropped lower, but it didn't lose its sharpness. "You know that running away is the only thing that can save us from Dad's wrath."

I swallowed hard, my fists clenched at my sides.

"Running is our only chance, Mom," I whispered. "And now you're telling me we're just... staying?"

She didn't answer.

And all of a sudden—

Mom decided—just like that—that we weren't running away anymore. No warning, no explanation, just a decision thrown at me like it was nothing.

"So tell me, Mom," I said, my voice sharp, my heart pounding. "What changed your mind? Tell me the truth. What really changed your mind?" I swallowed hard, my fists clenching. "Was it that man? The one you just met?"

Mom flinched but didn't deny it. She hesitated, and that was all the answer I needed.

But then she finally spoke. "Yes, Tyler," she admitted, her voice trembling. "Yes! He's the reason I'm not running away anymore."

My chest tightened. "So you're giving up our escape, our safety—our happiness—because of some man?" I scoffed, shaking my head. "Because you love him?"

"He's not just some man, Tyler!" she snapped, then softened. "He makes me happy. I haven't felt this way in so long, and if I leave without him... I won't be able to forgive myself."

I let out a bitter laugh. "You won't forgive yourself?" My voice rose. "So what about me? What about us? You're willing to risk everything for someone who doesn't even deserve to be called a man?"

"Tyler, please, just listen to me—"

"Listen to what, Mom?" I cut her off, my voice shaking. "What do you want me to hear? That we're just supposed to stay here and wait for Dad to find us? That you're throwing everything away for someone you barely even know?" I scoffed. "Tell me. Tell me now!"

Tears welled up in her eyes. "I haven't been loved like this in so long," she whispered. "The last man who loved me... Declan killed him. And I can't—please, Tyler, just let me love this one."

"How sure are you that Declan won't kill this one too?" I asked, my voice low, dangerous. "How sure are you, Mom?"

She looked away.

"Answer me!" I yelled, slamming my fist on the table. "Declan killed the last man you loved, and now you're throwing yourself into the same situation again? Do you think he'll just let you go? You know what he's capable of!" I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady. "And yet, you stand there and tell me that no one has ever loved you like this? Bravo, Mom. Bravo."

She sniffled, wiping at her face. "I've thought about it, Tyler. I know your father will find us. I know he'll make us pay for running away. That's why... it's better if we just stay."

"Have you forgotten what you told me? That if we ran far enough, he wouldn't be able to find us?" I narrowed my eyes. "Why are you suddenly having second thoughts?" My heart pounded harder, realization sinking in. "Or is it him?" I sneered. "Your so-called lover. Is he the one making you change your mind?"

Mom quickly shook her head. "No, Tyler, it's not like that—"

"Then what is it like, huh?" I snapped. "Explain it to me! Make it make sense!"

She didn't speak.

I gritted my teeth, my nails digging into my palms. "How long have you even known this guy?"

She hesitated.

Then, in the quietest voice, she said, "Three days."

I almost laughed. "Three days?" My chest tightened, my vision blurred with rage. "You've known him for three damn days, and you're already ready to throw everything away for him?" I let out a breathless chuckle, shaking my head. "Are you that desperate, Mom?"

"Tyler, I—"

"No." I cut her off, stepping back like I couldn't stand to be near her anymore. "All the torture Declan put you through, all the pain, and you just forget it all because of some guy you just met?" I shook my head, disbelief coursing through me. "You haven't even known him for a month!" My voice cracked. "Not even a week! And you're already tearing up our plans for him?*"

"Is he manipulating you?" My breath came out sharp. "Just say it, Mom. Tell me what the hell is going on, because this makes no sense!"

Silence.

I ran a hand down my face, my heart pounding so hard it hurt. "I really thought... I really believed that you wouldn't let your feelings cloud your judgment." I let out a bitter laugh. "But I was wrong. I was so, so wrong."

I stared at her, my voice dropping to a whisper. "Your love isn't just clouding your judgment, Mom. It's going to destroy you. And when it does, don't expect me to be there to catch you."

"And as for your house? I'm leaving your house for good so you and your new man can have enough room to give birth to your future kids.