He Wanted My Bestie Reborn Me Said YES—So Why Regret Chapter 08
Clutching that clue, Ethan refused to give up.
When the ocean yielded nothing, he searched the surrounding shores.
Eventually he found an island-Keyhaven-frequently passed by fishing boats and ferries near the
accident site.
Hopeful, he went ashore and checked into a beachfront B&B.
The island thrived on tourism. Boardwalk artisan markets sprang up around the scenic spots.
Every night, he wandered aimlessly.
Countless faces passed by-none of them the one he sought.
Just as he was about to leave, the island held its biggest boardwalk market of the year.
The tourist crowds swelled, and with them, his last chance to find Meredith.
Remembering how she’d once longed for island life he stayed.
He arrived early, scanning the crowd.
But it was packed. Due to local tradition, most visitors came as couples.
He felt painfully out of place.
What if he saw her here with someone else?
Probably the same feeling she’d had back then.
While he was lost in thought, his gaze snagged on a macrame bag charm swinging from a girl’s
purse.
The familiar braided work made his heart lurch. He hurriedly stopped her.
“Excuse me-where did you buy that charm?”
Following her direction, he moved fast, passing booth after booth.
Until he stopped at a corner stall.
He stared.
Meredith wore a crochet beach top, a shell pendant around her neck.
This woman he’d searched for over a year stood right there, unharmed.
He crept closer, and only when he heard her soft voice did he dare to breathe.
“Meredith. I found you.”
She’d just finished arranging her handmade crafts. Looking up, she blinked, then greeted him
naturally.
“Oh. Long time no see, Mr. Prescott.”
The politeness and distance in her voice were unmistakable.
His eyes burned. He reached for her, but a man stepped up beside Meredith and caught his arm.
She didn’t pull away from him. In fact, she stepped back.
“Meredith!” Ethan called her name, anguished.
“You’re alive-why didn’t you come back to me?”
She frowned slightly but kept her tone civil. “A fishing boat picked me up. I stayed on Keyhaven for
a while, liked it, and decided to settle here permanently.”
“Then you should have told me. I’d have come.”
“No need.” She shook her head. “I stayed so I wouldn’t have to see you again.”
His chest ached, but he forced a smile. “How can you say that? You don’t know how worried I was.
I looked for you for five years.”
She gave him a strange look. “Did you learn to dive
He froze. “No.”
She smiled faintly.
That small smile calmed his frantic heart. He murmured, “Meredith-back then, I didn’t recognize you. That’s why I left you behind.”
She nodded, understanding.
“Come back with me, Meredith. Let’s finish the wedding.”
But she said, “I’ve already made room for Jessica. She didn’t have an accident. Shouldn’t you marry
her?”
He fumbled for words.
“I… Jessica and I are nothing.” At least they would be.
“I don’t care anymore.” Her voice was even. “I saved her. We’re even.”
“As for who you love-it doesn’t matter to me.”
