Chapter 3

3.

I found out later that Serena’s “blackmail” was far more calculated than I ever imagined.

She would call Gabriel late at night, crying about nightmares and seeing visions of Ethan. Whenever Gabriel hesitated to rush over, she’d casually bring up the old case: “Gabe, you know we both have our secrets. You wouldn’t abandon me, would you?” It was a surgical strike, hitting his guilt and his pressure points every single time.

And when Gabriel arrived at her apartment, he was always greeted by a woman in a silk nightgown with perfect makeup.

Thinking about it, I let out a cold laugh and crumpled the sticky note, tossing it in the trash.

That evening, Gabriel came home for dinner, which was a rare occurrence. It was probably out of guilt, or maybe to pacify me so I wouldn’t cause a scene about the art show.

“I brought you a gift.”

He handed me a small Tiffany-blue box. It was a classic necklace―the kind you can’t go wrong with, but also the most thoughtless.

“Thanks.” I took it and set it aside, with no desire to even open it.

Gabriel frowned. “Aren’t you going to look at it?”

“No rush. I’ll look later.”

I had already seen Serena’s private social media. She had the limited-edition version of the same necklace, engraved with her initials. Mine was just a generic piece from the display case.

Gabriel seemed to notice my coldness. He put down his fork, his tone heavy.

“Chloe, how long are you going to hold this grudge? I told you, this trip is extremely important. After your exhibition, I’ll make it up to you with a trip. The Hamptons or Aspen, how does that sound?”

Making it up to me. Like I was a child he had to appease.

I looked up at the man I had loved for seven years. His features were still handsome, but he felt like a complete stranger.

“Gabriel, if I told you not to come to the show, would you be relieved?”

He froze, his eyes darting away for a second.

“Don’t be silly. Of course, I want to support you. The timing is just impossible.”

Even now, he was still hiding behind perfect excuses.

I smiled and served him a piece of Brussels sprouts, his least favorite food.

“That’s good to hear. Have a great trip.”

The day Gabriel left, I went to JFK Airport.

Not because I wanted him to stay. I just needed a visible ending to this seven-year-long one-woman show.

He was near the security checkpoint, on the phone, with his side to me. His voice was unusually gentle. “Don’t worry, I’m about to come through… Make sure you have your passport.”

I stood a short distance away, listening to him give someone else the patience he’d never given me.

After hanging up, he turned and saw me, his expression returning to its usual calm. He walked over.

“Go home. Tell the driver to be careful.” His tone was that of someone giving instructions to a subordinate he was responsible for.

I nodded. “Okay.”

He raised his hand as if to ruffle my hair like he used to. I tilted my head slightly, avoiding his touch.

His hand froze mid-air, and his brow furrowed. “Chloe, that’s enough. When I get back, I don’t want to see you acting like this.”

With that, he turned and disappeared into the security line, never once looking back.

I stood in the vast, empty terminal, watching until he was gone.

A breeze seemed to blow through my chest, leaving it hollow and cold.

The winds of the Aegean Sea, I imagined, must feel just like this.