Chapter 3

03

I went home alone that night. Jaxen didn't come back at all.

He showed up the next day at noon, but he wasn't alone. Liana was with him.

Jaxen gave me a cold look and pulled Liana inside. He didn't even bother to make up an excuse.

"Liana says she doesn't feel safe staying alone. Go clear out the master bedroom for her."

He tossed his keys on the counter and disappeared into the bathroom.

I didn't move. Liana walked over to me, eyeing my packed suitcase.

"Are you... leaving?" she asked with a fake tilt of her head.

I ignored her and zipped the bag shut.

She sat on the edge of the sofa, leaning in close.

"It's good that you know your place. Honestly, I admire you. You followed him around like a stray dog for ten years, thinking you were the lady of the house."

I snapped my head up to look at her.

She smiled, her voice dripping with honeyed poison.

"Last night, Jaxen told me it was our real wedding night. He made sure I felt very... loved."

"You're getting old, Lyra. You should realize he's never going to marry a girl like you. Instead of being a dog here, why don't you find some old man to settle down with?"

I felt the heat rising in my chest. "Shut your mouth."

"Oh? The stray dog can bark? Are you still holding onto hope?"

I turned away, but Liana's eyes flashed with a sudden, wicked idea. She let out a sharp scream and threw herself backward.

"Ah!"

She hit the vanity table by the door. Her lip caught on the edge, and blood began to trickle down her chin.

The bathroom door flew open. Jaxen ran out, still dripping wet in a towel.

When he saw Liana crying on the floor, his face went dark.

"Lyra! Are you out of your mind?"

I stood my ground. "She did it herself..."

"Shut up!"

"I've told you a thousand times she's fragile. Why do you have to make her life a living hell? She has no one but me! You're older, you've seen more of the world―why are you competing with her?!"

I blinked back tears. "She called me your dog, Jaxen."

"So what? That's no reason to hurt her."

"Besides... was she lying?"

He let out a cruel, jagged laugh.

"Lyra, don't you dare act superior in front of her."

He stepped forward and kicked my suitcase over. Clothes spilled everywhere. My parents' framed funeral photo slid out and shattered against the tile.

I froze.

A piece of glass sliced my hand, but I didn't feel it.

Liana was still sobbing on the floor.

Jaxen didn't even look at me. He just spat out one word.

"Get out!"

I knelt down and slowly picked up the ruined photo of my parents.

I remembered the year they died. Jaxen had held me, crying with me, swearing he'd be my family forever.

It didn't matter anymore. My flight was tomorrow.

That night, he knocked on the door of the guest room.

I didn't answer.

He pushed it open anyway. He smelled like cheap perfume, and there were fresh hickeys on his neck.

He sat on the edge of the bed.

"Look, I overreacted earlier. Liana is like a sister to me. I just got worried."

"You know how I am. Stop being dramatic, okay?"

I stared at the lipstick stain on his collar.

He reached out to touch me. "You've had a hard day. Let me make it up to you tonight."

He leaned in to kiss me.

I shoved him away with everything I had.

"Don't touch me!"

"You make me sick, Jaxen."

He froze, then his temper flared again.

"Don't push it, Lyra. I'm giving you a way out here!"

I glared at him. "I'm not sleeping with you. Get out. Now."

His eyes darkened. Suddenly, he grabbed my face and forced his mouth onto mine.

When he finally let go, I was gasping for air.

"Don't forget, Lyra. You're the one who chose to follow me for ten years."

I wiped my mouth and laughed.

"I was blind back then."

He swept everything off the nightstand in a fit of rage.

"Fine! You think you're so tough now?"

He looked at my suitcase. "Packing again? You want to leave? Go ahead."

He scoffed. "I know your games. You're just doing this to get a rise out of me."

"You can't survive without me. You'll be back in two days begging for my help!"

He slammed the door as he left.

At dawn, I grabbed my bags, picked up Nana, and headed to the airport.

In the taxi, I pulled a USB drive from my purse.

I had downloaded the security footage from the resort's hot spring.

The video of him and Liana in the public pool was crystal clear.

Before boarding, I opened my laptop and drafted a long email, just like in my previous life.

Recipients: Media outlets, sponsors, the International Racing Association...

Then, I snapped my SIM card in half and boarded the plane.

As the cabin doors closed, I looked out the window one last time.

By now, the internet should be exploding.

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