Chapter 2

2.

I started packing my bags immediately.

Even though Caleb and I didn't live together, my house was covered in his fingerprints.

To take better care of Cassie, I had moved her into my guest room.

If it weren't for love, why would a girl who grew up with everything do all the dirty work?

I had learned to cook specialized meals, did all the laundry, and spent nights in hospital chairs. I tried to be the perfect caregiver.

Now, I realized I was just a pathetic fool.

I called a cleaning service to throw everything of his away. Soon, the house looked spotless and empty.

It hit me then that ever since I moved to Savannah, my entire world had revolved around Caleb.

Even in my own home, there was barely anything that belonged to me.

I went upstairs and found a fancy gift box in Caleb's room.

Inside was a diamond jewelry set. I noticed initials engraved on the inside―Mandy's initials.

There was a card too. It said, "To my one true love."

He had custom-ordered this set for Mandy.

The most hilarious part? He had used my credit card to pay for it.

Anger boiled in my chest. I handed the box to the cleaning lady as a tip.

He didn't deserve my things. I'd rather give them to a stranger than let them profit.

I had the staff toss the rest of his junk onto the sidewalk and changed the locks on the front door.

I called a real estate agent to list the house and bought a one-way ticket to New York City.

Before I flipped my phone to airplane mode, I saw a string of texts from Caleb.

"Nora, it's late. Why haven't you brought Cassie her dinner yet?"

"Don't think that just because the invitations are out, I'm forced to marry you."

"You embarrassed me at the shop today. We aren't finished!"

"Get over here and apologize to me and Cassie right now, or the wedding is cancelled!"

Every word screamed his arrogance.

It was almost funny. I blocked his number without a second thought.

A few minutes later, one of Caleb's best friends called me.

"Hey, Nora, did you and Caleb have a spat? You can't just go around hitting people in public."

"Dinner time is over, and you're not at the hospital. How is Caleb supposed to handle her alone?"

Listening to his condescending lecture, I lost all my patience. "Go to hell."

"Who do you think you are, trying to educate me?"

I hung up before he could respond and blocked every single person associated with Caleb.

I should have done this a long time ago.

Whenever I hung out with Caleb's friends, they helped him gaslight me. They always made sure to mention how I wasn't as good as Mandy.

Good. They could all rot in the trash together.

Since Mandy was so amazing, she could go take care of Cassie. Why were they calling me?

When I woke up, the plane had touched down.

Looking out at the New York skyline, the heavy weight on my chest finally lifted.

I had wasted two years in Savannah.

But I was only twenty-four, and New York was my real home.

My friends were here. My life was just beginning.

As soon as I stepped into the terminal, I saw my best friend holding a bouquet of flowers.

She ran over and gave me a hug so tight I could barely breathe.