Chapter 5

He shot me one cold glance, then carried Hester straight into the bedroom.

Before long, the sound of her whining and fussing drifted out.

Luke told her to settle down, then came out to ask me for hangover medicine.

He used to have a lot of business dinners, so I always kept some on hand at home.

Now, I'd already thrown every bit of it into the trash.

Remembering that, I answered flatly, "We're out."

"Then give me the app so I can order it myself."

When I ignored him, he snatched my phone off the table in irritation.

He punched in the password like he owned it.

But he tried several times and couldn't get in, growing more and more agitated.

"Alison, when did you change the password?"

I took the phone back. "I felt like it. No reason."

That set Luke off completely. "How long are you going to keep throwing these tantrums?"

He turned on his heel, walked into the bedroom, and slammed the door hard.

All night, the room echoed with Hester's coaxing voice, begging Luke for kisses and cuddles.

The next morning, an earthquake hit.

The instant Luke woke, he scooped up the screaming Hester and rushed her out of the house.

Only after the shaking stopped and the danger had passed.

Did he remember I was still inside, and start searching for me in a panic.

But by then, I was already at the airport, waiting to board.

Watching Luke's name flash across my screen, I hit decline without a thought.

Right before boarding, I sent Luke one last text.

【Let's break up!】

Then I dropped my SIM card into a trash can at the airport.

The moment he saw my breakup text.

Luke gripped the phone so hard his knuckles went white, his face turning cold enough to chill the room.

A flicker of delight crossed Hester's eyes, but she forced out a fake little sob.

"Luke, honey, Alison must be blaming me. That's why she's threatening you with a breakup."

"It's all my fault. When she comes back, I'll move out. I promise I'll never get in the way of you two again."

Luke pinched the bridge of his nose, irritated.

"Don't worry. I won't let her drive you out."

He pulled out his phone, about to type a message telling me to get back here.

But the moment he saw what I'd left behind, his breath caught hard.

At that very same moment, friends and family started calling him one after another.

"Luke, check the link in the group chat, quick. What on earth is going on?"