Chapter 5

When I got back to the apartment, the first thing I saw on the coffee table was a framed family photo. It was taken at our college graduation—me, Julian, Helen, and Richard.

Chloe had knocked it over and shattered the glass a few days ago, and I hadn't had time to fix it.

I slipped the photo out of the broken frame, sighed softly, and tore my portion off.

"I'm sorry, Helen. I can't be your daughter-in-law."

I walked into the bedroom and started packing.

I had accumulated a lot of things over the years, but I only packed a few changes of clothes.

Once my suitcase was zipped, the apartment fell into a heavy, suffocating silence.

On the wall hung a photo of Julian and me when we were eighteen. The boy in the photo had looked at me with such fierce, undivided devotion.

Suddenly, my phone rang. It was Julian.

My heart skipped a beat. For a fleeting second, I wondered if he had finally found his conscience and was calling to check if I made it home safely.

I swiped to answer.

Instead of his voice, the sound of heavy panting and muffled groans came through the speaker.

"Jules... do you love me, or that little blind girl?" Chloe’s voice gasped.

"You, babe. Always you," Julian groaned, his voice thick with lust. After a brief pause, he muttered, "Don't bring her up right now. I don't want her ruining the mood."

My heart physically ached, trembling in my chest. I swallowed the rising anger, raised my voice, and spoke clearly into the receiver.

"Julian. Is that you?"

The sounds stopped instantly. A second later, the call was abruptly cut off.

The floor-to-ceiling window reflected my pale, exhausted face. I looked pathetic.

I didn't sleep a wink that night.

The next morning, I called Helen to let her know I was moving to New York.

She was shocked and confused, but then she fell silent, likely remembering the strange sounds from her call with Julian the day before.

Through the phone, I heard her let out a shaky sigh, sounding as if she were on the verge of tears.

I politely declined her offer to drive me to the airport, dragged my suitcase out the door, and hailed a cab.

Before boarding the plane, I sent Julian one last text.

[No one will ever disturb your mood again.]

I attached all the forwarded sex tapes and chat logs, blocked his number, deleted him from my contacts, and turned off my phone.