Chapter 4

Three weeks ago, on a Wednesday.

My mother had fallen down the stairs.

Her surgery was scheduled for ten o'clock the next morning.

Around nine that Wednesday night, the nurse handed me the surgical consent forms.

I stood in the cold, sterile hospital hallway, crying as I called Julian.

I didn't even pick a fight with him that night.

I just sobbed and asked: "Julian, can you please come back just this once? I'm alone at the hospital, and I'm really scared."

He had told me: "Chloe, I have a massive project presentation tomorrow at nine. If I drive back now, I'll have to hit the road again at five tomorrow morning. Driving three hours back and forth is just pointless."

All this time, I thought he had been working late at the office that night.

I stared at Julian. "What time did you go over to comfort her?"

He remained silent.

"Around nine PM?"

Julian's Adam's apple bobbed. "Somewhere around there."

"And what time did you get back to your place?"

"Around one in the morning."

I let out a dry laugh. "Didn't you have a major presentation at nine the next morning?"

"Yeah."

"Did you make it?"

"Yes, I did."

"So driving three hours back and forth wasn't too exhausting for that, was it?"

Julian's face drained of all color. "Chloe."

I locked my eyes onto him. "Didn't you say driving three hours was pointless?"

"That's not the same thing."

"How is it not the same?"

Julian stood up, his voice growing tense and defensive. "The doctor said your mom's surgery was incredibly low-risk! You were already in a hospital surrounded by professionals. Amber was completely losing her mind that night. Milo had been with her for thirteen years, and her mental health has been terrible since the divorce. I was terrified she might do something stupid if she was left alone."

I looked at him, my voice barely a whisper. "But I told you I was scared, too."

He fell completely silent.

I asked, "Do you even remember that?"

"I do."

"Then why didn't you come back?"

"Chloe..."

"Why is it that when her son has a fever, you'd let me wait all day without a second thought? Why is it that when her cat dies, you can stay with her until one in the morning despite having a critical presentation the next day?"

"Why do my emergencies always have to wait until Friday?"

Julian's expression became increasingly strained under my questioning.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, and in a moment of frustration, the words slipped out: "Because you and Amber are different!"

I suddenly went quiet.

Julian froze, realizing what he had just said.

I asked quietly, "How are we different?"

He pressed his lips into a tight line.

After a long pause, he finally whispered, "You've always been independent, Chloe. You can handle things on your own. But Amber panics easily. She doesn't have anyone else in this city to help her."

I stood there, staring at him, completely speechless.