Dragging her exhausted body back to the apartment she had lived in for ten years, Aria sensed something was wrong the moment she slid the key into the lock. The lock had been changed.
She found the spare key under the rug. After opening the door, she froze in the entryway.
The ceramic vase she had made by hand for Julian, the birthday gift he once said felt warm and thoughtful, was gone.
In its place stood a cold, lifeless metal sculpture.
On the living room wall, the photo of her and Julian in the snowy fields had been taken down, replaced by a solo art portrait of Lila, her makeup bold, her gaze openly provocative.
The sofa had been replaced with pale pink velvet, and a couple's scented candles sat on the coffee table.
Even the pothos she had cared for for five years was gone, the windowsill left completely bare.
"Do you like it?" Julian's voice came from behind her.
Leaning against the doorframe, he spoke casually, as if showing off a renovation. "Lila said the place felt outdated, so I let her redo it however she liked."
Aria didn't speak. Her fingers brushed over the empty windowsill, where she used to water the plants every day.
"Move out for a few days first," Julian stepped closer, his tone leaving no room for argument. "When Lila gets tired of living here, you can come back."
Come back after Lila got tired of it?
Aria nodded and turned to the bedroom to pack the last of her belongings.
After all, she had only two days left before her flight. She didn't want to fight anymore. She didn't want to hurt anymore.
Julian frowned. "You're just leaving like that? No crying? No scene?"
He had expected her to smash things, to beg on her knees, to cling to him the way she always had.
But Aria simply zipped up her suitcase and said calmly, "I wish you happiness."
That detached calm only infuriated Julian.
"What are you pretending to be so noble for?" he sneered. "Playing hard to get again? Waiting for me to come begging you back?"
Aria was exhausted. She didn't even have the energy to explain, pushing her suitcase as she walked out.
"Get out!" Julian shouted after her, furious and unrestrained. "Don't ever show up in front of me again!"
Late at night, a twenty-four-hour convenience store.
Wearing an ill-fitting uniform, Aria scanned items behind the checkout counter.
It was a temporary job she'd taken just to scrape together enough money for the airport shuttle.
The doorbell chimed.
Lila walked in on high heels, her smile syrupy sweet. "Oh? Aria? What a coincidence."
For the next half hour, she treated Aria like a servant.
"Get me a bag of chips."
"Forget it. I don't want it. Put it back."
"What about beef jerky? Make it the spiciest one."
"Oh, I don't feel like eating anymore. Throw it away."
Aria kept her head down and said nothing.
She couldn't lose this job. She had to save five hundred dollars for the trip.
Then Lila pointed at the hot soup station. "Add some more broth for me."
Just as Aria lifted a ladle of steaming broth, Lila suddenly shoved her arm. The entire bowl of scalding liquid splashed over Aria's arm and chest.
Agonizing pain exploded. The exposed skin on Aria's arm instantly swelled and reddened.
Aria bit down on her lip to keep from screaming, her eyes locking onto Lila. "You did that on purpose."
Lila gave a provocative smile, then clutched her stomach and stepped back, her voice shaking. "Y-you scalded me on purpose? Are you trying to kill me and my baby?"
At that moment, Julian pushed the door open.
Lila immediately rushed to him, tears streaming. "Julian! She hates that I'm pregnant. She wants to destroy our baby!"
Julian didn't even look at Aria, irritation filling his eyes. "This again? At least have some limits when you're being jealous."
Aria opened her mouth to explain, but he shoved her away hard.
Her lower back slammed into the sharp edge of the counter.
"Ah!"
The pain was tearing and blinding. Her vision went dark as cold sweat soaked her back.
Julian had already scooped Lila up in his arms and strode toward the door.
He left behind only a cold sentence. "Get close to her one more time, and I'll make sure you won't survive in this city."
Only Aria remained in the convenience store, curled on the floor, one hand pressed to her waist, trembling in pain.
The store manager peeked out and asked hesitantly, "Should we call the police?"
Aria shook her head and slowly pushed herself upright. "No. I still have to work."
She had thirty-five hours left.
Thirty-five hours later, she would board a flight to Scoyjan.