The first day we bought this place, Oscar lifted me into the air and spun me in circles, giddy with joy.
"Lucille, I finally have a home. A home that belongs to us."
"Thank you for always staying by my side. I swear I'll make you the happiest woman in the world."
Five short years, and everything had changed except the walls.
I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes and pulled the door shut.
Goodbye, Oscar.
I'd just reached the bottom of the stairs when I ran straight into Oscar and Gwyneth coming home.
Oscar's eyes dropped to the suitcase in my hand, cold as a blade of ice.
"Lucille, so it really was you!"
"You posted that video of us fighting during the wedding shoot online to smear Gwyneth as the other woman, and now you're actually trying to run?"
Gwyneth dropped to her knees in front of me with a thud.
"Lucille, please, I'm begging you, let me go. People online are tearing me apart. They dug up my studio's information and they're harassing my clients."
"Every client I have is canceling their orders. That's over a million dollars I can't afford to pay back…"
"I'm not the one who did the online stuff."
I looked at the fake tears welling in Gwyneth's eyes, my face blank.
"But isn't every word of it true?"
With that, I rolled my suitcase past them and walked away.
Oscar helped Gwyneth up and hurled a vicious line at my back.
"Lucille, you can't run from this! I'll make you regret it!"
I flagged down a car at the curb and headed straight for the airport.
In two hours, I'd say goodbye to everything in this country for good.
I was about to pass through security when two officers stopped me.
"Lucille Simmons, you assaulted Ms. Gwyneth Pruitt. The examination confirms your actions caused her injury. You'll need to come with us."
I opened my mouth to explain.
Oscar came toward me through the crowd, a sneer hooked at the corner of his mouth.
"Lucille, I told you. You can't run."
Gwyneth hid behind him, her face twisted into something pained and apologetic.
"Lucille, I'm sorry. I couldn't stop Oscar. He insisted on getting justice for me…"
I drew in a deep breath.
I texted HR at the company that I'd need to rebook my flight.
In the interrogation room.
Oscar spoke first.
"All you have to do is go online and publicly clarify that yesterday was a misunderstanding. That you personally asked Gwyneth to take the photos for you, that you were jealous of her, and that's why you caused a scene."
I shook my head.
"No."
Oscar's brow furrowed, and he let out a cold scoff.
"If you refuse, you'll sit in custody for ten full days. Don't forget, our wedding is in seven days. Or do you want Gwyneth to walk down the aisle in your place?"
I laughed out loud.
"Isn't that exactly what the two of you want?"
Gwyneth turned her face away, her shoulders trembling faintly.
"Lucille, we grew up together. Is this really the kind of person you think I am?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
