Finally, Cameron let me go, awkwardly straightening his suit. "You should get some rest. I have to go back to the office to finish up some work."
With that, he practically fled.
I watched his back disappear through the doorway, and the tears I'd been holding back finally surged.
There was a time when I worked late, and he would drive across the city to pick me up, bringing hot late-night snacks. He remembered all my favorites. When I was sick, he would cancel a hundred-million-dollar deal to stay by my bedside all night...
Those moments of genuine kindness had once made me believe our happiness would last a lifetime, that it was worth giving up the prestige and protection of my own family.
But seven years of love had finally come to an end.
I wiped away my tears, took out my phone, and booked a flight to Seattle for three days from now.
The next morning, I was awakened by a commotion downstairs.
I went downstairs to find Caroline standing in the middle of the living room like she owned the place, directing movers with her luggage—a mountain of at least seven or eight suitcases.
Juliet was clinging to Caroline's arm affectionately. "Caroline, you're finally here!" she said sweetly.
Caroline smiled and patted her hand, then turned to Cameron, who had just emerged from the study. "Cameron, I'm so sorry," she said softly. "My mother was worried I wouldn't be comfortable, so she insisted I bring all this. I hope I'm not intruding."
Cameron replied casually, "We've known each other since college, and your mother has looked after Juliet and me for years. There's no need to be so formal."
Juliet noticed me, and the smile on her face immediately vanished. Her tone turned sharp and sarcastic. "What are you standing there for with that sour face? From now on, Caroline is staying here to keep me company!"
Caroline came forward, her tone warm and enthusiastic, as if she were the lady of the house. "Evelyn, you're awake? The psychologist said Juliet shouldn't be agitated, so I came over to keep her company. I hope you don't mind."
I said nothing, just watched them quietly, as if I were a spectator at a ridiculous play.
Cameron avoided my gaze and said to Caroline in a low voice, "Evelyn has already agreed."
"This is my home, what does it matter if she agrees or not?" Juliet sneered. "If she's not happy, she can move out."
Then she turned back to Caroline, her voice becoming sweet again. "Come on, Caroline, I'll take you upstairs. We'll pick the best room."
Before long, heavy thuds echoed from the second floor. I went up to find the door to my master bedroom wide open. My clothes and bags, along with my design sketches and intricate architectural models, were all dumped in the hallway.
Everything Cameron and I had carefully chosen together was tossed out like garbage.
Juliet stood in the middle of the bedroom with her hands on her hips, directing the maid, "Change these ugly sheets! Put on the silk ones Caroline likes!"
Caroline lingered at the doorway. "If I share a room with Juliet, I might disturb her," she said slowly. "But if I stay too far away, I can't take care of her in time. This room is the closest to hers, so..."
Cameron came over, saw the mess on the floor, glanced at me, and was about to speak.
But I spoke first, my voice calm. "It's fine. You can have whichever room you want."
I crouched down and silently began to pick up the scattered design sketches.
"Evelyn," Cameron looked down at me, his voice laced with guilt. "You can stay in the guest room for now. We can redecorate later, or buy a new house..."
"You've already let her move in. What difference does it make where I sleep?" I said faintly, patting a sketch clean where a footprint had smudged it.
Cameron fell silent, his gaze falling on a broken architectural model on the floor.
It was one we had made together during our first trip to the Venice Architecture Biennale. He bent down to pick it up, his voice tense. "This is our memory... Don't you want it anymore? I can have someone fix it."
I paused for a moment, then finally said, "Throw it away. It's old anyway."
"Evelyn..." Cameron chased after me, holding the model. "What's wrong with you? You weren't like this before..."
"Nothing," I answered, a faint bitterness in my voice. "I'm just making room for the two of you, all for Juliet's sake. Isn't this what you wanted? If this isn't enough, I can disappear completely."
Cameron opened his mouth, clutching the broken model, but couldn't say a word.
