He let out a low laugh, and even though I couldn’t see his face, I could practically picture that smug grin of his when he drawled, “I’ve been waiting for this moment. So tell me—how about you and I get married?”
I froze. My lips parted, ready to refuse, to tell him off, to insist that I wasn’t the same woman he used to know. But something inside me… shifted.
A small, reckless voice whispered: Why not? What am I even holding on to anymore?
I didn’t even know where I’d go after I walked out of this house. I had no plan, no safe place, no idea what tomorrow looked like. Just humiliation and a hollow ache.
Maybe this—his offer—wasn’t as insane as it sounded.
I leaned against the wall, my fingers digging into the edge of the dresser to steady the wild pounding of my heart. Slowly, a smile crept onto my lips.
“I’ll agree,” I murmured, “but I need something from you first.”
“Name it, sweetheart,” he replied, smooth and confident.
“I want my entire identity wiped clean,” I whispered. “I want to vanish from their world completely. Celine Hale has to disappear.”
Another amused chuckle crackled through the phone. “That’s child’s play. I can sort that out in a matter of days.”
“Perfect,” I said. “Come get me in two days. I’ll be ready.”
Then I ended the call—unaware that Tristan had been standing right outside my door.
I turned around, and his voice slashed through the room like a blade.
“Who the hell was that?”
I blinked, startled. “What?”
“Two days?” he spat, stepping inside. “Pick you up? Who was that meant for? Not me. Are you cheating on me now? Seriously?”
He lunged toward me and snatched my phone, trying to unlock it.
“What’s your password?” he shouted in my face.
“Our anniversary,” I replied, calm as ice.
He typed it in. His brows knitted. “It’s not working. Isn’t it June 12?”
I lifted a shoulder. “Maybe that’s the date you celebrate with Alyssa.”
His expression twisted into fury.
Before I could react, something struck my cheek—hard. The phone. Pain erupted across my face, metallic warmth filling my mouth.
“You bitch!” he screamed. “Who were you talking to? And why are your damn bags packed?”
“I’m leaving for a while,” I said, touching the blood on my lip.
“Leaving?” He barked a bitter laugh. “With whose permission? With what money?”
“I saved,” I said. “I sold my artwork.”
“You saved money?” his voice rose. “Then hand it to me.”
My heart hammered painfully. “No. It’s mine. I worked for it.”
He stared at me like I’d spoken blasphemy. “Alyssa wants to travel. She’s been stressed—lost some money in her investments. I promised we’d book something special.”
I stared at him. “So you want to spend my money to take her on vacation? I thought she was financially independent.”
“She’s your sister!” he shouted. “You should be supporting her—you want to ruin her birthday now?”
Something shattered deep inside me.
“And where exactly are you going?” I asked, barely able to form words.
“To see the aurora borealis,” he said casually.
My knees nearly buckled.
My dream.
The one dream I had ever dared to share with him.
And he was planning to give it to her.
“No,” I whispered. “You’re not using my savings for that.”
Tristan ignored me, shoved me aside, and yanked open my drawer. His hand closed around the envelope I’d hidden.
“Tristan, please,” I begged. “That’s everything I have.”
He didn’t even bother looking at me as he left the room, yelling for Noah.
I followed moments later, standing unseen in the hallway.
“You’re sure we can use this?” Alyssa asked, pretending to sound guilty.
“Of course,” Tristan said easily. “She’s your sister. This is her way of showing support. And we’re booking first class—you’ll love it.”
“And her?” Noah snickered.
“She can stay behind, or sit with the rest of the peasants. Doesn’t matter.”
Their laughter filled the room—loud, cruel, triumphant. Then Alyssa turned to me with a sugary smile.
“Oh, you’re here. Thank you, Celine. Truly. You’ve always had such a generous heart.”
I stepped up to her slowly. Met her gaze.
Then I slapped her across the face. Hard. The crack echoed like lightning.
She staggered back, clutching her cheek. “What is wrong with you?!”
“I never agreed to give you a cent,” I said, my voice low and cold. “That money was for me. For something I’ve dreamed of all my life. And none of you had any right to steal it.”
Tristan’s face contorted with anger. “You hit her? Are you completely out of your mind?!”
Noah stormed up to me, digging his fingers painfully into my arm. “What’s wrong with you, Mom? She’s your sister!”
“She’s a parasite,” I snapped. “A parasite you all protect while draining me dry.”
Tristan shoved me hard, making me stumble. “Don’t you dare talk about her like that. You’re pathetic. Jealous, that’s all.”
“Jealous?” I laughed, the sound hollow. “I gave up my entire life for this family. And all you ever did was betray me.”
“Oh please,” Noah scoffed. “You sit around doing nothing. You’re just bitter that Dad actually appreciates someone who isn’t useless.”
“Exactly,” Tristan said sharply. “Alyssa knows how to make people feel loved—unlike you. Always complaining, always playing the victim.”
“And now you want praise because you earned a few coins selling those hideous paintings?” Noah sneered.
Tears stung my eyes, but I swallowed them back.
“I saved for something that was mine,” I whispered. “And you stole it. Just like everything else.”
“You didn’t even ask,” I said to Tristan. “You just took it for granted. Like I exist to serve you.”
He shrugged. “You live here for free. That money’s basically mine.”
“Ungrateful,” Noah muttered. “You should be thanking us for letting you stay at all.”
I looked at them—really, truly looked.
My husband.
My son.
My sister.
Strangers. Every one of them.
“Pack our things. Stop being dramatic,” Tristan ordered.
So I did. Like a servant. Like I’d always been.
My hands shook while I folded Alyssa’s dresses, Noah’s suits, Tristan’s coat. I packed everything neatly into their pristine luggage—luggage they never let me touch.
When I finished, I went to the kitchen. I hadn’t eaten all day. My head was spinning. Maybe some food would—
“Here,” Alyssa said sweetly, handing me a plate.
I looked down.
It wasn’t literally dog food, but it might as well have been. Cold, gray leftovers scraped together into something vile. Hardened rice stuck to the edges. A mockery served on a filthy dish.
My stomach lurched. I staggered to the sink and gagged.
Tristan stormed in immediately. “You can’t even show gratitude?! Alyssa just gave you a meal and you act like this?!”
Before I could react, the plate smashed against my face—the cold grease smearing across my skin.
I stood there, silent. Unmoving.
No tears. No screams.
Just a single thought pulsing through me:
Two days.
Just two more days.
Then I would be gone.
For good.
