Chapter 4

After getting home, I was so exhausted that I fell asleep as soon as I hit the bed.

I didn’t know how long I’d been out before a splash of freezing water shocked me awake.

Staring up, dazed, I saw Yvonne towering over me, rage twisting her features.

"Zoe! Why did you steal my ring?!" she screamed. She yanked me off the bed violently. "Do you even know what this means to me? Shawn gave it to me!"

I frowned, still groggy.

Before I could say a word, my mother stormed in and slapped me across the face.

"Did you think stealing the ring meant for the future Mrs. Scott would make Shawn love you? Or make others believe you’re the true lady of the Scott family? Return the ruby ring immediately!"

I clutched my cheek, staring back at them coldly. "I didn’t steal her ring."

Yvonne played the delicate victim perfectly, stepping forward with trembling lips. "The waitress said you were near my bag earlier. If it wasn’t you, who else could it be?"

I took a deep breath, trying to suppress the rising fury. "Search me if you don’t believe me."

With a grunt, my father waved the staff over. "Search her."

They obeyed without hesitation.

Minutes later, one of them returned with a box in hand. "Sir, we found this in Miss Zoe’s bag."

Yvonne gasped in betrayal, holding up the ring. "Why, Zoe? This was a gift from Shawn… It means everything to me."

I looked into her smug eyes and instantly knew that she planted it there.

Shawn arrived just then, face dark with disappointment. "You said you agreed to get divorced and wouldn’t cause trouble again. So, this is all an act? Stealing now? Just to get my attention? You’re disgusting."

His words cut deeper than any slap.

"I hate manipulative women. And that’s exactly what you are. I didn’t love you then, and I certainly don’t now. I never will."

I laughed humorlessly. "I didn’t steal that ring. And I don’t want it. I don’t love you anymore, Shawn. I don’t need your ring to prove anything."

I turned to my parents. "Dad. Mom. This is the last time I’ll call you that. I’m sorry for causing you trouble. I won’t anymore. I’ll disappear from your lives. Forever."

Silence filled the room.

Shawn frowned, visibly shaken. "What do you mean? What do you mean you don’t love me anymore?"

He panicked. He hadn’t expected this. He just wanted me to admit I was wrong and to apologize. He wanted me to behave like the woman he thought I should be.

My parents froze. I was calm, too calm. In the past, when Yvonne tried to frame me, I’d shout, scream, and defend myself. Now, I was icy cold, and that terrified them.

Yvonne tried to provoke me further, "What’s with the speech, Zoe? Another suicide stunt?"

She wiped at imaginary tears. "You always say you’ll stop upsetting Mom and Dad, but then you go and land yourself in the ER. You may not care about yourself, but they worry, you know?"

Their faces instantly turned sour again.

Before I could speak, Yvonne clung to my parents. "Maybe we should just lock her up so she can’t keep hurting herself."

My father’s face hardened. "Take her to the broken walk-in freezer and let her reflect on her actions."

When the servants grabbed me, I didn’t even struggle.

Yvonne trailed behind with a victorious smile. "See, Zoe? You were once their pride. Now they all hate you. One word from me, and you’re locked up like a stray dog. Since you didn’t manage to kill yourself after a hundred attempts, maybe this time, I’ll help. They’ll only love me now."

As the door slammed shut,the broken walk-in freezer suddenly resumed working wich freezing air hit my skin like knives. I curled into a ball and started shivering uncontrollably.

'No. I won’t die here.'

With frozen fingers, I started pounding on the door over and over until darkness blurred my vision.

Just as I lost consciousness, I felt warmth. Someone had entered.

"Zoe!"

It was Tasha. She wrapped her coat around me, tears streaming down her face. "Every time you make a single mistake, they throw you in here! These people are monsters! Don’t worry. I’m getting you out of here."

She helped me into the car, blasted the heater, and draped another coat over me.

"Airport," I whispered. My voice cracked. "My immigration approval came through today. My flight’s booked."

"Got it."

We sped through the streets, the wind howling outside.

At the airport, she handed me my suitcase and phone. "I’ll send everything over."

I nodded weakly.

I texted Shawn, "The divorce papers are signed and left on your desk. Goodbye. We’re done."

I texted my parents, "I'm cutting all ties with you."

Then, I powered off my phone and dropped it in the trash can before I boarded my flight.