Chapter 4

I called Adrian. When he answered, I heard him soothing Celeste to sleep.

Before I could speak, he lowered his voice and said, "Celeste just fell asleep. Don't start a fight."

I went to the emergency clinic alone.

While the physician stitched my arm, a nurse asked whether anyone was coming for me.

I did not answer.

Anesthetic burned beneath my skin, and the sutures pulled at the wound.

I stared at the ceiling and barely felt it.

The worst pain had already passed when Adrian carried Celeste out without hesitating.

I returned to the penthouse late that night and packed with steady hands.

I took only a few older clothes. I left everything Adrian had bought.

I folded three years of my life into one suitcase.

Adrian finally came home the next afternoon.

His gaze landed on the bandage around my arm, and he froze.

Only then did he remember.

I had been the woman he knocked down at his gala.

He rushed toward me, then stopped as if he no longer knew how to touch me.

"Clara, I'm sorry. I didn't see you. Celeste has a heart condition, and I panicked. Hit me or yell at me, but why didn't you call?"

I stepped away from his hand and answered calmly.

"It's fine. I handled it. Adrian, our third anniversary is the day after tomorrow. You promised we'd watch the sunrise from the bay."

Relief flooded his face. With red eyes, he began making promises.

"I'll be there. I'll clear my entire schedule and charter a boat. Afterward, we'll file for our marriage license. I arranged professional care for Celeste. From now on, I'll be with you."

I looked into his remorseful, devoted eyes and smiled.

"All right. I'll wait."

On the night of our anniversary, I stood in Cedarhaven Metropolitan Airport with a small suitcase.

Adrian had sent me a voice message thirty minutes earlier.

In the background, Celeste was smashing glass.

"Clara, Celeste is hurting herself. I have to stay with her. We can watch the sunrise tomorrow. Be good and wait for me."

The boarding announcement began.

I blocked Adrian on every messaging app and on my phone.

Then I removed my old SIM card.

I let out one quiet breath.

"There won't be a tomorrow, Adrian. You can keep July second with her."

I dropped the card into a trash bin and walked toward the premium boarding lane without hesitation.

I had already cleared security. All that remained was boarding.

Using my new number, I sent Julian a message.

"Everything is going according to plan. I'm through security."

At that moment, the privately operated advertising screens throughout the concourse went black.

Red-and-white text flashed across them.

Adrian had purchased an emergency public notice claiming I was missing and might be in danger.

He had even posted an outrageous reward for information.

Travelers stopped to stare and whisper.

Then hurried footsteps sounded behind me.

Adrian had reported a possible medical emergency, persuading the charter desk to place a brief hold on my departure while security verified my safety.

His elite business membership had also gotten him as far as the premium lounge before airport officers stopped him.

A gate agent spoke urgently into her radio.

"The Hawthorne account triggered the welfare hold, but the passenger has confirmed she's safe. Clear the premium lane now."

I stiffened and turned.

Adrian stood at the far end of the corridor without a coat.

He wore only a thin dress shirt, open at the collar, his chest rising and falling hard.

He advanced toward me, his voice raw.

"Clara, where are you going?"