An Exit Without Goodbye

Chester was smiling at his phone, probably texting Wendy. I left the breakfast by his bed and slipped out quietly.When his mother, Brielle Kane, came home, I was ready with my resignation. I was not tied down like the other lifetime-contract maids; I was free to go.Brielle always said I could leave when Chester did not need me. However, I swore to myself that I would always be there for him.Now, I was breaking that promise.In the study, Brielle watched me with crossed arms."Is Chester aware you're planning to leave?"She knew all about the unique bond Chester and I shared, which meant she kept me under her thumb, her demeanor anything but friendly.I kept my eyes to the floor."I've taken precautions; there won't be any Graham heirs from me."Without his desires to cater to, I would be nothing more than a nobody.Once I was gone, Chester would not spare me a second thought.Brielle clearly did not take my word for it. She summoned the family doctor, who gave me a thorou

Chester hit the hay early on the night of the engagement party.When he woke up to no reply from me, he just clicked his tongue in annoyance and let it be. Life went on as usual for him after that, but he could not shake a nagging sense of unease. Whether he was hanging out with friends or shopping with Wendy, he kept checking his phone for a message that never came.He only gave me a week off, and by day six, with still no word from me, he was so irked he drowned his frustrations in booze at a bar."She should be back tonight," he figured, trying to shake off the hangover.Reaching out, he expected to find the lemon soda I always left for him after his nights out drinking. However, this time, the nightstand was bare."Huh, nothing there. That's not like Ann," he mused, ruffling his already disheveled hair. He did not want to think too hard about it, so he just pulled the covers over his head, hoping for a bit more sleep.Then came a knock at the door."Chester, are you awake?"

I did not linger in Amarion after touching down. Instead, I hopped the next flight to Francoria. The Grahams lined my pockets well over the years, enough to tide me over until I landed the next gig.I was not exactly a local expert, so I picked out a travel agency that looked alright and snagged myself a personal tour guide.My guide was a fair-skinned young man, nothing like Chester with his intense vibe; that guy was all soft edges and a delicate air about him.He greeted me with an easy smile and a handshake."I'm Gilbert Harris."He gave me a quick once-over and chuckled. "You don't strike me as someone from around here."I laughed, caught off guard. "Is it that obvious?"Gilbert gave a playful smirk. "It's just that you've got this unique quality about you."Serene and mild, yet you stand out, reminds me of my mom when she was younger. I'd love for you to meet her someday; she'd take you right away."I felt a warm blush spread across my cheeks and managed a thankful gri

Blindfolded and clueless, I was at Chester's mercy.When I finally could see again, I was in a bedroom, the windows sealed shut, forcing the lights to stay on even during the day. However, the decor was familiar: I was still in Francoria.That was a small comfort. I exhaled and settled in to wait for Gilbert's rescue.The travel agency had a nifty feature: they equipped both tourists and guides with locators to keep everyone from getting separated.Chester barged in with a plate of food and plopped down next to me, gripping me tightly.He nuzzled into my neck, inhaling deeply."I've missed you so much."He clung on, refusing to let go, and tried to spoon-feed me. "Here, let me."I slapped the spoon away. "What's the point? I don't feel anything for you anymore."The spoon, made of glass, shattered on the floor.Chester squeezed tighter, and I struggled to catch my breath."Shut up!"You won't eat? Fine, let's do something else!"He tried to flip me over, to pin me down.C