Chapter 4

Almost at the same time, I heard the front door open downstairs.

It was Nevaeh.

She must have seen the person outside, too. She stood in the entryway for a couple of seconds before frowning and heading downstairs.

I hid behind the curtain and watched them talk beneath the tree.

They were too far away for me to hear what they were saying, yet I could tell Nevaeh was getting impatient. She stood with her arms crossed, her face cold, saying something I could not make out.

Edward stood in front of her. His usual carefree expression was unusually tense. He looked like he was holding back his anger, or maybe trying to confirm something.

Finally, he said something in a low voice, and Nevaeh's expression changed slightly.

A few seconds later, she let out an icy laugh and turned to leave.

Edward stood there, frozen for a moment. Then he stepped forward and grabbed Nevaeh's hand.

Under the streetlight, the two of them hugged.

I gripped the windowsill, my hands and feet turning cold.

That night, Edward did not send another friend request.

I deleted that account for good. It felt like if I erased it, I could erase that secret, shameful relationship between Edward and me along with it.

Once I received my college admission notice, I quickly packed my things and moved to another state.

On the day I left, Nevaeh drove me to the airport. She pushed my suitcase along while complaining that I was taking too long.

"Do you have all your documents?

"Text us when you get there.

"If you don't like the dorm, tell me. I'll send you whatever you need."

I answered softly, yet my eyes kept burning.

Right before I boarded the plane, she suddenly shoved a card into my hand.

"If you don't have enough spending money, use this."

I quickly shook my head. "I have money."

She frowned, her voice suddenly sharp.

"I said take it.

"Don't make things hard for yourself out there."

My nose stung, and I almost burst into tears right there.

Nevaeh had always been like that. Her words could be sharp, yet her heart was impossibly soft.

Once college began, I settled into my new life: a new roommate, a new class schedule, and a new city.

Nevaeh messaged me every now and then.

Sometimes she asked if I was cold, other times she complained that I was ignoring her calls again. Sometimes she also told me about her relationship with Edward.

According to her, he was still the same as ever, annoying as hell, with a bad temper and an increasingly controlling streak. He was always checking her phone and questioning who she was talking to.

I could tell that Nevaeh did have some feelings for Edward.

Toward the end of my freshman fall semester, the university announced an exchange program that would let students study abroad for a year.

The requirements were demanding, and the application process was complicated.

My roommate asked why I suddenly wanted to apply. I lowered my head and sorted through my paperwork.

"I just want to see the world."

That was not really true. I just wanted to get farther away.

Before winter break, Mom called and told me to come home early. There was something the family needed to discuss.

I asked what it was. There was a brief pause on the other end of the phone. Then she laughed.

"You'll find out when you get home."

For some reason, my heart sank.

I bought a ticket home but did not tell them exactly when I would arrive.

It was evening when I finally got home.

I dragged my suitcase to the front door and had just reached for the keypad when the door opened from inside.

Mom was standing there. She clearly had not expected me to show up at that hour. She froze for a second, then broke into a smile.

"Suzanna's home? Why didn't you tell us you were coming?"

I was just about to answer when the voices coming from the living room suddenly stopped.

I looked up and saw several people sitting on the couch. Dad was there, along with Nevaeh, and sitting beside her was Edward.

He was dressed all in black, sitting in my family's living room with tea and several gift boxes arranged in front of him.

My feet stopped moving.

The air seemed to go still, and everyone turned to look at me.

Nevaeh was the first to recover. She stood up and walked toward me.

"Why did you come home at this hour?"

She casually took my suitcase from me, her tone perfectly normal. I could not stop myself from looking at Edward.

He was looking at me, too.

For one brief moment, his expression was completely blank.

However, I still caught the tiny pause in his eyes.

The next second, he casually looked away as if nothing had happened.

Mom smiled beside me.

"We were just talking to Edward about your sister's engagement.

"Your timing is perfect."

Engagement.

The word hit me like a blow to the chest. My breathing felt heavy.

However, all I could do was nod. "Yeah."

Nevaeh pulled me farther inside. "Go put your things away first."

Before I could move, Edward suddenly spoke from the couch. His voice was calm, almost casual.

"Getting used to college?"

My fingers tightened. "Yeah. Pretty much."

He nodded. Then, as if he were asking something completely ordinary, he added:

"You dating anyone?"

The question made everyone in the living room freeze for a moment.

Mom was the first to laugh.

"Her? She's too timid. How could she start dating this early?"

I looked up at Edward, only to find his eyes already on me. My throat tightened.

After a couple of seconds, I finally said quietly:

"No.

"However, I applied for an exchange program abroad. I won't be coming home for the holidays next year."

The moment I finished speaking, everyone's expression changed.

Edward remained seated on the couch, his grip tightening around the teacup in his hand.