Chapter 4

Richard didn't spare me another glance. He scooped Mia into his arms as she groaned in pain. Then he barked at the others, who were still standing there in shock.

"What are you waiting for? Call an ambulance! No, take my car and get her to the hospital. Now!"

They all rushed out.

I was left alone, rubbing my bruised shoulder where Richard had shoved me.

I gave a bitter laugh and shook my head. I'd given Richard five years of my life and followed him across the world without hesitation. This was all I had to show for it.

Maybe it was better this way. At least now, I had no reason to look back.

Richard always did what he said he would, so I didn't bother going back to pack my things.

If he was so sure he'd been the one supporting me, he could keep everything his money had paid for. The thought of taking any of it with me made me sick.

Luckily, I'd brought all my personal documents with me for the immigration review. That was all I needed.

I hailed a cab and headed straight for the airport.

Richard probably knew Mia was putting on an act, but he still couldn't resist seeing how far he could push me.

Just like those lousy friends of his had said, he'd supported me for five years and given me a life of luxury. Somewhere along the way, he'd started to believe that meant I should do whatever he wanted.

Apparently, even his cheating was something I was supposed to overlook as long as he said a few sweet words afterward. After all, he was the one paying for everything.

Richard pressed his lips together, then cut off the credit card he'd given me and revoked my access to the house. Later, he sent me an angry message.

"Do you understand what you did wrong now? Come to the hospital and apologize to Mia! If you do, I might let this go."

But Richard had forgotten that I had a family, a job, and friends back home.

I'd never asked him to support me. I'd given all of that up because I loved him enough to cross an ocean and marry him.

When I saw his message, I almost laughed. I didn't bother replying. I barely glanced at it before swiping it away.

Three hours passed. By then, it was already dark, and I still hadn't replied.

Richard started to think something was wrong.

Without permanent residency, I didn't have a bank account or any savings of my own. Alverra wasn't particularly safe, either.

Robberies were common, so I rarely carried more than 100 dollars in cash. That wasn't even enough for a decent hotel.

No matter how angry I was with him, Richard didn't think I'd put myself in danger over an argument. He wrestled with it for a while.

Five hours after his first message, he finally texted me again.

"I turned your card back on and restored your access to the house. Go home. Don't stay out by yourself. It's not safe. We'll talk when I get back."

I still didn't reply.

Another hour passed, and Richard started getting restless.

He checked the card activity, but there hadn't been a single charge. Then he pulled up the security footage from outside the house. I hadn't been back since that afternoon.

It was late, and I was a woman from Lydora with no car and nowhere to stay, out on my own. In Alverra, that could be dangerous.

Richard's brow twitched as panic set in.

He couldn't sit still. He paced back and forth, staring at his phone as he typed and deleted the same message again and again.

Finally, he sent one last text. "Stop being ridiculous and come home."

I still didn't reply.

By then, I was at the gate having my boarding pass scanned.

I read his message calmly, then blocked his number and deleted the conversation without hesitation. I turned off my phone and boarded the plane without looking back.

The plane sped down the runway and lifted into the air. I watched Alverra, the country where I'd spent the last five years, grow smaller and smaller until it disappeared from sight.

I didn't cry. I wasn't sad to leave. All I felt was relief.

From then on, there was no reason for Richard and me to ever see each other again.

…

At the hospital, Richard grew more anxious when I still didn't reply.

He was finally about to swallow his pride and call me when his phone rang. It was Archie Goodwin, one of his close friends from back home.

"Richard, I just landed. I wanted to surprise you, so I didn't ask you to pick me up. Didn't you say you and Janet would show me around once I got here? I think I just saw her at the airport, though.

"She was boarding a nonstop flight back to Lydora. Is she heading home?"