Chapter 4

After leaving the hotel, I took a cab home.

My phone vibrated the whole way, but I did not look at it. I turned it off and leaned against the car window, eyes closed.

When I got home, the whole place was decorated in anticipation of the wedding. Ribbons hung in the living room, and cutouts of congratulatory words covered the walls.

The pots of flowers on the balcony were something Shane had bought from the flower market when he knew I was in a bad mood. He said more greenery at home would make a person feel better.

I went into the bedroom and began packing.

When I opened a drawer, I saw the photo album at the bottom. The first photo was from the day we moved into our bridal home. I was standing in the middle of the living room in a white dress, and Shane had his arm around my shoulders, smiling with bright pride.

He looked like a hero returning from victory.

He had said, "Yuna, I can finally give you a home."

I did not turn another page. I closed the album and put it back where I found it.

As I was halfway packing, someone opened the door.

Shane rushed into the bedroom. When he saw what I was doing, he grabbed my wrist hard. "Where are you going?"

"Isn't it obvious?" I said, laughing coldly, my eyes full of scorn. "Your mother doesn't like me anyway. I'm moving out to make room for you and Nora."

His face darkened immediately. "Yuna, is this really necessary? How long are you going to keep causing a scene? Do you know how many guests are waiting at the wedding venue? And now you're telling me you want to leave? Do you have to ruin everything today?"

I stared at him without saying a word.

He took a deep breath, and his attitude softened a little. But his words stabbed into my heart all the same. "Yuna, when your father cheated back then, didn't your mother still marry him and give birth to you? If your mother could endure it, why can't you accept this?"

My whole body went stiff. "Shane Evans… I dare you to say that again."

He turned his face away, his tone irritable. "Am I wrong? Your mother could put up with your father, but you can't put up with me…"

"Shut up!" My voice was shaking. "My mother stayed because she was too gentle! She put up with him her whole life for me! Do you know how much pain she had to live with?! I won't walk the same path she did because I promised her I would make myself happy!"

Shane was about to say something when footsteps came from outside the door.

Nora had arrived, still catching her breath.

The moment she came in, she rushed to me and grabbed my arm. "Yuna, don't leave. This is all my fault. I'll leave! I'll never appear in front of you again! I'll give everything back to you..."

"Nora, what's the point of saying this now?" I tried to pull my hand free, but she held on even tighter. "You slept with him. You had his child. Do you still expect me to pretend nothing happened and keep acting like we're sisters?"

She shook her head desperately, her nails digging deep into my skin. "Yuna, no... Listen to me. I truly know I was wrong now. Don't go..."

"Enough. Let go!" I pulled my hand away forcefully.

At the same time, Nora lost her balance and fell backward, hitting the floor hard. She cried out in pain. "Ah!"

"Yuna, what's wrong with you?!" Shane shoved me aside roughly.

I staggered back several steps, and my lower back hit the edge of the vanity. A sharp pain surged up through me, but he did not even lift his head.

He simply crouched down to help Nora up, his eyes full of worry. "Nora, are you all right? Where are you hurt?"

Nora leaned against him and cried. "My back hurts so much, and my stomach doesn't feel right."

"Don't be scared. I'll take you to the hospital." Shane picked her up and walked out. When he passed by me, his steps paused. "No matter what, she's still your best friend. You've gone too far! The wedding is canceled for today. When you come to your senses, we'll get married then."

With that, the door slammed shut loudly.

The bedroom fell quiet once more, with only the sound of my own breathing remaining. I slowly straightened my back by pushing against the vanity, my lower back still throbbing in pain.

When my eyes landed on the photo of us in wedding attire on the wall, I laughed. But as I laughed, tears streamed down, and my eyes burned.

I wiped my cheeks dry and picked up my suitcase, leaving that house without looking back.

When I got into the cab, the driver asked where I was going.

I looked back at the neighborhood once and said coldly, "The airport."