Chapter 4

I sat off to the side while my phone lit up with a reminder to check in for my flight the next morning.

Serena walked over and looked down at the screen.

"What are you looking at?"

I locked it at once.

"Nothing."

Kyle was laughing with Chloe and Vivian nearby.

I held out my hand.

"Your Kyle is happy now. Can I have my locket back?"

Serena's brows tightened almost imperceptibly at the words your Kyle.

A moment later, her expression smoothed out.

She took the locket from her pocket and handed it over.

I'd barely reached for it when Kyle slammed into me.

The locket hit the floor.

It shattered.

My breath caught.

For a few seconds, I could only stare at the broken pieces scattered across the floor.

Then I crouched down slowly.

Kyle apologized immediately.

"Adrian, I'm sorry. I didn't see you."

The three women reacted as if I might attack him.

"It's not your fault. He should have held on to it properly."

Chloe pulled a few balloons from the corner.

"Come on. Forget about that. It's almost New Year's. I bought these so everyone can write down a wish."

Kyle grinned.

"Then I'll wish that the five of us stay together forever."

All three women smiled at him.

I stayed crouched on the floor.

One of the broken edges sliced my finger, but I barely noticed.

My chest hurt too much.

Chloe started handing out the balloons one by one.

When she reached me, she stopped.

Her hands were empty.

I understood immediately.

They'd forgotten me again.

She scratched her head, embarrassed.

"Well... this kind of thing is all make-believe anyway, and you don't believe in it. Missing one isn't a big deal."

Serena answered for me.

"He's fine with it."

Then the four of them sprawled across the lawn, laughing, wrestling, and trying to peek at one another's wishes.

There might as well have been a wall between us.

Their happiness had never belonged to me.

I looked up.

A shooting star streaked across the sky.

I made a wish immediately.

Please let these people disappear from my life for good.

A shooting star had to work better than a balloon, right?

By the time I finished, the four of them had written their wishes.

Chloe's read: May Kyle always be safe and well.

Vivian's read: May everything go Kyle's way.

Then there was Serena's. She didn't mention me either.

May he stay by my side forever, carefree and happy.

I looked away.

Maybe all their wishes would come true.

The four of them stood together and released their balloons at the same time.

The pointless evening was finally ending.

I was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to leave.

Then the sky opened.

Rain crashed down so hard it felt like the clouds had split apart.

Serena immediately opened an umbrella.

She, Chloe, and Vivian crowded around Kyle and hurried him into the cabin.

I followed a moment later, soaked through.

No one noticed.

Serena stared at the worsening rain.

"We can't stay here. If this keeps up, the cabin could flood. We're backed up against the mountain too. There could be a mudslide.

"We need to leave now.

"I'll get the car. You two stay with Kyle."

She ran outside.

Less than three minutes later, a horn sounded.

Chloe and Vivian exchanged a glance.

Then they grabbed Kyle and ran straight to the car without looking back.

I moved to follow.

Before I reached the door, I heard Serena call out from the driver's seat.

"Everyone's here. Buckle up!"

The car pulled away.

Its tires sprayed muddy water across my face.

I stood frozen in the rain, watching the taillights disappear.

Then I laughed.

Of course.

Thankfully, I'd brought Frank, our family driver, along that evening, since I'd planned to leave early.

I found Frank, left the estate, went home, packed, and headed straight for the airport.

The moment my plane lifted off the runway, I was done with all of them.

The next morning, news that a mudslide had buried the entire estate exploded online.

In the group chat, Serena suddenly sent a voice message.

Her voice was almost frantic.

"Where's Adrian?!"