Chapter 3

Theo came back around noon.

He saw the boxes I'd packed up and frowned. "Why is all this packed?"

I didn't look up. "Throwing out trash."

When Theo realized the boxes were filled with the things he'd bought me, his voice shot up.

"Joey, there's a limit to your damn tantrums!"

He violently kicked the closest box, pacing the room like a caged animal.

"This is still about the ring, isn't it? When are you going to let it go?"

"I bought you all of this. Now you think it's taking up space? What, are you going to move out too?"

I stood up and looked at him calmly.

"Yes."

Theo froze for a second, then pressed a hand to his forehead, caught between frustration and disbelief.

"Are you joking, Joey?"

He pulled off his suit jacket and dropped onto the bed, his tone cold and dismissive.

"Where would you even go? You don't even have a job. How would you support yourself?"

"Joey, I thought you were a mature woman, but you're getting more and more childish. Are you packing your bags to run away from home?"

"Is that the plan? Move out so I'll come begging you to come back?"

Theo wasn't worried in the slightest. He was convinced I couldn't survive without him.

In this pack, I had no choice but to depend on him.

He was absolutely certain this was just a tantrum, that I was trying to make him grovel.

I didn't feel like explaining.

I straightened the box he'd kicked and pushed it into the corner.

"Think what you want."

Theo suddenly clenched his fist and slammed it into the mattress, then shot to his feet and glared at me.

I didn't flinch. After a moment, he sank back down, his tone softening.

"Joey, can you just stop this?"

"Tomorrow's your birthday. I promise I'll spend the whole day with you. We'll go shopping, get you jewelry, bags, a brand-new diamond ring."

"And the renovation we talked about, you can do whatever you want with it. Pick whatever you like. Use my card."

He walked over and pinched my cheek. "There, can you stop being mad now?"

He thought he'd made the ultimate concession.

I looked at him, and for a moment, I felt like I was staring at a stranger.

"Sure. Fine."

I agreed, and Theo finally broke into a smile.

He pulled me into his arms and whispered sweet nothings, making sure to slip in a reminder to be reasonable.

My eyes drifted to my bag sitting on the shelf.

Inside it, my plane ticket for tomorrow was already packed.

Twelve hours until I left this place for good.

Before heading out, Theo held me one more time.

"Let me take care of a few things at the office, and then I'll take you shopping."

On his way out, he pointed at the closet. "Dress up a little."

The moment the door closed, I looked at the closet.

The most prominent row was all pink. Pink pantsuits, pink dresses, even pink heels.

Sophia's favorite style.

Theo thought it looked good, so he bought the same things for me and expected me to dress the same way.

I'd never worn any of it. The tags were still on.

I changed into denim shorts and a white T-shirt, slipping on a pair of white canvas sneakers.

This was how I used to dress back when Theo and I first got together.

I carried the two boxes down to the curb and handed them off to a man at the secondhand shop.

"Ma'am, these are nice items, but if I resell them, I can only offer half price."

I shrugged. "Doesn't matter."

I didn't like any of it anyway.

Back at the villa, I opened the door and was immediately surrounded by emptiness.

This place had been full of traces of my life, but not a single thing in it was something I truly needed or liked.

Pink curtains. Pale pink sofa covers. Pink lace-trimmed tablecloths.

All in the colors and styles Sophia had picked out.

I'd been forced to live with things I hated for far too long.

Now, finally, I could say goodbye to all of it.

My phone rang. It was Theo.

"Sorry, Joey. I can't take you shopping today."

"Sophia’s favorite toy ripped, and she's crying her eyes out. I have to stay and comfort her."

"Go by yourself. Buy whatever you want."

When I didn't respond, Theo called my name twice.

"Joey, are you listening? Are you mad? This came up out of nowhere. Be reasonable, okay?"

There it was again. Be reasonable.

I didn't say yes or no. I just hung up.

I took a shower, ordered a pizza, and had just finished brewing coffee when Theo walked in.

Seeing that I hadn't gone out, he looked surprised. "How come you didn't go shopping?"

Then he frowned at the pizza. "Why are you eating something so basic? Didn't you want anything better?"

I took a sip of coffee. "Weren't you supposed to be with Sophia? Why are you back?"

Theo snapped his fingers. "Right, her plushie ripped. Then I remembered you have that identical cat toy. I’m just going to take it for her."

He was giving away my belongings to another woman right in front of my face, without even pretending to ask for my permission.

That cat plushie was the first—and only—birthday gift he had ever given me in seven years.

That cat plushie was the very first birthday present he ever gave me.

When I said nothing, Theo stopped and looked annoyed. "Joey, you're still upset?"

He sat down, then stood right back up, waving his arms around.

"Sophia's crying her heart out right now. I can't just ignore her. Can you be reasonable and stop throwing a fit?"

I bit into a slice of pizza and nodded. "Go ahead and stay with her. But that cat plushie

Theo didn't even register that I'd thrown it away.

He probably didn't even remember when he'd given it to me.

"Good point. A new one would be even better."

Then he tilted his head and looked at me, puzzled. "You're not mad?"

I turned it back on him. "Why would I be?"

Hearing that, he finally broke into a grin and kissed my forehead. "So reasonable. I'm heading out. Sophia's a mess right now, and I'm worried about her."

"And stop eating fast food. Go get yourself something decent."

He walked out of the room, pausing briefly at the closet door without a word before leaving.

I calmly finished my coffee, put the cup in the sink, and smiled.

Theo only showed his care for Sophia through grand, empty gestures.

For me, it was always just a few empty words.

Whatever. Soon enough, I'd never have to hear his voice again.

He could devote himself entirely to Sophia.

I cleaned up the last of the mess, picked up my bag, grabbed my suitcase, and walked out of the villa without looking back.

Sitting in the taxi, I felt perfectly calm.

This goodbye had been delayed for far too long.

My phone rang. It was my friend Anna.

"Joey! Check Facebook right now!"