Chapter 7

After that, Margo barely left her room.

Then one night at dinner, Jayla suddenly grabbed her stomach.

Her face went ghost-white before she collapsed into Huxton's arms.

"What's wrong?" Huxton panicked and called the family doctor.

After checking her, the doctor turned serious.

"She's been poisoned."

The whole mansion went into chaos.

The staff stood off to the side, nervous, while the butler questioned everyone about dinner.

"I-I saw something..." a young maid stammered. "I saw Ms. Myer put something in the soup..."

Huxton's eyes went ice-cold.

He stormed over and grabbed Margo's wrist, squeezing so hard her bones ached.

"You tried to poison Jayla over that locket? Margo, when did you become this kind of person?"

Margo looked straight at him.

"I didn't do it."

"Still denying it?" Huxton turned to the staff. "Bring me the rest of the soup."

Margo's eyes widened.

"What are you doing?"

"Teaching you a lesson." Huxton grabbed her chin, his voice cold. "Maybe then you'll learn what lines not to cross."

A servant brought over the rest of the soup.

At Huxton's signal, they forced it down Margo's throat.

She fought hard, but two bodyguards held her in place.

The warm soup made her choke and cough.

Then the poison hit.

Margo dropped to her knees, cold sweat soaking her back. She curled in on herself, nails digging into her palms.

"I didn't poison her..."

Huxton didn't even look at her.

He stayed beside Jayla, giving her water and wiping the sweat from her forehead, his expression painfully gentle.

"Huxton..." Jayla weakly grabbed his hand. "Ms. Myer—"

"Don't defend her. Just rest."

Margo's vision went black as the pain dragged her under.

The last thing she remembered was being hauled onto a stretcher.

She spent the entire night at the hospital.

Not one person came.

When she returned to the mansion the next day, no one was home.

Then her phone buzzed.

A photo from Jayla.

Under a bright blue sky by the ocean, Huxton had one arm around Jayla's waist as they smiled at the camera.

[Someone took me to the beach to cheer me up. He said I needed to relax after that awful scare.]

Margo locked her phone and went back to packing.

As she zipped her suitcase, something hit her.

Three years in this house, and everything she owned fit into one suitcase.

'I never belonged here.'

Just like she'd never had a place in his heart.

"Do you understand what you did wrong?"

Huxton's voice came from behind her.

Margo turned. He stood in the doorway in a sharp suit, frowning at her.

"Yes," she said quietly.

'It was loving him.

'And wasting all these years staying by his side.'

Huxton's expression softened.

"Good. Get changed. We're going to a party."

"A party?" Margo blinked.

"You seriously forgot my birthday?" Huxton frowned, like he couldn't believe it.

Then it clicked.

'Right. His birthday.'

Every year before, she'd have his cake ready, his gift picked out, and the whole party planned herself.

She knew his favorite flavors, what decorations he hated, even every birthday wish he'd ever made.

But this year?

She'd completely forgotten.

"You go ahead. I'll change, grab your gift, and meet you there."

"Huxton!" Jayla called sweetly from downstairs. "Everyone's waiting!"

Huxton nodded, giving Margo one last look.

"Hurry up."

Then he left, his footsteps fading down the hall.

Margo watched him go, a faint bitter smile on her lips.

'Huxton, this year, my birthday gift is me disappearing from your life for good.

'You can have Jayla.

'And I can finally be free.'

She grabbed her packed suitcase, took one last look at the place she'd called home for three years, and walked out without looking back.

The airport was packed.

At the gate, Margo pulled out her phone and sent Huxton one final message.

[Huxton, I'm leaving. I hope you and Jayla have a long, happy life together.]

Then she shut off her phone and headed for the gate.

Three years wasted on him.

And she'd finally woken up.

From now on, they'd go their separate ways.

And never see each other again.