Chapter 4

When I got back to the estate, it was already midnight.

Victor wasn't back yet.

I took off the soaked gown and dropped it by the bed.

I didn't send it to be cleaned.

And I didn't carefully hang it in a garment bag like I used to.

When you don't plan to keep something anymore, there's no need to take care of it.

I opened the wardrobe and stuffed the last of my clothes into my suitcase.

Five years of life, and it only filled half a suitcase.

The bags, jewelry, and sports cars Victor gave me had long since become a clinic, the orphanage, and health insurance.

The only thing I hadn't sold was a cheap silver cuff link.

I'd bought it for him at a flea market after my first paycheck.

It cost $25.

When Victor got it, his face soured.

"Ivy, you're giving me junk like this?"

Later, I found it in the trash can in his study.

That night, I crouched on the floor and polished it for a long time.

And the whole time, I lied to myself.

He just doesn't know how to show it.

Deep down, he does have some feelings for me.

Thinking about it now, I'd been such a fool back then.

When a man doesn't love you, there's no secret reason holding him back.

He just looks down on you.

I set the cuff link on the nightstand.

Then I took out the black card Victor had given me.

In five years, I'd lived on my salary and never charged a cent to it.

He didn't know.

He probably didn't care either.

I put the card under the cuff link and left a note that read, "Don Amato, I'm ending the contract early."

After writing that, I thought for a moment and added another line, "There are 13 days left this month. No need to pay me for them."

It wasn't that I'd suddenly found some backbone.

It was that everything for the orphanage was done.

I didn't need those 13 days' pay anymore.

At four in the morning, I dragged my luggage downstairs.

The security guards were all dozing.

The whole estate was as quiet as a gorgeous, empty tomb.

Just as I reached the door, my phone rang.

It was Victor.

I stared at his name for a few seconds, then answered, "Hello."

I could hear the bustle of a hospital in the background.

Victor sounded irritated.

"Diana has a fever. I'm not coming home tonight."

"Mm."

"Tomorrow morning, have the kitchen make some light soup. Bring it over yourself."

"Okay."

Maybe because I agreed so readily, he went silent for a moment.

"Ivy."

"What is it?"

"Don't read too much into tonight."

I pushed open the wrought-iron gate.

The sea breeze hit my face, damp and cold in the hour before dawn.

"I'm not reading anything into it."

That was the truth.

Victor said quietly, "Once Diana's feeling better, I'll make it up to you."

"Okay."

Either way, I wouldn't be around for any of the somedays he'd promised me.

Before he hung up, he gave his usual order.

"Wait for me at home."

I looked at the dark sky in the distance and answered softly, "Okay."

It was the last lie I ever told him.

I turned off my phone, took out the SIM card, snapped it in half, and threw it in the trash can by the gate.

At the corner, the cab I'd booked was already waiting.

The driver put my luggage in the trunk and asked casually, "Where are you headed so early, young lady?"

I got into the car.

"Home."

"Far?"

I looked out the window as the estate fell away behind us and smiled.

"It used to feel far.

"Now that the road's fixed, I'll be there soon."

The car drove into the morning fog.

At six, Hughes got up and made two breakfasts as usual.

At seven, once Diana's IV was finished, Victor dashed off a text telling me to bring the soup.

At eight, the roses on the estate bloomed one after another, wet with dew.

And I was on the first flight home.

Outside the plane window, the city skyline slowly faded away.

The sun rose behind the East River and lit up the bridges.

Victor thought I was still at home waiting for him.

Diana thought she'd finally won my place.

Even Hughes thought I'd just slept in a little.

No one knew.

By the time the city woke up, I was already gone.