Chapter 4 This Time, I'm Walking Away

My chest ached as I looked at them.

With a bitter laugh, I tossed the gift box into the trash right in front of them.

"I don't want the gift, and I don't want the key either." I glanced from Kendra to Josiah. "As for you two, I'm done with both of you."

I turned and headed for the door, but she came rushing after me.

"Xavier! What the hell do you want from us?" she shouted. "We've practically begged you to forgive us! What more do you expect us to do?"

I stopped and looked back at her. Once upon a time, seeing her this upset would've made me stay and try to work things out. But now, I was so tired of everything that I couldn't even bring myself to argue.

I gave her one last look, then turned around and walked away.

After that day, neither Kendra nor Josiah contacted me again. No calls, no private messages—nothing. They still chatted in our group as if nothing had happened, except they never mentioned me. I didn't reach out either, and just like that, we went on pretending the other didn't exist.

…

Two weeks later, my last day at work finally arrived.

Once I finished all the necessary paperwork, I picked up my luggage and headed downstairs, ready to go straight to the airport.

I decided to take the trip to Cedarvale after all. It was somewhere I'd always wanted to visit, and I didn't see why I should give it up just because Kendra and Josiah had gone without me.

However, as soon as I stepped outside the office building, I spotted them waiting near the entrance.

I had no idea why they were there, and frankly, I didn't care to find out. I pretended not to see them and booked an Uber, hoping I could leave before they noticed me.

Still, no luck.

Kendra spotted me almost immediately and marched over, looking furious.

"Xavier, don't you think you've taken this too far?" she demanded.

Before I could even ask what she meant, she continued, "Just because we're having problems doesn't mean you get to ruin Josiah's career! Call that supplier right now and tell them to withdraw the complaint!"

I looked over at Josiah, who was already on the verge of tears.

"Xavier, I'm sorry. I know I messed up," he said, his voice trembling. "But I worked so hard to get this job. Please, can't you just let this one go? If that supplier keeps complaining, I'm going to get fired!"

I couldn't believe they were dragging me into yet another one of his problems.

"I have nothing to do with that complaint," I explained coldly. "Whatever you screwed up at work is your problem, Josiah, not mine. I'm done cleaning up your messes. If you made a mistake, fix it. If you owe someone an apology, go apologize to them. Crying to me isn't going to change anything."

Instead of listening, Josiah lunged forward, grabbed my shirt, and fell to his knees.

"Xavier, I get it now! I know I was wrong!" he cried. "I'll apologize and make it up to you, whatever you want! You want me to get on my knees and beg? Fine, I'm begging you!"

His voice cracked as he continued, "Please, just leave my job alone! I swear I'll never contact Kendra again. I can't lose this job, Xavier. I can't go back home!"

Kendra rushed over and wrapped her arms around him, trying to pull him back to his feet. After a bit of struggling, she finally got him back on his feet.

She then turned to me, her face flushed with anger. "Xavier, have you completely lost your mind? Are you seriously not going to be satisfied until we're all on our knees begging you?"

She pointed at me accusingly. "You're going to call that supplier and fix this mess. Then, you're going to apologize to Josiah properly. If you do that, we can still work things out. Otherwise, forget about marrying me!"

I stared at her for a moment, almost impressed by how little she understood what was happening between us.

After everything she'd done, she still thought threatening to call off our wedding would make me give in.

I couldn't help but laugh and reply, "Don't marry me, then."

Just then, my Uber pulled up. I opened the back door, climbed in, and told the driver to go.

As we drove away, I glanced through the rear window.

Kendra was still standing on the sidewalk, staring after the vehicle. She looked as though she couldn't believe I'd actually left.

A moment later, she took out her phone, but Josiah grabbed her arm before she could call me. They began arguing and tugging at each other, though I couldn't hear what they were saying.

I turned away and settled back into my seat.

Strangely enough, I didn't feel upset. The familiar ache in my chest was gone, replaced by a sense of relief I hadn't felt in a long time. For years, I'd been so caught up in keeping Kendra happy that I'd barely stopped to think about what I wanted.

Now, for once, I didn't have to worry about any of that.

…

A little while later, my phone buzzed with several messages from Kendra.

"Where did you go?"

"Josiah's still crying! His situation hasn't even been sorted out, and you went off like that!"

"Xavier, stop acting like a child. We both need some time to cool down. I'll come over to your place later, and we can talk properly."

I almost laughed at the last message. "Come over to my place? Good luck with that."

I'd already moved out, and she didn't even know.

I put my phone away without replying and spent the rest of the ride looking out the window.

…

By the time I boarded my flight and settled into my seat, Kendra was calling again. I figured she'd probably gone to my old apartment by now and discovered I no longer lived there.

Whatever she wanted to say, I wasn't interested.

I let the call ring until it stopped, then turned toward the window and took a picture of the airplane wing. After a moment's thought, I opened Instagram and uploaded it with a short caption.

"For anyone who hasn't heard, Kendra and I are no longer together. Just making it official."

Once the post was up, I switched my phone to airplane mode and leaned back in my seat.

I'd spent seven years loving Kendra, making excuses for her, and telling myself that things would eventually get better. I'd put so much effort into keeping our relationship together, even when it became painfully clear that I was the only one trying.

Somewhere along the way, I'd become the third wheel in my own relationship, fighting for the attention of someone who was supposed to love me.

However, I was done with all of that.

Whatever happened between Kendra and Josiah from now on was none of my business.

For the first time in seven years, I didn't have to plan my life around anyone else.

And honestly, I was looking forward to it.