Chapter 8

On the evening of the third day, Justin returned with the two children.

The moment he stepped through the door, he offered an explanation, which was rare for him. “Sophia has never dealt well with pain. That’s why we took her to the hospital first.”

Milton muttered quietly, “Yeah… Mom, you’re stronger than Ms. Shaw. You don’t need us…”

Travis nodded solemnly. “Ms. Shaw is too weak. She needs our protection.”

“Enough,” Yvonne cut them off, her voice calm. “No need to explain.”

She understood perfectly. All their justifications ultimately boiled down to one thing—they loved Sophia, not her. Once, that truth would have shattered her, but not anymore.

She no longer loved them.

Justin felt a flicker of unease when he noticed how calm Yvonne was. It was as though the chance to make amends was slipping through his fingers. He added, “There’s a meteor shower tonight. I’ll take you up the mountain to watch it.”

“No.”

“Don’t be stubborn.” Justin glanced at the kids. “Go help your mom change first.”

Milton and Travis immediately grabbed her arms from both sides. “Come on, Mom!”

Yvonne was forced into the car, and only then did she notice that Sophia was there too.

Sophia said in a gentle voice, “Yvonne, please don’t mind it. I’ve always been afraid of the dark. Justin didn’t want me alone—”

Justin quickly chimed in, “Sophia has night blindness and gets scared at night.”

The kids joined in with chatter, “Poor Ms. Shaw!”

Yvonne felt exhausted and closed her eyes. She did not want to hear another word.

When they were up the mountain, Justin and the children fussed over Sophia—adjusting her seat, handing her blankets, and feeding her fruit. They were afraid she would feel even the slightest discomfort.

Sophia glanced at Yvonne from time to time, hoping to see a flicker of jealousy or anger, but all she saw was calm detachment—as though none of it concerned her at all.

Halfway up the slope, they got out to walk.

Suddenly, Sophia slipped and let out a startled scream. Sophia grabbed Yvonne’s wrist, and together, they tumbled down the hillside.

“Yvonne! Sophia!”

Justin and the kids scrambled down in panic. Sophia had only scraped her palm, but tears brimmed in her eyes. She looked pitiful even though she was unharmed.

Yvonne, however, hit a rock. A long gash ran down her lower leg, and blood soaked her pants. Her face was pale as paper.

“I’ll take Sophia back first.” Justin decided immediately. “Yvonne, hang in here. I’ll call the rescue team.”

After he said that, he scooped Sophia into his arms and left without looking back.

Milton and Travis hesitated for a moment. They glanced at their mother’s bloodied leg, then at Sophia in their father’s arms. They reluctantly followed the two.

Yvonne lay on the cold slope, watching their backs disappear into the night.

She waited all night, but no one returned.

At dawn, Yvonne clenched her teeth and dragged her injured leg inch by inch as she painfully climbed onto the road. She flagged down a passing car, went to the hospital herself to tend to her wound, and then went straight to the courthouse.

When the divorce certificate was placed in her hands, the letters seemed to glow with liberation.

When she returned to the villa, the house was silent and empty. Justin and the kids were still at the hospital, nagging at Sophia to get a full check-up.

Yvonne set the divorce certificate on the coffee table. Beside it lay a single note:

[I’m gone. Don’t look for me. I don’t want this family anymore.]

She picked up her long-packed suitcase and walked out without so much as a backward glance, finally stepping free from the cage that had held her for five long, suffocating years.

Behind her, the sun rose slowly, spilling light over the world she was leaving.

Ahead of her lay a life entirely of her own—without Justin, Milton, and Travis.