Chapter 4

Kelsey's POV

Mom was rushed into the ER, and an hour later, they wheeled her back out.

"There's nothing seriously wrong," the nurse told me. "Just try not to let her get too stressed or angry from now on. As long as she rests and takes care of herself, she'll be fine."

The nurse took Mom to a hospital room, and I sat beside the bed, holding her hand.

After she woke up, I helped her eat breakfast. Then, I got ready to go home and bring our luggage back to the hospital.

"I already put the house up for sale. Once you're discharged tomorrow, we'll head straight to the airport."

Mom patted my hand gently. "Alright. And Kelsey, don't blame yourself for the scarf. None of that was your fault."

I blinked my dry, aching eyes and nodded. "I know, Mom. I'll buy you so many beautiful scarves from now on that you'll have more than you can wear."

She smiled.

When I got home, I immediately noticed that my bedroom door was slightly ajar.

I distinctly remembered closing it the day before.

Frowning, I pushed it open, only to be hit by the unmistakable smell of sex.

Tyler and Winona were lying in my bed, their clothes scattered across the floor.

I stared at them in disbelief. "Why the hell are you having sex in my bedroom?"

My voice woke Winona. Without the slightest embarrassment, she grabbed one of my nightgowns and slipped it on.

"Kelsey, your mattress is awful. My back is killing me."

Her sheer shamelessness left me speechless.

Tyler slowly opened his eyes and sat up. Then, he came over and wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Don't be mad. We did this because of you."

Of course, it was that same excuse.

"You hate how close Winnie and I are, don't you?" he continued. "We've agreed this was the last time. From now on, it'll just be you and me. Isn't that what you wanted? Aren't you happy?"

I stared at him. "Do you even hear yourself? That's disgusting."

Tyler's expression darkened, and he immediately released me.

"You've been making a huge deal about Winnie for years. Now, we've agreed to stop seeing each other, and you're still not satisfied. What exactly do you want from me?"

That was how Tyler always handled things.

Somehow, I was always at fault.

Winona joined in softly, reasoning with me, "Kelsey, Tyler told you from the beginning that he loses interest once someone loves him back. You said you accepted that.

"Tyler and I have made plenty of sacrifices for you over the years. Can't you stop acting like nothing we do is ever enough?"

I looked at the two of them and realized there wasn't a flicker of emotion left in me.

"I'm not saying it isn't enough. I just don't want either of you sacrificing anything for me anymore. All I want is for you to leave me alone and never show up in my life again."

I grabbed my suitcase and started toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Tyler asked. "What are you trying to pull this time?"

The moment he noticed the suitcase in my hand, something changed in his expression.

Before I could answer, however, Winona laughed.

"I know exactly what she's doing."

Tyler turned to her.

"Remember when we left her stranded in the mountains for a whole day and night? She came back, packed her bags, and said she was leaving then, too."

Contempt crept into Winona's voice.

"She's bluffing. She just wants to see whether you care enough to stop her."

Whatever concern had appeared on Tyler's face disappeared.

My anger, sadness, and pain were always just tantrums to them.

Tyler was certain I would never actually leave, so I didn't bother defending myself.

Instead, I simply took my suitcase and left.

By the time I reached the lobby, Tyler had sent me two messages.

The first was the location of a hotel.

The second read, "Come here when you've calmed down. Tonight, it'll be just the two of us."

I looked at the address and gave a bitter smile.

I'd planned 20 different proposals for Tyler at that hotel, yet every single one had ended with me humiliated and heartbroken.

I had enough painful memories of that place to last a lifetime.

I would never set foot in that place again.

I didn't bother responding to his messages. Instead, I blocked him and deleted his number.

The next morning, after Mom was discharged, I took a cab with her to the airport.

As the plane climbed, I looked down at the city one last time. There was no love. No hatred. No regret.