Chapter 4

Over the weekend, Alice posted an invitation to a party in the group chat.

The venue was a newly opened bar.

She specifically @ me and typed out a long message:

“Don’t worry! I’ve already spoken to them. They won’t play any music. We’re just getting together with some friends!”

Andre replied in the group chat on my behalf: “She’ll come.”

Joey immediately sent a voice message.

“Monica, Consider it a chance to get out and clear your head. Stop sitting at home all day, overthinking everything. Andre will go with you.”

And it seemed I had no choice at all.

When we arrived, it really was quiet.

Besides Alice and me, there were three of her friends there.

Andre sat on a sofa in the corner, looking at his phone.

We drank and played a few little games. I lost one round and was about to admit defeat and take a drink, but Alice stopped me.

“Why don’t you go up on stage, turn on the music, and sing a song?”

I looked around the bar.

The stage was surrounded by speakers. If the music was turned on, I could already imagine what would happen.

The fear rushed straight to my head.

“No.”

I stood up.

The other three girls immediately turned to look at me.

I knew that look all too well.

Their faces seemed to say, Why do you have to ruin everything?

Alice smiled as she walked over and put an arm around my shoulders.

“Relax. It’s just one song.”

“Didn’t you say you wanted to cooperate with your treatment? Practice once in front of everyone.”

I looked toward Andre in the corner.

When our eyes met, he hesitated for a moment.

“Monica, why don’t you try? I’ll stay right beside you.”

“Do you promise that if I start feeling uncomfortable, you’ll stop the music?”

“I promise.”

He nodded.

I walked toward the stage.

My steps felt heavy, and every footfall felt like I was walking on cotton.

The moment I stepped onto the stage, every speaker suddenly blasted to life, playing an extremely loud, chaotic DJ track.

My body began to tremble violently.

But this time, I didn’t scream.

Through the haze, I heard Alice laughing.

“Start the timer! Let’s see how long she can last!”

I also heard the sound of a phone recording.

I crouched on the floor and sank my teeth into the back of my hand, tasting blood.

I wouldn’t scream.

I wouldn’t give them the reaction they wanted.

Thirty seconds.

One minute.

Two minutes…

Blood trickled down my wrist, and I felt like I was on the verge of passing out.

I heard a hint of panic in Andre’s voice.

“That should be enough, right? Stop!”

“Wait a little longer. My mentor said it takes at least five minutes to create an effective stimulus.”

Andre said nothing more.

Five minutes later, the music stopped.

I slowly stood up.

The back of my hand was covered in bite marks and dried blood.

My lips were split too, and the metallic taste of blood spread through my mouth, but I stood perfectly straight.

Andre reached out to support me.

I stepped aside, avoiding him.

“Monica…”

“I’m fine.”

I walked over to the table and picked up my bag.

As I passed Alice, I stopped for a moment.

The smile was still on her face, and she was still holding up her phone.

I looked at her and smiled.

“Five minutes. That’s enough.”

Then I pushed open the bar door, walked outside, and called my lawyer.

“I want a divorce.”

In the taxi, I rolled down half the window.

The night wind rushed in, blowing against the wounds on the back of my hand.

I wasn’t trembling anymore.

It felt as though the fear had disappeared during those five minutes, along with something else.

Love.

Hope.

They had all been burned away.

I opened my phone and booked the earliest flight I could find out of Sicily.

I returned to the estate and took everything I needed with me.

As the plane took off, I rested my head against the window.

And said one final goodbye in my heart.

Goodbye, Andre.

The man I once loved more than anyone.