Chapter 4

Serena clutched the dress, looking panic-stricken.

"I'm so sorry, Chloe," she sobbed. "I had no idea this was the dress you bought to meet Samuel's parents! I'll take it off right now and give it back to you."

She yanked at the zipper. With a loud rip, the seam along the sleeve split wide open, tearing a long line right through the fabric.

Samuel slammed his fork down on the table and grabbed her hands to stop her.

"Enough, Chloe!" he snapped. "How long are you going to keep throwing this tantrum? Ever since the night I mentioned bringing Serena along with us, you've been picking fights. Do you hate her that much?"

Tears brimmed in Serena's eyes as she looked at him, wiping them away with a pitiable expression.

"So, that's what it is," she said, putting on a brave face. "Chloe is upset with me because of this. In that case, I shouldn't go.

"Samuel, I won't get between you two. I just feel terrible about your parents. They were nice enough to send me those specialties from home."

A wave of dark irony washed over me. In our five years together, I had never missed a holiday or occasion to send thoughtful gifts to Samuel's parents, yet I had never once received anything from them in return.

It turned out they were giving gifts to someone else.

"Why give her the satisfaction?" Samuel scoffed. "My parents have been dying to meet you!"

The reason they were so eager to meet her was crystal clear now. If Samuel hadn't been constantly talking about Serena to them, why would they be so excited to see her while never making a mention of me, their future daughter-in-law?

I was just relieved that those gifts, which had cost me half a year's salary, were still sitting in my room, unsent.

After packing away the gifts I had laid out in the living room, I noticed an extra suitcase standing near the doorway.

Serena walked over with a bright smile. "Chloe, we have to wake up early tomorrow to catch the first flight out. Since your apartment is closer to the airport, Samuel said I could crash here tonight. You don't mind, right?"

Ignoring her, I dragged my repacked luggage into the guest bedroom.

As I got settled in to sleep, my stomach let out a rumble. I had barely touched dinner earlier because I couldn't stomach looking at Samuel and Serena.

Unable to ignore the hunger, I got out of bed to whip something up in the kitchen. But as soon as I opened the door, my eyes landed on Serena, who was standing in the living room in just her underwear as she tried on another dress.

Samuel was sitting right there, making zero effort to avoid the scene.

So, in places I hadn't been paying attention to, this man had already rotted to the core. I had just been too blinded to notice, only smelling the nauseating stench now.

Flustered to see me come out, Serena stammered, "Samuel, I told you I should change in the bedroom, but you insisted I do it out here."

She turned to me, adding quickly, "Chloe, don't get the wrong idea. I just couldn't decide what to wear tomorrow, so I asked him to give me a second opinion."

Samuel raised an eyebrow and smiled smoothly. "You've got a great figure, Serena. Everything looks good on you."

Silently, I made myself some pasta, ate it, and went back to my room. Dozing off, I was jolted awake by my bedroom door bursting open.

Before I could react, Samuel threw a barrage of accusations at me. "Did you take Serena's passport? Are you that desperate to stop her from coming along with us?"

I stared at the two of them, bewildered.

"Chloe, please give me back my passport," Serena pleaded bitterly. "I won't interfere with your meeting with Samuel's parents. I just wanted to visit the town where he grew up and witness his happiness."

I looked at Samuel and stated the simple fact. "I didn't take her passport."

"But you were the only third person in the living room earlier," Serena pressed, biting her lip.

Without giving my words a second thought, Samuel flung open my suitcase and tore through it, flipping everything upside down. My clothes were scattered all over the floor, and my neatly folded winter coat spilled open.

He blinked. "Why are you packing winter clothes?"

I glanced at him and remained silent.

Samuel searched the room inside and out, still coming up empty-handed. Right then, Serena gasped from the living room.

She had found her passport wedged in the couch cushions. She walked back over, looking sheepish as she apologized to me.

Samuel pressed his lips together and managed to squeeze out a reluctant "Sorry" through gritted teeth. I waved a dismissive hand, simply telling him to close the door on his way out.

...

Early the next morning, when I woke up, Samuel and Serena were already at the dining table having breakfast. They had heated last night's leftovers.

Serena ate with gusto, while Samuel could barely take two bites without clutching his stomach in pain. I knew his ulcers were acting up again.

But what did that have to do with me?

I made a bowl of oatmeal and ate it on my own. Once I was finished, I headed downstairs, dragging two heavy suitcases behind me.

Samuel reached out to help me, but right then, Serena came huffing and puffing, struggling with her luggage. He immediately redirected his hands to help her instead.

"Serena's health isn't great," he muttered, as if explaining to me. "She can't handle carrying it all on her own."

I didn't even bother glancing at him.

Rain had been pouring down since the early hours of the morning. Between the downpour and the Thanksgiving travel rush, it took 30 minutes just to get a carpool, which already had two other passengers inside.

Samuel ushered Serena into the car, climbed in after her, and shut the door behind him. Turning to me, he said, "Serena and I are heading to the airport first. Grab your own ride and meet us there."

I nodded silently.

My Uber arrived right on cue, but my destination wasn't the airport. It was the train station.

Nine years ago, it had been a rainy day just like this one when I first met Samuel. Through all the twists and turns, I had recklessly risked everything in the name of love, willingly walking into a cage built on affection.

Now that the love was gone, I could walk away just as cleanly.

As the train surged forward, the scenery receded past my window. I quietly bade farewell to the city. Some goodbyes never needed to be grand or dramatic.

Just like the one between Samuel and me.