Chapter 5

"Do I really have to ask you about something like that?" Helen asked.

When I didn't answer, her tone softened.

"Lawrence, I'm not trying to disrespect you. Martin's place just isn't livable right now."

"So you decided to tear apart my study without asking me?"

"It's temporary." She frowned. "Your studio's only 15 minutes away. If you need to work, you can just go there."

Martin set the tape measure down. "Forget it, Helen. I'll get a hotel. I'm not sticking around if it's going to cause problems."

Helen turned to him right away. "For two months? That's ridiculous."

"I can handle a hotel."

"This isn't on you. Let me handle it."

I stood there, watching them go back and forth, and whatever I had left to say died in my throat.

After a moment, I looked at Helen. "What if it were me?"

She turned back to me. "What?"

"What if it were the other way around? What if a woman I'd known for ten years walked out of our bathroom wearing your towel? What if I had her helping plan our wedding?"

Helen's expression changed.

I kept going. "Then I tore apart your room without asking and told her she could move in with us right after the wedding."

I held her gaze. "Would you be fine with that?"

She didn't answer.

A few seconds passed before she finally said, "That's different."

"How?"

"Because it is." Her voice rose. "Martin isn't some random guy. I've known him for ten years. I know him. I trust him."

I nodded. That told me everything I needed to know.

The rules weren't the problem. In Helen's mind, they just didn't apply to Martin.

I turned to the contractor. "Stop the work. Put everything back the way it was and send me the bill for whatever it costs."

Helen stared at me. "What are you doing?"

I ignored her, went straight to the bedroom, and started packing a suitcase with my documents, laptop, and a few changes of clothes.

At first, she just stood in the doorway and watched. But when I put my passport in the suitcase, her expression finally changed.

"Why are you packing?"

"I'm moving out."

She stepped into the room. "How long are you going to keep doing this? First you cancel the wedding, and now you're moving out?"

I kept packing.

She watched me for a moment, then her voice softened. "You're really leaving?"

"Yeah."

"Then he won't stay here."

She immediately put a hand on my suitcase.

"I'll have the contractors put everything back right now. I'll tell Martin to leave. Is that what you want?"

I looked up at her. "This isn't about whether he stays here anymore."

"Then what is it about?"

She really didn't understand.

I zipped the suitcase shut. "Maybe someday you will."

Something shifted in Helen's expression.

I rolled my suitcase to the entryway, took out my house keys, and set them on the console table.

She froze.

"Lawrence."

For the first time all day, there was no irritation in her voice.

I ignored her and headed for the elevator.

She stayed by the door instead of following me, like she still expected me to turn around.

Right then, my phone buzzed. It was a message from Ellie.

[Mr. Palmer, the cancellation has been processed. The wedding is officially canceled.]

I read it, then locked my phone.

Helen seemed to sense something and took a step toward me.

"Who was that?"

I didn't answer.

The elevator doors started to close. Only when there was barely any space left between them did the look on Helen's face finally change.