Chapter 7

Only then did I notice I had dozens of missed calls on my phone.

"Where could I go?" I asked back flatly.

"The apartment's security system was tripped today," Theo's voice was as cold as a scalpel. "The Family security went door to door, and ours was the only one that didn't answer. The security alert went directly to my phone. Why weren't you home?"

So that was it.

I actually naively thought he had finally noticed something was wrong with me.

I gave a silent, bitter smile, laughing at myself for still hoping for something so unrealistic.

"Why do I have to stay locked up at home?" I retorted. "Can't I go out? Can't I have my own life? Can't I go on a vacation?"

Theo's tone grew darker and more suppressed.

"Harper, what exactly is wrong with you lately? You don't cook, you stay out all night, and you give me an attitude over every little thing."

"And now you dare to run off alone? With things so tense outside, have you lost your mind?"

"If something happens to you, what am I supposed to do?"

I looked at the sinking city skyline outside the window, my voice as light as a feather.

"I have not lost my mind. I am just finally awake."

The other end of the line plunged into dead silence.

After a long moment, Theo let out a cold sneer.

"Fine. Just keep throwing a tantrum."

"If you refuse to come home, I will sleep in the on-call room at the medical center tonight."

"Let's see who caves first."

The phone was brutally hung up.

Jade heard the conversation and was so angry she almost smashed the phone against the wall.

As she spoke, her eyes welled up, and she reached out to pull me into her arms. "Harper, if you want to cry, just cry. Don't carry this all by yourself."

I leaned against her shoulder, staying silent for a long time before gently shaking my head.

"I cried myself dry a long time ago."

Tears are too precious to waste on an unworthy man.

Three days later, having mostly recovered physically, I checked out of the hospital and returned to the apartment to get my last pieces of luggage.

I unlocked the door with my fingerprint and pushed it open, pausing slightly.

Theo was actually home.

Our eyes met, and the air in the living room solidified for a few seconds.

He broke the silence first. "You're back? Did you have fun these past few days?"

I ignored him, walking straight into the master bedroom, pulling open the safe to confirm my passport and ID documents.

His somewhat softened voice followed from behind.

"Weren't you always dreaming of driving a car out to film that wilderness?"

"Now that the mid-mountain villa is finalized, it's time to replace your old car too."

"Tomorrow I'll make time to go to the dealership with you and pick out the best one. Once things quiet down, I'll go with you."

My hand stopped counting the documents.

If this were the past, hearing these sweet words would have kept me up all night with excitement.

But now, everything was too late.

"No need."

Theo's brows furrowed tightly. "Why?"

Because I've already bought the beast of a car that will take me far away.

Because the world I'm going to will never have your shadow in it again.

"No reason."

Seeing my refusal to compromise, Theo's remaining patience finally burned out.

"Isla has been in my ear constantly telling me to treat you better, to be more accommodating. And you repay me with this kind of attitude?"

I let out a cold laugh, not even bothering to hide the sarcasm.

"She advises you, and you listen? Then if she tells you to point a gun at yourself, will you do that too?"

Theo's face instantly turned livid. "Harper! Since when did your mouth get so vicious?"

I looked down and continued stuffing my passport into my carry-on bag, not even sparing him a direct glance.

Theo stood rooted to the spot, his chest heaving violently, before bursting into a cold sneer after a long moment.

"Good. It seems we really both need some time to cool off."

"I'll stay at the medical center's apartment for a while. Think things through clearly on your own."

He grabbed his trench coat and forcefully slammed the security door shut.

From start to finish, I never even lifted my head.

It wasn't until the electronic chime of the door lock faded into silence that I slowly walked over to the bed.

From my handbag, I pulled out three documents.

The first was the divorce agreement, already signed by him.

The second was the consent form for the IUD insertion surgery I did behind his back years ago.

The third was the surgical record of the IUD removal from a few days ago that nearly cost me my life.

I neatly stacked them right in the center of the nightstand.

Then, I grabbed my suitcase and left without looking back.

I didn't want to stay a second longer in this apartment, which was covered in his scent everywhere.

For my last night in this city, I stayed at a hotel.

Early the next morning, my last day before leaving, I arrived at the car dealership right on time.

The sales consultant walked up with a face full of smiles. "Ms. Harper, your top-tier modified rally car is ready to go."

Just as I was about to take the contract, a familiar deep voice came from the other side of the showroom.

"How is the performance on this one?"

I looked up. In the showroom not far away, Theo was standing next to a heavy-duty off-road vehicle.

Isla was pressed close to him, leaning over slightly to study the car's specs.

She murmured something, and the two of them actually smiled in unison.

That kind of chemistry looked just like long-time, intimate lovers.

The salesman beside them flattered, "You and your wife have great taste, sir. This off-road model is perfect for couples going on self-driving adventures. Many young couples scramble to pre-order it. Would you like to take it for a test drive?"

Theo didn't offer any explanation and got straight into the driver seat.

Isla's cheeks flushed slightly. She didn't correct the "wife" comment either, walking around the front of the car to open the passenger door.

With a step on the gas, the test-drive car drove out of the showroom.

The staff in the showroom gossiped among themselves.

"They look like a power couple."

"I heard the guy is the Chief who controls the Family's lifeline, and the woman is a core supplier. They're basically a match made in heaven."

"They really are perfect for each other. One wields the scalpel to save lives, and the other supplies the goods to pave the way."

I listened to these comments quietly, my heart surprisingly calm, without a single ripple.

"Ms. Harper?" the sales manager reminded me softly.

I snapped back to reality and neatly signed my name on the contract.

Swiped my card, inspected the car, and took the heavy set of racing keys.

I revved the engine, slammed the gas, and sped off.

In the rearview mirror, Theo's test-drive car was speeding away in the exact opposite direction, kicking up dust.

I didn't look back once.

Ahead of me lay endless highways, crimson wastelands, and the camera lens I had shelved for five years.

After five whole years, I had finally brought myself back to life.