Chapter 4

The dawn broke at half-past six.

Dragging along the old suitcase with squeaky wheels, I left home.

The living room was dead silent.

Last night, the family was up until late, helping Mikayla with all the packing. They must be fast asleep at the moment.

I didn’t leave a note or say my goodbyes.

Hailing a cab to the train station, I arrived at the platform in time for ticket inspection.

I took the seat by the window, and the train began to pull away.

The scenery outside the window began to race away from me as I left the city I had lived in for eighteen years behind me.

I took out my phone and switched it on.

The moment the screen lit up, a flurry of messages bombarded my phone.

In the group chat named “One Big Happy Family”, Tracey posted a photo.

Mikayla, sitting in the front passenger seat of Ben’s car, held up a peace sign with a sweet smile.

Tracey: “Kaycee, have you boarded the bus?”

Tracey: “Get to Mikayla’s dorm to set her up once you’re there. She doesn’t know how to make her own bed yet.”

Cory sent a voice note.

“Kaycee, get some food at the cafeteria once you’re there. Mikayla won’t have much of an appetite because of the car ride. Grab her some chicken soup and bring it over to her dorm.”

I read all the entitled demands, a smirk playing across my lips.

To them, I wasn’t going to college to get an education. I was there to act as Mikayla’s full-time nanny.

Not bothering to reply, I simply muted the group chat.

Two hours later, a message from Ben slipped into my DMs.

“Where are you, Kaycee?

“We’ve reached the main gate of Briarwood University. Mikayla has too much luggage to handle on her own. Come over and help with the move.

“Quit playing games and ignoring our calls. It’s a hot day. Are you expecting Mikayla to get heatstroke standing in the open sun?”

I stared at text bubbles popping up one after another.

Ben’s smug, entitled face came to mind.

He was probably certain that I would swallow my pain and simply do as he told me to.

I shifted my gaze out the window.

As the train began to decelerate, the sweet voice of the train attendant filled the air.

“Dear passengers, we are now approaching Westbridge South Station…”

I opened my chat window with Ben and typed on the screen.

“I’m not at Briarwood University.”

Almost immediately, I received his reply.

Ben: “What’s your problem this time? If not in BU, where are you now?”

Ben: “I’m warning you, Kaycee. It’s move-in day today. Don’t test my patience.”

I grinned.

That was when my communication stopped. I tapped on his contact profile.

Ben was now added to my blocked contacts.

I then blocked Cory, Tracey, and Ian.

Once they had been removed from my contacts, I pulled the old SIM card out of my phone.

I tossed it in a nearby trash can.

From now on, the spineless Kaycee, desperate for the Tuttles’ love, no longer existed.

Luggage in hand, I strutted out of the train station.

September in Westbridge was drenched in golden sunlight.

Drawing a deep breath, I flagged down a cab.

“To Westbridge University.”

The car merged into the traffic.

I stared at the unfamiliar streets outside the car window while clutching my admission letter inside my backpack.

It had been eighteen years.

Finally, I could just be myself.