Chapter 4

On the last day of their trip, the family group chat suddenly became lively.

Ryan sent a long voice message.

“Lily, our flight gets back tomorrow night.

“Go to Ravenport tomorrow.

“Rent a two-bedroom apartment near Chloe’s school.

“Chloe isn’t in the best health, so she won’t be comfortable living in a dorm. Go there ahead of time and clean the place up.

“And take your things with you while you’re at it.”

I played the voice message and listened to it without expression before setting my phone down.

They were certain I’d go to Ravenport.

Because Callum was attending college there.

Because Chloe’s exam scores had barely been enough to get her into a local college.

In their eyes, I was a useless girl who could only get into a two-year college. My only value was going to Ravenport to play housekeeper for Chloe.

And, of course, to keep following Callum around like a lovesick shadow.

Mom sent another message.

“Lily, since you’ve enrolled at a community college in Ravenport, you’ll need to take care of Chloe and Callum.

“The family will cover the rent. You’ll have to earn your own spending money through a part-time job.

“You’re eighteen now. It’s time you learned to be independent.”

Independent.

What a noble-sounding word.

At eighteen, Chloe needed the entire family to revolve around her. She needed a beach vacation to clear her head and an apartment of her own.

At eighteen, I was expected to pay for my own living expenses through a part-time job while taking care of them.

I didn’t reply to the messages in the group chat.

I simply put my phone on silent.

My room was already empty.

Apart from the bed and a battered wardrobe, nothing remained.

The few traces of me that had existed in that room were gone.

I packed my toiletries into my backpack and zipped it shut.

A plane ticket sat on the desk.

A one-way ticket to Westbridge City.

The flight was at ten tomorrow morning.

Perfectly timed to leave before they returned that evening.

I looked around the home where I’d lived for three years.

I didn’t feel the slightest bit reluctant to leave.

That night, I cleaned the house one last time.

I prepared the broth in the refrigerator.

I put a fresh dust cover over Chloe’s bed.

Everything was left exactly as they’d wanted it.

Perfect.

The next morning, before dawn had fully broken, I slung my backpack over my shoulder and quietly closed the front door behind me.

The morning air was cool.

I walked to the entrance of the neighborhood and hailed a cab.

“Airport, please.”

As I sat in the back seat, watching the streets slide past the window, I felt calmer than I ever had before.

My phone lit up.

It was a private message from Callum.

“Lily, did you find the apartment?

“Pick somewhere close to my school. It’ll be easier for me to come see you two.”

I stared at the message and suddenly found it almost amusing.

Come see us?

He meant Chloe.

And maybe he’d spare me a little pitying attention while he was there.

I opened his profile and deleted his contact.

Then I deleted Mom, Dad, Ryan, and Chloe.

I blocked every contact connected to that family.

Then I removed my SIM card, snapped it in half, and tossed it out the car window.

When I arrived at the airport, I checked my luggage and made it through security without a hitch.

I sat in the departure lounge, watching the flight information scroll across the massive screen.

A gentle female voice came over the speakers.

“Passengers traveling to Westbridge City, please be advised that boarding is now underway…”

I stood up and walked toward the gate.

Goodbye to all the favoritism and all the hurt.

Goodbye to the Lily who was always the one left behind.

From today on, I belonged only to myself.