Ties to Dust, Hearts to Strangers

Leah Hudson's last scream ripped through my head.

It wasn't pain.

It was this sharp ringing sound, like a buzzing that spun everything out of control. I collapsed to the floor.

My phone on the table kept vibrating. I stared at it blankly, then swiped to answer. My voice cracked. "Dad?"

There was a brief silence, then a deep sigh from Adam Norton, my father, came through. "Melvin, you saw it, didn't you?"

I froze.

My fingertips turned white as I gripped the phone. I incredulously asked, "Y-You knew?"

Dad let out a mocking chuckle. As if reminiscing, he said, "Yeah. If I didn't let you see it for yourself, you'd never give up. Your mom made you suffer for 20 years out there, all for that bastard. And Leah pretended in front of you all for Dexter. Doesn't that make it clear enough for you? Love is the least important thing."

Upstairs in the master bedroom, the sounds coming through the door were revolting. It was like a filthy confirmation of what Dad had just said.

I choked back sobs, tears flooding my face. I couldn't help but ask like a child, "But Dad, then what really matters?"

"Money." Dad's voice was as cold as steel.

"Come back to the Norton residence. I've already arranged everything. Pack your bags. You'll be on a flight to Vaughan next week to study finance. I've already taken care of the spot and the recommendation letter. Don't stay here and waste your life being the husband of a police captain. That's pathetic. Melvin Norton, feelings are fleeting, but cold, hard cash will never betray you."

I stayed silent for a long time.

I turned to glance at myself in the mirror. My eyes were bloodshot, my hair a mess, and I had hickeys on my neck from Leah last night.

Every detail screamed stupidity and irony.

There was a heart-shaped sticker stuck in the center of the mirror. Leah and I were about to get married.

She lied to me. She cheated on me. She was even in our bed with someone else now.

I suddenly laughed at how naive I had been. I reached out and tore the sticker from the mirror.

The red sticker fell to the floor, and I stepped on it.

I walked out of the villa and spoke to Dad on the other end of the call. "Alright. But I want them to feel the same pain I'm feeling. Only then will I have my revenge."

Dad chuckled softly. "Then show me how you'll do it."