Chapter 2

I held onto the banister as I went upstairs and pushed open my bedroom door. Mom was carrying my pillow and comforter out; the old star-shaped nightlight on my nightstand had been tossed straight into a cardboard box.

I rushed over and grabbed the nightlight, my hands shaking hard. Dad had made this for me. At the time, he'd ruffled my hair and said he wanted me to fall asleep every night feeling as safe as if I were under the stars.

"What are you doing?" I croaked.

Mom glanced back at me. "Perfect timing. Pack up the stuff on your nightstand. The contractor's coming tomorrow morning to take measurements."

I stared at my messy bed. "Then where am I supposed to sleep?"

She answered like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Isn't there a folding bed in the study? You can stay in there for now."

The study had no windows, only an old camp cot Dad used to nap on. The corners were piled high with dusty files, and half the overhead lights were dead.

I stood in the doorway and suddenly remembered how scared of the dark I used to be. Dad stayed up all night once, installing a string of tiny nightlights around my room. He said, "This is my daughter's room. Of course it has to be exactly the way she likes it."

Back then, I thought my room would always be mine. Now, Dad walked in holding renovation plans, pointing at the wall as he talked. "Yeah, cream white will definitely look a lot more high-end than what you have now. This room looks way too childish."

I lunged forward to stop him from ripping out the nightlights, but he frowned and shook me off. "You're about to go to another world, anyway. Why are you so hung up on this useless junk?"

The back of my hand was already swollen. When it smacked against the wall, pain shot all the way up to my arm until it went numb.

Mom instinctively took a step forward. I thought she was going to help me up, but all she did was hold Dad back and give me a cold look.

"Don't hit her. The hives on her face haven't subsided yet. If you mess up her face, what are we supposed to do when Lia gets here?"

I froze.

Dad, barely holding back his temper, pointed at me. "You're about to leave, and you're still causing trouble."

I lowered my head and let out a small laugh, but my eyes burned. "Doesn't she have parents over there? Or a boyfriend? She talks to you guys until late every night. Doesn't that strike you as weird?"

The room went dead silent.

Mom's face instantly darkened. "How can you be this malicious, Cordelia?"

Dad's voice turned even icier. "Our family is fortunate that someone that exceptional is willing to help us."

Just then, Chase walked in with breakfast. When he saw me standing there, still looking miserable, he frowned. "Arguing again?"

He handed me a cup of warm soy milk. "You just had an allergic reaction last night. Have something warm to drink."

My fingertips brushed the side of the cup, and I almost started crying again. When I used to work late until I had stomach problems, he'd press a cup of warm soy milk into my hands, just like what he was doing now.

I thought he at least still remembered that I wasn't feeling well, but his next words made my heart sink.

"Don't go to work today. I've already resigned on your behalf."

I looked up at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Chase avoided meeting my eyes. "In seven days, you won't be here anymore. Keeping you on the project would be irresponsible to the company."

I pulled out my phone and checked it. I'd already been removed from the project group chat, and my manager's last messages were from half an hour ago.

"Cordelia, your family says your mental state's been unstable lately and that you can't continue working. Your resignation's been processed. Please mail your work badge back today."

Mentally unstable. A resignation.

Every single word was like a needle stabbing at my temples in a steady, throbbing beat.

"Who did this?" I rasped.

Mom pursed her lips. "I asked Chase to deal with it. You're leaving, anyway. You shouldn't be hogging the position."

Dad added, "Leave with your dignity intact. Don't embarrass us."

I clutched my phone, my hand shaking badly. I'd spent three years grinding away to finally get a firm footing in that job, yet they'd ruined it for me with the casual excuse that I was leaving.

Chase reached out, wanting to steady me. "Cordelia, don't be like this. I promise I'll take good care of you when you get back."

I stepped out of his reach. "Do you honestly think I'm coming back?"