Chapter 5

Joseph was the first to snap out of his shock. His eyes were sharp with suspicion and hostility, like a prosecutor staring down a criminal.

"Are you running away? Trying to dodge responsibility for Jocelyn's allergic reaction?" he demanded.

My parents immediately joined in, disappointment and reproach written all over their faces.

Mom's voice was cold. "Joanna, how could you be so selfish? Jocelyn's still in the hospital, and all you can think about is leaving?"

Dad frowned and added, "You have no sense of responsibility."

I looked at them, a cold numbness spreading through my chest.

So that was it. No matter what I did, they always called it selfish.

"Dodging responsibility?" I curled my lips into a bitter smile. "When did I ever say I was?"

I picked up my phone, dialed Jocelyn's number right in front of them, and put it on speaker.

After a few rings, her voice came through—weak but still dripping with her usual arrogance.

"Joanna? Are you calling to chew me out?"

She thought I was picking a fight.

But as I looked around at my family, the whole thing struck me as painfully ironic.

"Jocelyn, whatever caused your allergic reaction, I'm sorry," I said, my voice calm and cold with finality. "I'm sorry. From today on, I'll stay out of your way."

Because I was leaving.

Silence lingered on the other end of the line. Jocelyn seemed stunned, unsure of how to respond. But I didn't need to hear any more.

I hung up, then looked at my parents and Joseph. "Can I go now?"

Their expressions were frozen in shock, as if it had never occurred to them that I might actually leave.

Without another word, I pulled my suitcase and walked, step by step, out of that cold, unforgiving house.

The click of the door closing behind me sounded like the shattering of my heart.

When I reached the airport, my phone rang again. The name flashing on the screen made my chest tighten.

I picked up the call, and Felix's voice came through, rushed and edged with barely suppressed agitation.

"Joanna, where are you going? We still don't know what's going on with Jocelyn. She's afraid to be alone at the hospital. I can't just leave her."

His tone was harsh, but beneath it was a tremor of urgency, like he was barely holding himself together.

I let out a bitter laugh. In his words, there was always concern for Jocelyn's needs, but never for me.

"Still pulling this disappearing act? Why can't you grow up?" he asked in a low voice. It wasn't exactly impatient but more weary than anything.

But to me, all his explanations and unspoken meanings had lost their weight.

I remembered my parents saying that Felix chose me for the family alliance, but the woman he truly loved had always been Jocelyn.

"Felix," I began, my voice steady and resolute, "let's break up."

The line went dead silent.

A moment later, he spoke, his voice tight as though my words had stung him. "What did you just say?"

I took a deep breath and repeated, "Let's break up."

With that, I hung up without hesitation and powered off my phone. Then, I turned, dragging my suitcase toward the boarding gate.

My flight was about to take off.

This time, I wasn't running from my past. I was finally free to start over.