Chapter 4

When I woke up, the new account I'd made had been shut down too.

Julian was making one thing perfectly clear. Serena was untouchable.

I wasn't even allowed to leave a comment.

Something soured in my chest. I dragged out a suitcase and started packing.

When Julian bought the penthouse, he'd grinned like a kid.

"Audrey, look at the size of it. You'll never run out of room for all those little things you collect."

I was so happy when he put the keys in my hand.

Our old rental was small and damp. No matter how carefully I looked after my things, they always fell apart.

I went through the boxes.

Julian's love letters, photos from our trips, flowers he'd given me on birthdays...

All of it left over from when we were in love. None of it any use to me now.

I wheeled the trash bin over and dropped them in one by one.

When I checked my phone, the thread still ended where I'd left it that morning.

"Are you coming home? I want to talk."

Julian hadn't answered.

Ten years together, and it was our first time not speaking.

Because of Serena.

I tapped the divorce agreement on the desk, then looked at the ticket.

Julian was waiting for me to cave first. I didn't have that kind of time.

Close to midnight, he finally called.

"Caleb's sick. Can you come? I've got Maya here too, I can't handle both of them."

I was up before I thought about it. Caleb had been vicious to me, but I'd raised that boy from nothing.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared.

I half fell out of the cab and pounded on the door of the penthouse. Serena opened it, smiling like she owned the place.

"Audrey, why didn't you text? Julian would have come and picked you up. Look at you, you don't even have shoes on."

My eyes were streaming and I was shouting before I got through the doorway.

"Where's Caleb? I'm taking him to the hospital."

Julian came out of the back and frowned at me like I was the problem.

"Keep it down. Maya's asleep."

Caleb trailed out behind him, his face scarlet with fever.

I got down and pulled him into my arms, crying and scolding at the same time.

"I told you not to go out. You'd barely gotten over a cold. Does it hurt anywhere, baby? He's burning up and you didn't even give him anything for it?"

Julian's face went stiff at being told off.

Serena stepped in to smooth it over.

"It's my fault, I should have noticed. Julian was with Maya all day, he's worn out. And Caleb didn't say anything about feeling sick either."

Everything in me came up at once. I pointed straight at her.

"Did anyone ask you? You're the other woman. Where do you get off lecturing me about my son? I've been way too damn nice to you—"

Serena's eyes filled.

Slap. A hand caught me across the face.

Julian was staring at me, his whole face dark with it.

"Audrey. That's enough."

Caleb shoved me off and planted himself in front of Serena.

"Don't pick on her. It was my fault."

My husband of ten years. The son I nearly died bringing into the world.

Both of them looking at me like I was something that had gotten loose.

Something in me went out. I started laughing, and the tears came with it.

"Caleb. Are you coming with me? I'll take you to the hospital."

Maybe I said it too finally, because he hesitated.

Then he shook his head, absolutely sure.

"I don't need you. I've got Serena."

I looked at him one last time and walked out.

The door slammed behind me. The wind cut right through.

Neither of them came after me.

I bought a coat and a pair of shoes from an all-night shop downstairs and flagged a cab to the airport.

The first flight went out at sunrise.

I dried my face and sent Julian one last message before I shut my phone off.

"Let's get divorced."