I stood in the middle of my room, staring at everything that belonged to now or used to belong to . Clothes Nathan bought, shoes he had picked and jewelries he made try on even when I told him it was too much. Every bag, every dress, every small item that still had a tag on it... all of it surrounded .
My chest tightened again. I wiped my face with the back of my hand, but the tears kept coming anyway. Everything felt wrong. Leaving him felt wrong, packing felt wrong but staying... staying was dangerous. For Ella for Julian and for myself.
That woman’s threat wasn’t sothing I could ignore. I saw the hatred in her eyes, she took once and that ant she could take soone else. Ella, Julian or anyone, I couldn’t risk any of them.
I went to Nathan’s room for the last ti, looked down at the folded letter on his pillow. I had written it earlier, before I started packing. My handwriting had been shaky. I had rewritten the sa line three tis:
"I love you, but I have to leave."
I placed it where he wouldn’t miss it, right on the pillow where I slept beside him last night.
I turned away from it now, it hurt too much to look at. Imdiately I got to my room, I bent down and zipped the last suitcase. It was heavy, probably too heavy. I didn’t even know where half of these things would fit at Ella’s place, but I took them anyway because leaving them behind would only make Nathan more suspicious. I needed the breakup to look real, even if my chest felt like it was tearing itself apart.
My phone buzzed on the bed. I wiped my eyes again and grabbed it.
Ella: I’m outside. I brought Julian’s car. The trunk is big enough for everything. Co out when you’re ready.
I sniffed quietly, typing back:
: Okay. I’m coming.
She replied instantly.
Ella: Are you sure? You don’t have to rush if he’s ho.
I bit my lip.
: He’s at work.
Ella: Good. Let’s go before he cos back. I’m outside the gate.
I stared around the room one last ti. The curtains, tge couch, the bed. mories flooded my head, the first ti he brought here and the way he would enter without knocking and I would tease him of coming to stare at .
I had to swallow a sob.
"I’m sorry," I whispered to the empty room. "I’m so sorry."
I pulled the first bag, then the second. My hands were shaking. I was trying to control it, but my body refused to listen. I didn’t want to cry again, not before I left the house. If I did, I would probably tear the letter apart and wait for Nathan to co ho. And I couldn’t do that. I had already made up my mind.
I carried one bag on my shoulder and dragged the other two. When I opened the bedroom door, I kept expecting Nathan to appear out of nowhere, ask why I was carrying bags. Hold my face, kiss my forehead and tell to stop overthinking.
But he wasn’t here and that absence hurt more than anything. Imade my way down the stairs slowly. Every step felt heavier than the last. When I reached the living room, I heard voices. Anne, Gabriel, and Leo were there. Of course they were, it was morning. They always spent mornings together, I prayed they wouldn’t notice .
But Leo did.
He turned first, his face lit up at the sight of — until he saw the bags.
"Fiona?" His voice cracked a little. "Why do you have your bags? Are you going sowhere?"
My throat closed up, I couldn’t answer him. His big eyes were staring at with confusion and fear. I looked away fast because if I t his eyes for too long, I would break.
Leo rushed to and hugged my leg tightly. "Why are you leaving? Are you mad at Daddy? Did he shout at you? Did I do sothing wrong?"
"No, sweetheart," I managed to whisper. "You didn’t do anything. None of this is your fault."
He looked up at , still frowning. "Then why are you leaving?"
I swallowed hard. "I... I just have to."
Anne stood up next. "Fiona?" She walked toward quickly. "Honey, what’s happening? Did Nathan say sothing? Did you two fight?"
Gabriel stood too, worry written plainly across his face. "Did my son offend you? Tell . We can fix it."
"I’m fine," I whispered, but the tears were already forming. "I just... I have to leave."
Leo hugged tighter. "No! Stay here. Daddy will be sad. I’ll be sad."
I covered my mouth with my hand as the first tear slipped. I couldn’t stay. If I stayed one more minute, I would collapse.
Anne reached for my suitcase. "Please, sweetie, don’t rush out like this. At least tell us what happened. Nathan will—"
"I have to leave," I repeated, a bit louder this ti, because it was the only sentence I could force out without sobbing.
Then I pulled gently away from Leo before he clung harder. He tried to grab my hand, but I had to pull back. It crushed , completely crushed .
The guards at the door looked confused but opened the gate when they saw walking out with bags. They didn’t dare question .
Ella got out of the car as soon as she saw , her eyes widened when she saw the tears streaming down my face.
"Oh God," she whispered, rushing toward . "Fiona..."
She hugged quickly, then helped load my bags into the trunk. The guards assisted silently, exchanging confused looks.
Leo ran to the doorway, calling my na. Anne held him back gently, her face tight with worry.
"Please don’t go!" Leo shouted. "Please!"
I wiped my face again, but it didn’t stop the shaking.
Ella opened the passenger door, guiding inside. "Co on," she whispered softly. "Let’s go."
As the door closed, I heard Anne calling after :
"Fiona, sweetheart—if Nathan did sothing, just tell us—"
I couldn’t stay to hear the rest. Ella got into the driver’s seat, started the engine, and slowly pulled away from the mansion.
I looked back one last ti, Leo was still at the gate, crying.
Anne had her arms around him, trying to calm him. Gabriel stood behind them, confused, concerned, helpless.
And I had to turn away, pressing my hand to my mouth so I wouldn’t break down completely.
Ella reached over and squeezed my knee gently as she drove. "You did what you had to do," she whispered. "It hurts, but you’re doing this to protect those you love."
I leaned my head against the window, letting the tears fall freely.
"I love him," I whispered brokenly. "I really love him."
"I know," she murmured. "And that’s what makes all of this hard."
We didn’t talk much during the drive. I couldn’t, my voice wouldn’t co out properly.
I kept seeing Nathan’s face in my mind. His smile, his laugh, his touch. The way he would call my na "cupcake". The way he looked at this morning when he left for work, not knowing it was the last ti he would see here.
I wondered how he would react when he got ho. And when he saw the note on his pillow.
Would he be angry? Hurt? Confused?
Would he co after ? The thought scared and comforted at the sa ti.
I pressed my hand against my lips, trying to stop another sob, but it ca out anyway —Ella drove on, and I cried the whole way.
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