Chapter 6
The wind on the other end of the phone howled loud enough to drown out his breathing.
“You packed up and left just because of that guy?”
“What, just ‘cause he’s rich? Wow, you really are that cheap!”
“Look, I know you‘ re mad, but if you come back now, I can still give you a wedding.”
I looked out the window at the moon. Cold and silver.
“Yeah,” I said, my voice flat. “Because he’s rich. A hundred times better than you.”
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I heard Gerard suck in a sharp breath like he was trying to keep his anger from spilling
over.
When he spoke again, his words were sharp.
“Ha! Does he even know? That I’ve had you for seven years? That you‘ ve carried my kids -three times? If he finds out about all that, you think he’ll still want you?” He scoffed.
“Yvaine, you’ll always be mine!”
A dull pain spread in my chest, and my throat tightened. My eyes stung, and for a moment, I couldn’t say a damn thing.
Gerard must‘ ve sensed it, though, because his tone shifted–softer now.
“Babe… all these years, all we’ve been through–was none of it real?”
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I could tell he wanted to say more, but then I heard a girl’s voice in the background.
“Gerard, the bathtub faucet‘ s broken. Can you come check?”
I couldn’t help it–I laughed. Then I hung up and deactivated that stupid alternate account for good.
My cheeks were cold, and when I touched my face, my fingers came away wet.
I’d only gotten close to Gerard because of a promise. That’s it. But if I could do it all over again, I’d never have agreed.
His mom used to be my neighbor. It was when I’d just escaped and was still trying to figure out how to survive.
She’d been kind. Taught me things about
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the world I didn’t know.
That’s how I met Gerard. Back then, he was eighteen. A rebellious kid who hated school.
We weren’t close at first.
Then his mom got really sick. She knew her time was short, and on her deathbed, she asked me to look out for him.
I said yes.
So I stepped into the chaotic life of that rebellious teenager.
And I stayed there for nine years.
I think I’ve more than fulfilled that
“promise.”
“Sweetie, what are you thinking about? It’s time to go out.”
My mom’s voice pulled me back. She gave
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my shoulder a light nudge.
Because I’d come home, and because of my upcoming wedding to Glenn, my dad had thrown this big party.
The crystal chandeliers sparkled so much that they almost blinded me. People were laughing, talking, and clinking glasses, and cameras were flashing everywhere.
I turned to the side, trying to avoid the crowd. But Glenn stepped in front of me first.
He glanced back at me and smiled.
Honestly, he seemed… decent–a good guy.
If I’d met him first, maybe things would‘ ve been different.
But there were too many strangers at the party, so I didn’t dare to drink too much. I
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pretended to be tipsy and snuck outside for
some air.
The clouds had cleared, leaving the cold moon sharp in the sky. A couple of faint stars dotted the edges.
With the moonlight, I noticed someone walking toward me.
Gerard…
He seemed to have lost some weight.
And beside him, holding onto his arm, was Gwyneth, her dress glittering under the faint lights.
“Come back with me,” Gerard said. It wasn’t a question.
I didn’t even respond, just turned to walk
away.
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But his hand shot out, grabbing my wrist,
tight enough to hurt.
Frowning, I snapped, “Let go of me!”
“What will it take for you to come back with me?” His voice cracked, and his eyes rimmed red.
I wanted to laugh, but even the thought of curling my lips felt exhausting.
Gwyneth’s soft, delicate voice floated over.
“Yvaine, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for you guys to fight. Please, forgive Gerard. He… He really loves you.” Her voice broke like she was about to cry.
The sound of laughter spilled faintly from the house, clashing with the cold silence around us in the garden.
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“Gerard,” I said, “I’m not going back with you anymore.”
“Are
you serious? We‘ ve known each other for nine years, Yvaine! What do those nine years mean to you?”
