Chapter 3

I stood frozen outside my parents' bedroom door.

Through the crack, I saw them—Augustus and Evangeline, their bodies tangled in the dim light.

Evangeline's nails dug into Augustus' back, leaving angry red marks. He kissed her hungrily, his breath ragged, his movements rough.

"That wall has to go," she gasped, "Those childish handprints are hideous. They don't belong in a house this beautiful."

Augustus gripped her hair, pulling her closer. The bedframe groaned under their weight.

"And those old roses, Augustus," she moaned, her fingers trailing down his throat. "They take up too much space. I want lavender..."

"Anything you want, darling." He bit down on her collarbone. "I'll have the gardeners tear it all out tomorrow."

"You're so good to me." She arched against him with a breathy sigh.

I pushed the door open.

"What the hell are you doing?"

They jerked apart, but Evangeline didn't even bother covering herself. She just pressed closer to Augustus, her eyes wide and wet, like a wounded doe.

"Camilla!" Augustus paled. "We—we were just—"

"Just what?" My voice was ice. "Just fucking on my dead parents' bed while planning to destroy everything they left behind?"

Evangeline let out a delicate sob. "Camilla, you're misunderstanding. We were just... discussing renovations."

Augustus scrambled to pull on his shirt, avoiding my eyes. "Camilla, about what you just heard—we were going to discuss it with you first—"

"Discuss what?" My voice cracked with disbelief. "That you're giving away my childhood home? That you're letting her destroy everything my parents built?"

"Camilla, you're being dramatic," Evangeline said. "It's just a wall. We can make new memories—"

I looked at Augustus, desperately searching for any sign of the man who used to love me.

"The roses in the garden," I continued. "Every single one was planted by my mother. She taught me how to care for them. And you want to rip them out?"

"Plants can be replanted," Evangeline said with a shrug. "Besides, roses are so old-fashioned."

That's when I lost it completely.

I lunged forward and grabbed her hands.

Evangeline stumbled backward, her eyes wide with shock.

"You're not just taking walls and flowers!" I screamed, my voice breaking. "That's where my mom taught me to write my name when I was five! Those roses were her last gift before the cancer took her! You're murdering everything I have left of them!"

"Camilla, stop!" Augustus rushed between us, but I was beyond reason.

I shoved him aside and grabbed Evangeline by the shoulders.

"Get out! GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!"

We struggled briefly before Augustus pulled me away, his arms wrapping around me from behind.

"Let go of me!" I fought against him, but he held tight.

Evangeline had tears in her eyes now. "I... I just wanted to make it beautiful. I didn't know—"

I broke free from Augustus and pointed a shaking finger at her. "You just assumed you could waltz in here and erase my entire life!"

"That's enough," Augustus said firmly. "Camilla, you need to calm down."

I stared at him in disbelief. Even now, even after everything, he was protecting her.

This man who once promised to honor my family's memory was now helping someone destroy it.

When did I become the enemy in my own home?

"I want a divorce."

The words came out.

Augustus went completely still. "What did you say?"

Evangeline's eyes widened, but I caught something that looked almost like satisfaction flicker across her face.

Just then, she swayed on her feet, pressing her hand to her chest.

"I... I can't breathe," she gasped, her face suddenly pale.

What a performance.

But Augustus was buying every second of it.

"Evangeline!" He caught her as she seemed to collapse, shooting me an accusatory look. "Look what you've done!"

"What I've done?" I laughed bitterly. "She's the one destroying my life!"

"She simply wants a home," Augustus snapped, cradling Evangeline against his chest. "You're the one who attacked her!"

Evangeline looked up at me through her tears, managing to look wounded and innocent despite everything.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I never meant to hurt you. I just... I thought we could be a family..."

"It's not your fault," Augustus murmured to her, then glared at me.

I watched them walk out of my house—my parents' house—feeling like I was watching my entire world crumble.

The silence felt deafening. I looked around at the house where I'd grown up.

Forgotten in all the chaos, was a manila folder that must have fallen from Evangeline's bag.

I opened it with trembling fingers.

Inside was a property transfer agreement.