Chapter 4

Back from the hospital at last, the front door creaked open.

Mother and Father walked in, worn out. Ronan followed behind them, his head down.

The lights stayed low. They thought I was locked away in my room, asleep.

They had no idea my scuffed duffel sat waiting by the front door.

I was already packed, already ready to leave.

I was just starting down the stairs when their hushed voices reached me.

"If only Kael's family had better connections," Mother sighed. "He's so good with Liora…"

"Liora likes him," Father said. "If I'd known, I never would've arranged for him to be engaged to Seren."

"Still," Mother went on, "Kael and Seren are a better match on paper. Let Liora chase her goals. He can keep looking out for her, even if he's Seren's fiancé."

Those words settled heavy inside me.

Even now, after everything that had happened, they planned to let Liora stay tangled up with my fiancé.

I was nothing more than a placeholder, meant to step quietly aside for her.

My boots hit the stair tread softly. I continued downward, slow and unhurried.

My sudden appearance cut their whispers dead.

Mother flinched when she saw me, surprise flickering across her face, and her eyes darted away.

"Seren… aren't you asleep?"

I said nothing to her question.

"I'm heading back to the regional branch," I said flatly, ignoring the sharp twinge in my chest, raw with betrayal.

Mother exhaled sharply. She'd braced for screaming, for tears.

Father gave a short, curt nod, silent relief. Less trouble for the family.

But Ronan stepped forward, blocking my path, his gaze locking on my packed duffel. He fell quiet for a heartbeat before he spoke.

"Liora is in the hospital, Seren," he bit out. "And you still haven't given her a proper apology."

"You think one quick apologetic call fixes everything?"

Whatever guilt they might have felt was gone now.

It always shifted this way: a flicker of shame, then straight back to their rigid sense of duty.

The room grew stifling. I held the anger down before it could spill out.

My fingers closed around the phone in my pocket.

Maybe they ought to hear exactly what Liora had to say for herself. Not to clear my name—just to make sure they could never pretend they didn't know.

I pulled it out, dialed Liora's number, and switched it to speaker.

She picked up fast. Her voice was still weak, soft and cloying, but the self‑satisfaction underneath was unmistakable.

"Seren? Oh. Is this because you found out Kael is here with me? Are you angry? He hardly leaves my bedside these days."

Silence crashed over the room. Even Ronan flinched.

My parents traded a glance. The gentle, harmless image they'd clung to of Liora began to crack.

I did not react. I did not need to.

"It's good he's there," I said, tone steady. "You'll need someone at your side."

Liora hesitated. "Do you really mean that?"

"Of course," I replied coolly. "I don't know what triggered your reaction, but I'm sorry. I apologize."

A pause stretched out.

Then I ended the call.

My family stood frozen, stunned.

No one spoke.

Maybe because I apologized without fighting.

Maybe because I refused to become the dramatic, jealous girl they expected.

"Now," I said, lifting my duffel strap. "Am I allowed to leave?"

Their silence was answer enough.

I grabbed my bag and walked out into the night. The cold air bit at my skin.

I'd never truly belonged with them. But I wasn't alone.

I tilted my face up to the dark sky, letting the night wind carry me away from this house.

Away from the family that never really saw me.

Away from the fiancé who never chose me.

They could keep their twisted, comfortable little bonds.

I'd build my own.