I'm ready to leave.
This morning, after I told Kaiden—Kane? Kaiden? I don't even know what to call him anymore—that I wasn't feeling well, I held my breath, waiting for him to leave for work like he always does.
He didn't.
"No, go to work," I said, forcing a weak smile. "It's just a headache. I'll take a pill and sleep."
But his eyes—those dark, unreadable eyes—narrowed slightly. He didn't believe me.
"Lately you've been coming home late," I added softly, twisting the knife of his own guilt. "I know you have a lot on your plate. I'd feel awful if you missed an important meeting over a silly headache."
He studied me a beat too long. Then, with a sigh that sounded almost regretful, he kissed my forehead.
"Rest well, baby."
The moment the car engine faded beyond the gates, I moved.
I rushed to the walk-in closet, knelt before the hidden panel behind his winter coats, and spun the dial of the safe. My fingers trembled—not from fear, but from the sickening thrill of defiance.
I found more than I expected.
Fifty thousand dollars.
Enough to vanish for months. Maybe longer.
But something stopped me from taking it.
Technically, because we're married, that money is half mine. But it feels like stealing. I didn't work for it. I came into this marriage with barely anything—no savings, just a few clothes and an empty bank account.
Still, I can't stay here.
Not with a liar.
A cheater.
And maybe… a murderer.
I'll return the money one day. I swear it to myself as I tuck the bills into my tote bag.
I pack a few clothes and shoes—nothing that would raise suspicion. Then I call a cab and tell the driver to wait just outside the gates.
When everything's ready, I stand at the main entrance and glance back at the mansion that's been my home for the past five months. My fingers tighten on the handle of the bag.
Goodbye.
I take a step forward—
"Miss Steel."
The butler's voice slices through the silence. He's standing by the door, as if he materialized out of thin air.
"Going somewhere?" he asks politely, though there's something cold behind his tone. His eyes flick to my bag. To my shoes, to the absence of my wedding ring—I left it on the nightstand.
"The driver's with Mister Steel, but if you wait a bit, he'll take you wherever you need."
My pulse quickens. I've always had the feeling he knows everything that happens in this house—every movement, every breath.
"No need," I reply quickly. "I'll just take a cab. I'm going to a nearby store for painting supplies."
He tilts his head. "Mister bought you new brushes yesterday. If it's the same store, I can have the driver pick up whatever you need. Just make a list."
Frustration claws up my throat. He knows.
"I'd rather go myself," I say, voice steady.
He exhales softly, his expression unchanging. "Mister won't like you leaving the house alone. And I can't allow it."
I freeze. "You're not in a position to not allow me anything," I snap, surprising myself with the sharpness in my voice. "Know your place."
For a moment, something flashes in his eyes—recognition, maybe. Or fear.
I don't look away.
"Move," I say firmly.
To my surprise, he steps aside.
I don't hesitate. I walk past him and push through the front door, my heartbeat thundering in my ears.
From the corner of my eye, I see him lift the phone to his ear.
There's no doubt who he's calling.
Kaiden.
But I don't stop.
---
I was surprised that the security guards let me out. They just nodded their heads, no questions asked.
Now I'm on a train heading north. It feels like the right decision.
A pause from the city, from everything.
If I rent a small cabin in the middle of nowhere, he won't be able to find me.
My phone started ringing as soon as I left the house. I made sure to walk around after the cab dropped me near a shop, then I threw the phone away before heading to the train station. I had to make sure no one was following me. Every precaution matters, knowing who I'm dealing with.
The view from the train is beautiful. The countryside looks so calm, so far from everything I've known.
But something feels missing.
For the first time since I found out he was cheating on me, tears roll down my face. It's like something inside me broke, and now everything is pouring out.
I've been alone for a long time. But for the first time in my life, I felt like I had a family.
Someone who saw me.
Someone who loved me.
Someone who made me feel safe.
Turns out it was all a lie.
A lie I fell for.
A lie I lived.
And now there's just this hole in my heart.
---
It was already late when I arrived in a small town.
The streets were empty, only a few lights still on. I was exhausted, almost falling asleep standing up.
The hotel wasn't fancy, just a small place near the station. The woman at the reception didn't ask questions, didn't even look me in the eyes. She just handed me the keys and went back to her old TV.
The room smelled like cleaning products and lemon. It was simple, but at least it was mine. For now.
I took a shower, the warm water washing away the train smell, the dust, and a bit of my fear.
When I got out, I wrapped myself in the towel and sat on the bed, feeling my body finally relax for the first time in days.
I left the lights on. I don't even know why. Maybe I just didn't want to be in the dark.
Sleep was already pulling me when I heard it.
A knock. Soft. Almost polite.
My heart jumped.
Maybe they got the wrong room, I told myself.
Another knock. This time, slower. Louder.
I got up, every step heavier than the last.
"Who is it?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
No answer.
The air felt different. Heavier. I should've ignored it. I should've locked the door and gone back to bed.
But something in me moved anyway. My hand reached the handle, even when my mind screamed not to.
I opened the door.
He was there.
Kaiden.
Standing right in front of me, like he'd never left, like he knew exactly where I'd be.
His shirt was dark, the top buttons undone. His hair still damp, like he'd come straight from the rain.
He looked calm. Too calm.
"Found you," he said.
And suddenly, I couldn't breathe.