Chapter 3

The wind slashed at my face like knives, but the real chill was the hopelessness inside me, and a brutal clarity that hit me for the first time.

This marriage was rotten to the core, and I couldn't believe that I'd been enduring it all this time.

Luckily, before we got married, I saw a divorce lawyer's video and kept my guard up.

I set aside a bank card for myself and never used it after the wedding.

It wasn't a huge amount, but it was enough for me to start over.

I looked at that message on my phone: [You can't survive without me], and couldn't help but laugh. The more I laughed, the more the tears came.

*****

A truck thundered by, its horn blaring.

Buddy barked, tugging at my pant leg, desperately trying to drag me back to the rest area.

Cold sweat soaked my back, and my legs turned to jelly.

I crouched down and stroked Buddy's head. His eyes were sparkling, staring up at me, worried sick.

"Buddy, let's go home," I whispered.

In that moment, it hit me hard that the man I'd left everything for, the one I moved across the country to marry, wasn't half as loyal as a dog.

I booked the quickest ride out of the rest area and arranged for Buddy to be shipped home.

While I waited, my phone screen was going wild, flashing nonstop.

Andrew kept calling, one after another.

My phone kept buzzing with messages.

Andrew: [Celina Haynes, getting bold now, huh? Don't think you can ignore my calls forever.]

Andrew: [Where the hell did you go? I can't find you anywhere at the rest stop.]

Andrew: [Bitch, you trying to go against me now?]

Andrew: [Answer the damn phone.]

Andrew: [You think I won't...]

I didn't bother reading the rest of his filthy messages.

He thought I'd be out there in the cold, crying my heart out, waiting for him to come back and pick me up like he was doing me a favor.

He really believed I couldn't survive without him.

The train raced on, and outside the window, the bleak northern landscape slowly gave way to the lush green of the south.

My heart started to come alive again, bit by bit.

At the exit, I spotted my parents right away, their necks craning as they searched for me.

My mom hurried over, her gaze flicking to Buddy at my feet, then back to me. "Sweetie, where's Drew? Weren't you two supposed to come home together? And what about your luggage?"

I took a deep breath, steadying myself, and said, "Dad, Mom, I want to get a divorce."

Her eyes went wide as she blurted, "What?"

My dad's face darkened. "Don't be ridiculous. Right at Christmas? You were supposed to come home together. How did things end up like this?"

"He literally kicked me out on the highway because I wouldn't spend Christmas at his family's place," I explained.

My parents froze, their faces going pale. Mom managed to say, "Let's get home and have dinner first. We'll talk after you've had something."

As soon as I walked in, the familiar smell of home-cooked food washed over me. The table was piled high with all my favorite dishes.

I picked up a slice of sausage and put it in my mouth, but before I could taste it, big, fat tears splashed right into my bowl.

"Sweetie, don't cry." Mom hurried over, clumsily wiping my tears away.

"Mom, I'm okay." I wiped my face as I told her everything that had happened.

Mom's tears kept falling. "I never should've let you marry someone so far away. This isn't what life's supposed to be like.

"Sweetie, you've been through so much. I know you've always been a proud girl, but you should've told us. We would've helped you."

My dad stayed silent, his face grim, not noticing when his cigarette had snapped in half.

The only sound left in the living room was Mom's muffled sobs.

After a long while, Dad tossed the rest of the cigarette into the trash and said firmly, "Get the divorce. We're with you, no matter what. Sweetie, don't be scared. You're home now."

"You have to get the divorce." Mom looked up, wiping her tears. "My daughter shouldn't have to put up with this. We're with you, and we'll start over together."

Mom got up, went to the kitchen, and ladled out a bowl of soup for me. "Sweetie, eat up. From now on, whatever you want, I'll make it for you."

I nodded, choking back a sob.

Andrew Sullivan's POV

I was fuming the whole way, driving like a maniac. By the time it was pitch-dark, I finally made it back to my hometown.

As soon as I pulled over, my brother, Eric Sullivan, and sister, Jazmin Sullivan, crowded around the car.

"Hey, Andrew, you're back. Where's Celina?" Eric called out.