Chapter 2
Love and indifference never hid subtlety; the difference was crystal clear in every small daily moment.
If I wanted a birthday cake, he'd buy one, just never the flavor I loved.
If I caught a bad cold and begged for medicine, he'd remember eventually, long after I'd already recovered on my own.
I'd bought stacks of wedding planning guides, bridal fitness prep booklets full of hope, once upon a time.
Each time, though, Leonard's disgusted glances forced me to tuck them away quietly, hiding my dreams out of shame.
Seven years of hopeful longing had faded slowly into empty defeat. I was simply exhausted beyond repair.
My phone buzzed nonstop in my pocket soon after.
Sophie had shared a video in the orchestra group chat, capturing her and Leonard playing a four-hand duet on his mother's precious piano at the welcome party.
Leonard hadn't even minded when she set her wine glass carelessly on the piano.
Their eyes locked again and again, thick with unspoken chemistry, their faces drawing so close they nearly kissed.
Sophie typed out a coy line beneath the clip: [I'm totally new to the orchestra crew, yet I get way nicer treatment than people who've stuck around seven whole years. I'm so grateful for Leo's kindness and favor.]
Even mid-shower, Leonard replied to her right away: [You deserve every bit of it.]
Flirty banter bounced back and forth between them easily after that.
Leonard even softened up enough to send cute little emojis matching Sophie's playful tone.
Old memories flooded back unbidden then. Three years prior, I'd landed an incredibly tough industry award for the orchestra against all odds.
Like any regular girlfriend, I messaged Leonard sweetly in the group chat, craving just a little praise for all my hard work: [Look how awesome I did! Hurry and hype me up, Leonard!]
That message sat ignored in the chat feed for a full day and night, with not a single word from him in response.
I confronted him, burning with embarrassment afterward, only to get cold mockery in return.
"Aubrey, grow up already. Quit acting like a silly teen girl throwing tantrums in public chats. You embarrass yourself, and you embarrass me, too. I'm not playing along with that childish nonsense."
I'd only been twenty-nine back then, yet I'd blamed myself afterward, convinced I'd truly humiliated him somehow.
Now the truth was plain to see. For someone he cared about, Leonard's cold walls crumbled right down.
He'd humble himself, be warm, playful, and gentle without a second thought. It all just came down to whether he loved enough.
That same night, I packed my bags fully and left Leonard's house for the very last time.
*****
In the days that followed, I sorted out all my resignation paperwork step by step. I no longer poured every ounce of myself into running the orchestra like I once had, and I kept professional pressure gentle but steady on Leonard at work.
Word spread fast about how close Leonard had grown with Sophie Brooks, yet I paid all the gossip no mind whatsoever.
Peace was shattered abruptly one morning with an urgent call straight from my father.
His voice shook badly over the line. "Aubrey, your mom found out you split with Leonard out of nowhere and collapsed from shock.
"We can't find her health insurance ID anywhere, and our family savings aren't nearly enough to cover her emergency hospital bills right now."
Panic squeezed tight around my heart at once. I'd handed Leonard my mother's insurance documents ages ago, begging him to connect us with a top cardiologist for her chronic heart condition.
He'd dropped the request entirely, and her health insurance ID was still sitting forgotten with him all this time.
Frantically, I dialed Leonard's phone over and over, but every call went straight unanswered.
Desperate, I headed straight to his private villa on impulse.
Typing in our old passcode failed instantly. He'd changed the lock long ago.
With no other options left, I smashed a ground-floor window and climbed inside.
What I saw stopped me cold.
The minimalist home Leonard always kept spotless, neat as a luxury show home, was now covered head to toe in gaudy bubblegum pink decor.
Porcelain dolls littered every surface, curling irons and women's jackets tossed messily across tables and chairs without care.
A memory flickered back sharp and fast. Once, I'd loved a soft mood lamp with cute cartoon patterns and wanted it in our bedroom.
Leonard had shot the idea down cold, face twisted with disgust. "Aubrey, don't even think about letting your tacky taste ruin the clean, refined vibe of my house."
I had no time to dwell on old bitterness now. I raced through every room searching frantically for my mother's insurance card.
Without warning, a brutal kick slammed into my back, sending me crashing hard onto the hardwood floor.
Two police officers pinned me firmly to the ground in seconds flat.
"We've got a trespassing report filed against this residence," one officer said sternly. "You're coming down to the precinct for questioning immediately."