Chapter 3
The interrogation room was cold and harsh, and the officers fired skeptical questions nonstop.
"You claim you're Leonard Sterling's girlfriend? There's not one personal item of yours anywhere in his house. Records list Sophie Brooks as the orchestra's head manager now. Is there anything honest coming out of your mouth at all, Aubrey?"
I shook with nerves as I tried desperately to explain everything, yet no one believed a word I said.
My confiscated phone lit up again and again with missed calls from my dad, each silent ring a reminder that my mom's condition was getting worse by the minute.
Hope faded completely, and I finally gave up fighting.
"Fine. I admit I trespassed onto private property. But my mom's dying in the hospital right now. Can you let me go just long enough to see her?" I begged.
"Nice try with the sick family act. Mr. Sterling and his partner said no one leaves until they've tallied up all damages and missing property first," an officer said.
Two full days and nights dragged by in cold isolation.
Leonard finally showed up on day three, walking in with a glammed-up Sophie and the entire orchestra crew trailing behind them.
Sophie stepped forward first, putting on a fake remorseful act for everyone watching. "Oh Aubrey, I never guessed the person breaking into our place would be you!
"I just got promoted to run the orchestra fully and planned a group trip for all staff... I hate that you sat locked up for days over this misunderstanding. It's all my fault, truly."
Leonard pulled Sophie back, cutting her off. "No need for apologies. We broke up ages ago. She had zero right showing up uninvited at my place to begin with."
Teary-eyed and desperate, I stared straight at him. "Leonard, where's my mom's health insurance ID? She needs urgent medical help right now. Hand it over!"
Leonard looked caught off guard for a second, then scrambled uselessly, opening drawers and cabinets everywhere.
But the truth was, he never really gave a damn about my mom.
There was no way he'd find that card now. It was just something he'd tossed aside and forgotten about ages ago.
Just then, my dad's call came through at last.
"Aubrey, your mom's gone," he said, his voice breaking.
My arms fell limp at my sides entirely.
I spoke to Leonard in a hollow, empty voice, "Don't bother searching. We won't ever need it again."
A flicker of conflict crossed Leonard's face briefly, but I didn't spare him a second glance.
I turned to leave with heavy steps, only for Sophie's voice to halt me cold.
"I feel terrible about you being locked up so long, Aubrey... but trespassing is still trespassing. We ought to check your bag quick to make sure you didn't walk off with anything from the house, yeah?" she said.
Before I could protest, she flipped my handbag upside down in one quick move.
Elegant wedding invitation samples Ethan had sent over for me to pick from spilled all across the floor.
Sophie covered her mouth dramatically, her tone thick with fake shock and hidden mockery. "Wow... you're still clinging hard to wedding dreams with Leo? All that talk about your sick mom—was that just a made-up story to win him back after your breakup?"
I'd run out of patience for her games long ago. "Finished checking? Nothing here belongs to either of you."
Having gotten the humiliating moment she wanted, Sophie fell quiet.
I grabbed my things to leave, yet Leonard chased after me suddenly and grabbed my wrist tightly.
He caught my arm, asking out of nowhere, "Where are you staying now?"
"Where are you staying these days anyway?" he asked.
"That's none of your business. Enjoy your life with Sophie." I pulled free of his grip coldly.
Leonard let out a bitter laugh. "I knew it. This whole mess is just you being jealous."
"Think whatever you want," I retorted.
"This drama's dragged on way too far. Why can't you just wait a few more years to get married? No need for all these crazy stunts to pressure me nonstop," he snapped, frayed at the edges.
I shook him off fully, my voice eerily calm even to my own ears. "I am getting married soon, Leonard, just not to you. I'll never badger you about weddings ever again. Got it clear?"
Leonard's face turned pale instantly, then he scoffed like I'd told a silly joke. "You're thirty years old, Aubrey. Don't say ridiculous stuff like that.
"Look how run-down and tired you are... who else besides me would ever want to marry you?"
"No advice needed from you about my life." I turned to walk away.
He softened his tone a little right after, regret creeping in faintly. "This Saturday's your birthday. You've always wanted to meet my dad, remember? I'll throw you a proper birthday dinner at the Sterling Manor to make amends."
His sudden kindness surprised me.
For seven years, I'd always remembered every single one of his birthdays.
Mine had never once crossed his mind before now.