Chapter 3

Three days after the divorce, I made up my mind that I was going to travel.

Once the idea crossed my mind, I just couldn't shake it off.

I craved the sea, the mountains, all the places I'd dreamed of but had never set foot in.

During my five years with the Griffin family, I barely left the city, except for the occasional business trip with Lucas.

However, those trips were all about work, and none of the joy or excitement that came with real travel.

I fired up my laptop and started researching travel tips.

Those places were either too crowded or too hot.

I thought Ravenhold seemed perfect.

I booked my flight and hotel, loving every minute of it.

Right in the middle of everything, the doorbell rang.

Peeking through the peephole, I found that it was Loretta. I hesitated, wondering if I should let her in.

"Hailey, I know you're in there. Open up. I want to talk," Loretta called from outside.

I took a deep breath and opened the door. "Hi."

Loretta's eyes welled up the moment she saw me. "Hailey, you look paler."

"Really?" I replied, letting her in. "How did you know I lived here?"

"Lucas told me," Loretta said as she settled onto the couch, her gaze fixed on me. "Hailey, tell me honestly. Are you still upset with Lucas?"

I handed her a glass of water. "I'm really not angry."

"Then why won't you get back together with him?" Loretta took my hand. "Hailey, I know Lucas well. He really means it this time."

I doubted it.

I remembered what Lucas said yesterday. He told me he'd taken care of things with Maisie.

What did "taken care of" even mean? Did they break up, or did he just pay her off to make her disappear?

"Do you really think Lucas loves me?" I blurted out.

Loretta paused for a moment. "Of course, he does. Why else would he want to get back together with you?"

"If he loves me, then why did he cheat?" I asked.

"Men make mistakes. As long as he still cares about you, that's what matters," Loretta said, patting my hand gently. "Hailey, don't be too hard on him. Sometimes, a wife just has to turn a blind eye."

I didn't agree with her.

All of a sudden, I just felt completely drained.

"Let me ask you something," I said, looking her straight in the eye. "If Mr. Griffin ever cheated on you, what would you do?"

Loretta's expression shifted instantly. "Hailey, why would you say something like that? Mr. Griffin isn't that kind of man."

"It's just a hypothetical," I replied.

"That's not even possible." Loretta was getting worked up. "He would never cheat. That's just not who he is."

Seeing her flare up like that, I suddenly understood.

In her mind, Lucas's cheating was forgivable, but if her husband cheated, that would be absolutely unforgivable.

The reason was simple. She never really respected my feelings.

"I'm exhausted. Maybe you should go home now," I said, getting to my feet.

"Hailey, please, just give Lucas another chance, okay?" Loretta grabbed my hand. "The Griffin family can't do without you, and neither can I."

Seeing the tears in her eyes, my heart softened for a split second.

"I'm sorry," I said.

After sending Loretta off, I went right back to getting my travel plans in order.

Early the next morning, I flew to Ravenhold.

As the plane took off, I watched the city shrink beneath me, and for the first time in ages, I actually felt free.

I was really leaving this place.

When I arrived in Ravenhold, I checked into a cozy motel right by Lake Merrinfield.

The room was simple, but just by opening the window, I could see the gorgeous view of Lake Merrinfield.

The sky was blue, clouds white, and water clear; everything was beautiful.

I spent the whole afternoon at Lake Merrinfield, just zoning out and staring at the water, letting my mind go completely blank.

The wind rippled the water, and sunlight sparkled on its surface.

At that moment, the world seemed really beautiful to me.

I wandered through the old town at night, picking up a few trinkets and sampling all the local food.

I realized that this was what true freedom felt like.

On the third day, I went up to Mount Harrowlyn.

Riding the cable car, I thought back to college, when my roommates and I kept planning trips that never took off.

Then came graduation, work, and marriage. Life just got busier and busier. There was never any time left for adventures.

Now, finally, I had my chance.

The wind up top was wild and freezing, but the view was insane. From up here, all of Ravenhold was laid out right beneath my feet.

I threw my arms wide and took a deep, lungful of air.

It felt like I was alive again.

After a week in Ravenhold, I moved on to many other places, including Valderin.

Everywhere I went, I picked up a little souvenir for myself, something to remember this trip by.

While I was in Valderin, I met an elderly couple who'd been married for forty years and were still out exploring the world together.

The old lady smiled at me. "Sweetheart, life is short. You have to do what you love and be with the ones you love."

I nodded, and suddenly, everything just clicked.

I finally knew what I wanted.