Chapter 2

As soon as I reached the mall entrance, I spotted Calum and Salome.

They looked like a perfect couple.

When Salome saw me, her eyes sparkled for a second.

She clung tighter to Calum's arm and headed right toward me.

Salome's voice was sweet and soft, but her gaze had a hint of an edge. "Noemi, what are you doing here all alone? Isn't it lonely?"

I tried to force a smile, but even pretending felt exhausting. "Well, since my fiancé is..."

I looked at Calum, who had a slight frown. "Busy keeping you company, I'm left all alone."

Salome's eyes welled up with tears instantly.

She let go of Calum's arm, looking as if she'd been deeply wronged.

Calum immediately shielded her from me and shot me a look full of impatience. "Do you have to be so harsh?"

"I told you. Salome is only my friend."

Surprisingly, I felt calm.

"Calum, don't blame Noemi," Salome said, her voice choking as she started to bow to me. "It's my fault. I'm willing to apologize."

Calum quickly caught her, looking really sorry for her. "Salome, this isn't your fault. You don't need to apologize."

He turned to me, his eyes dark and serious. "Apologize to Salome right now, or I won't let this slide."

I gritted my teeth hard.

The taste of blood filled my mouth.

I didn't know how much longer I could keep lying to myself.

Calum's whole world revolved around Salome.

"I'm not apologizing. I didn't do anything wrong," I said.

Veins stood out on his temples, his eyes turning cold.

Suddenly, two bodyguards came up behind me and slammed their feet into the backs of my knees.

Agony shot through me.

I was caught completely off guard and collapsed hard to my knees right in front of Salome.

Calum stared down at me, his voice devoid of warmth. "Since you won't apologize, I'll show you how."

The woman standing before me killed my mom.

But Calum was forcing me to bow and apologize to her.

Humiliation washed over me.

I jerked my head up, my eyes burning into his face. "Calum, for humiliating me like this today, I'll hate you for the rest of my life."

When our eyes met, he stiffened imperceptibly, and for a split second, he actually reached out to help me up.

But right then, Salome let out a soft whimper and went limp in his arms.

"Salome!" Calum's expression shifted instantly.

He scooped her up in his arms and hurried off, not sparing me another glance.

The stares from the crowd felt like a thousand needles stabbing into my back.

I forced myself to stand, my knees shaking.

*****

When I got home, I went straight into his study.

I typed in Salome's birthday and unlocked Calum's safe.

I'd already braced myself for this.

But to my surprise, I didn't feel upset at all.

There was nothing valuable inside the safe but one document, sitting there all alone.

I picked it up.

I'd prepared myself for it, yet seeing the proof with my own eyes still twisted my heart in agony.

It was like an old, numbing wound had been ripped open again, exposing all the rotten mess beneath.

Calum faked my handwriting and signed the consent form.

I pulled out my phone and carefully took clear pictures of every page.

My fingertips turned pale from how hard I was gripping the phone, trembling violently.

I swore I'd make Calum pay for this.

When I stepped out of the study, I heard some commotion downstairs.

Salome's gentle, weak voice floated up the stairs. "Calum, maybe I should leave. Noemi probably won't like it if I stay."

I walked down the stairs.

In the living room, Salome was curled up in Calum's arms, looking sickly pale.

Calum glanced up at me, and whatever warmth was in his eyes disappeared, replaced by a cold stare. "Perfect timing. Salome's not feeling well and needs to recover. She's moving in starting today."

I only replied flatly, "Okay."

The way I went along with it only made Calum frown.

He grabbed my wrist, his grip out of control. "You're the reason Salome's old illness flared up again. Now you're acting like this. What's with the attitude?"

I looked up, meeting his eyes head-on. "This is your house. If you want someone to move in, do I have the right to say no?"

He froze for a moment, his grip on my wrist slackening slightly, as if he wanted to say something.

Salome's voice came from behind me. "Calum, maybe I should leave. I don't want you and Noemi to argue because of me."

She reached out and gently tugged at Calum's sleeve.

Calum held onto her hand. "Don't worry. As long as I'm here, no one's going to make you leave."

He shot me a warning look and then carried Salome upstairs.

*****

The next day, I had just gotten back home.

Calum was standing in the living room.

His eyes locked onto me.

He spoke as if it were a given. "Salome hasn't been sleeping well lately. Let her wear your amulet for a few days."

I stopped in my tracks.

The amulet hanging around my neck has been with me for more than ten years.

Back when I was a kid, I had a raging fever for days. Calum went with his parents to the church, specifically to pray for me and bring back the amulet.

Strangely enough, the night I started wearing it, my fever disappeared.

After that, I hadn't gotten seriously sick again.

Now he wanted to take my amulet away.

Noticing my silence, Calum added stiffly, as if to explain, "Salome's health has been poor these days.

"Let her wear it for a few days. When she's feeling better, I'll give it back to you."

I ran my fingers over the amulet at my neck.

Without hesitating, I yanked it off.

I placed it on the coffee table and pushed it across toward Salome.

"It was never mine to begin with. Keep it," I said, turned around, and walked upstairs.

Today was the day I was leaving.

I left with nothing but my driver's license.

When I came downstairs, Salome and Calum were sitting together.

"Calum, your cooking is so good," Salome said.

Calum was serving her food when he heard me and looked up.

When he saw me, his eyes instantly turned guarded. "Salome's not feeling well. I made this especially for her. Don't take any from her."

Without a second glance, I headed straight for the front door.

*****

At the airport, Calum was still lecturing me via messages. [It's only a meal. Why are you making a fuss over this?

[Salome's feeling unwell again because of you. Get back here and apologize now.

[Don't test my patience.]

With a blank face, I took out my SIM card, broke it in two, and tossed it in the trash.

I boarded the plane and turned off my phone.

The plane took off slowly.

I stared out the window at everything familiar. Silently, I said to myself, "Goodbye."