Chapter 3
He was trying to sound less confrontational now.
"Seriously, you're not gonna throw everything away over some intern, right?"
"Five years together—you really want to just throw that away?"
I paused, then turned to look at him.
"Miles, do you still think this is only about some intern?"
He was stunned.
"What else is it, then?"
I let out a bitter laugh.
"When you went on business trips, you'd buy your sister the newest phone, but for me? Just a discounted scarf from the airport."
"For your mom's birthday, you dropped ten grand on a jade bracelet. For mine, you cashed in some credit card points and got me a kitchen pot."
"I was three months pregnant, and because your mom wanted osmanthus cake from that shop across town, you made me, with my big belly, ride the subway for two hours to get it. In the end, I lost the baby."
With every thing I listed, Miles's face turned even whiter.
He remembered every single one.
But he never saw any of it as a real issue.
"It's... it's all in the past now," he said, his voice barely steady.
"Yeah, it's all in the past."
I nodded.
"And along with it, the last bit of feeling I had for you is gone."
"Miles, it was never Luna's photo that broke me."
"It was five years of disappointment and resentment, piling up day after day."
"It was your whole family treating me like a maid—someone you could boss around, someone who never deserved any respect."
"That photo was just the straw that broke the camel's back."
I zipped up my suitcase and stood up.
"Now, that's it—the last straw's broken."
Miles was completely speechless.
His face turned red, then pale, and in the end, he just leaned against the door, totally crushed.
I dragged my suitcase past him without a hint of regret.
When I walked into the living room, the breakfast I made was still sitting there, untouched.
My sandwiches.
I picked up the plate and headed for the trash can.
Without hesitation, I dumped it in.
Miles watched me, his eyes filled with tears.
"Claire! Do you really have to be this heartless?"
"You were the one who cut things off first."
I set the empty plate down on the table, letting it clatter loudly.
"Just so you know, Luna's parents should be blowing up your phone any minute now."
"Good luck with that."
I slipped on my shoes and opened the door.
Outside, Lily was standing there, out of breath.
She must've rushed over from home—her hair was a mess.
When she saw me dragging my suitcase, she froze for a second, then her face twisted with rage.
"Claire! You're really leaving?"
"If you walk out that door today, don't even think about ever coming back!"
She blocked the doorway like some final boss, daring me to try and get past her.
She was so sure I'd chicken out like before and just drag my suitcase right back in.
I looked at her and suddenly realized how pointless this all was.
Arguing with someone like her was just a total waste of my life.
I pulled out my phone and, right in front of her, dialed 911.
"911? Hello?"
"I'm at [address]. Someone's blocking my door and restricting my freedom."
"Yes, please send someone over as soon as possible."
Lily's expression shifted from rage to shock, then panic.
It all happened in just a few seconds.
"You... you called the cops?" Lily stammered, her hand trembling as she pointed at me.
"You actually called the cops over just some family stuff? Do you even have any shame?"
"Shame?"
I put my phone away and gave her a cold, deadpan stare.
"Lily, when your whole family treated me like a free maid, you already rubbed my face in the dirt."
"Now, I'm just trying to get it back."
"Let me go and we'll both be fine."
"If you don't, we'll just wait for the cops and let the whole neighborhood watch the drama."
My voice wasn't loud, but each word landed like a blow, nailing Lily right in the heart.
She was all about saving face.
Making her lose face in front of the neighbors would hurt her more than anything.
Miles came rushing out of the bedroom.
"Claire! Are you done with this drama? Hang up the phone already!"
He tried to grab my phone.
I stepped back, avoiding him.
"Too late."
"I already called."
Miles's face went livid, almost purple with rage.
He and his mom were like they came from the same mold.
All they ever cared about was their own pride.
Lily's face flickered through a dozen emotions, impossible to pin down.
She glared at me so fiercely, it felt like her eyes could've set me on fire.