Chapter 5
I had no idea how I walked out of the art gallery.
It was drizzling outside.
As the raindrops touched my face, only then did I realize I was crying.
When I was a kid, my dad always said, "Isabella, your voice has a home. As long as you keep singing, someone will hear you."
After he passed away, I couldn't bring myself to touch my father's piano for years.
The first time Cayson came over, he promised he'd fix it up and one day we'd put it in our music room.
Back then, I really thought he understood.
But in the end, all he cared about was how much it could fetch and how impressive it would make Alisha look.
The rain was coming down harder now.
Cayson called at the worst possible moment.
"Alisha's having complications with the baby. I'm taking her to the hospital. You'll have to get a cab home," he said.
"I hurt my lower back," I said.
Before I could finish, Alisha's desperate cries of pain cut through the phone.
He hung up in a rush, leaving me with nothing but his cold words echoing in my ear.
"Isabella, quit whining. Just go to the hospital on your own."
He hung up on me.
I stood alone in the pouring rain, pain radiating through half my body until I felt numb.
In the end, it was Karlee who came to pick me up.
When she saw me standing there soaked in the rain, she rushed over in a panic and ushered me into the car.
"Let's get you to the hospital first," she said.
I sat in the passenger seat and said quietly, "Karlee, could you help me look into something first?"
"What is it?" she asked.
"Cayson's medical records," I replied.
Two hours later, my friend from the hospital got back to me.
Cayson did not havea tumor.
He did not have a surgery scheduled either.
The report was modified from an old template, and the doctor's signature was fake.
I got home and started packing my things, planning to leave for good.
Just as I was heading out, I ran into Cayson coming back.
He saw the bag in my hand and grabbed me in a panic.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"I'm moving out," I said.
"Isabella!" he called out.
He blocked the door.
"Alisha almost lost the baby today, and you're still acting jealous?" Cayson snapped.
I looked up at him.
"Is the baby still there?" I asked.
His face darkened, and he demanded, "What kind of question is that?"
"What kind of question is that?" he snapped.
I just looked at him quietly.
I said, "Her baby is worth everything, but my pain, my dad's piano, and my mom's keepsakes, they mean nothing to you, do they?
"Are you happy now?"
Cayson's eyes flashed with a hint of discomfort.
"I'll make it up to you about the piano," he said.
I let out a bitter laugh.
I asked, "How are you going to make it up to me?
"Are you going to bring my dad back?"
He froze.
I walked around him, heading for the door.
Suddenly, he hugged me tightly from behind.
He held me so tight it almost hurt.
He said, "Isabella, don't do this.
"I know this has been really hard on you.
"Once Alisha has the baby, I'll pay her off and make her leave.
"We can go back to the way things used to be."
'The way things used to be?' I thought.
I could almost laugh at how ridiculous that sounded.
I asked, "What do you mean by 'the way things used to be'?
"Was it when I gave up my chance to study in Morzinn for you?
"Or was it when I had a miscarriage, and you were off in another country celebrating her birthday?
"Or was it when I was singing in some dive bar until my throat was raw and bleeding, while you were upstairs, holding her close and laughing together?"
Cayson stiffened.
"How did you know about the birthday?" he asked.
I closed my eyes.
So it was all true after all.
That year, when I miscarried, he wasn't off dealing with some emergency.
He was with her, celebrating her birthday.
I tore his hands away from me with all the strength I had.
"Cayson, we're getting a divorce," I said.
His face went cold in an instant.
Cayson said, "Have you really thought this through?
"Where else could you possibly go without me?
"Your voice isn't what it used to be, and you've already quit your job as a teacher.
"Isabella, don't ruin the rest of your life just out of anger."
I completely lost control.
"Cayson, this isn't about anger, it's because you're filthy! I can't stand you anymore," I snapped.
When I slammed the door shut, he didn't come after me.
I dragged my suitcase downstairs.
My phone buzzed.
It was a voice message from Alisha.
I could hear hospital machines beeping in the background.
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
She said softly, "Isabella, Cayson just told me you can't live without him.
"He said women like you are reckless when it comes to love, you throw caution to the wind.
"I gotta admit, I'm curious.
"How many days do you think you'll make it this time?"
Honestly, I kind of wanted to throw that question right back at them.
"How much longer do you two think you can last?"