Chapter 60
The bedsheet was gray. Just gray.
Everything used to look pink to me. The world was pink! Love was pink! Gabriel's grumpy face was pink-tinted in my mind!
But now... everything is just gray.
"Thanks for last night. I really enjoyed it."
Natalia's voice echoed in my ears like a broken record player scratching against my heart. Scritch. Scratch. Ouch.
Natalia.
I know who she is. I saw her name in the dossier (I peeked once!). She was Gabriel's girlfriend for years. The glamorous model. The one who cheated on him multiple times.
And now... Gabriel is cheating on me with her?
I hugged my knees to my chest, staring at the duvet. Tears streamed down my face like a leaky faucet. Drip. Drop.
"Why, Gabby?" I whispered to the empty air.
I thought he was busy with logistics! I thought he was tired from moving boxes! But he was... enjoying nights with her?
I sniffled and wiped my snotty nose on my sleeve.
You know what?
I would rather find out he is a Mafia Boss!
Yes! I would rather find out he executes people! I would rather find out he cut out Thomas Smith's tongue! Because at least... at least a Mafia Boss can still be a loyal husband! At least a criminal can still love his wife!
But a cheater?
A cheater is the lowest of the low! A cheater breaks promises!
I looked at the bedroom door. Then I looked at the floor-to-ceiling window where the moon was mocking me.
"I can't stay here," I whispered.
If I stay, I will look at him and see her lipstick on his neck. I will smell her perfume on his shirts.
I have to run.
Running is cowardly. But staying is painful. And I am allergic to pain!
I stood up. My legs felt shaky, like cooked spaghetti.
I walked to the walk-in closet.
I grabbed my biggest, pinkest luggage bag.
I didn't fold my clothes. I threw them in!
My hoodies! Throw! My skirts! Throw! My yarn! Throw! The bunny pin he rejected! Throw!
I zipped it up. ZZZZIP.
I walked out of the bedroom. I didn't look back at the bed where we drank coffee yesterday.
I walked down the grand hallway. My sneakers squeaked on the marble.
I paused in front of his Study door.
It was closed. He was still inside. Asleep. Drooling on his desk because I drugged his coffee with melatonin.
"Goodbye, Gabriel," I whispered, pressing my hand against the wood. "I hope you have nice dreams. Because when you wake up... your nightmare begins. You lose ME!"
I turned and ran down the grand staircase.
I reached the foyer.
I looked around one last time.
The pink fur rug I bought. The gray sofas I chose. The big Monstera plants I named (Planty and leafy).
I am leaving my home.
Arf?
A small noise.
I looked down.
My golden retriever baby was sitting there, tilting her head. She looked at the suitcase. She looked at me.
"Oh, Prim!" I sobbed, dropping to my knees. I hugged her fluffy neck. "We have to go, baby! We are leaving Papa!"
Primrose whined.
"I know!" I cried into her fur. "I love him too! I love him so much it hurts my tummy! But he is a cheater! He betrayed us! And I... I have standards! I cannot be a doormat! Even a cute pink doormat!"
I stood up and wiped my eyes.
"We are strong independent women! Come on!"
I grabbed her leash. I grabbed the handle of my suitcase.
I opened the heavy front door.
I stepped out into the night.
★
The forest was dark. And scary. And full of bugs.
Usually, I would be terrified. But my heart was too broken to be scared of ghosts.
Crunch. Crunch. Roll. (That's the suitcase wheels hitting rocks).
As we walked, Natalia's voice kept playing in my head.
"Thanks for last night."
Since when?
Since last week? Since last month?
Every time he kissed me... was he thinking of her? When he combed my hair... was he wishing it was her hair? When he ate my cake... did he wish it was her cake?
"Agh!" I wailed, startling an owl. "How many times a day?! Was it in his office?! Was it in the car?!"
I wiped my eyes furiously.
I walked for hours. Primrose trotted beside me, sensing my sadness. She licked my hand every few minutes.
Finally. The main road.
Civilization.
I pulled out my phone.
I don't know where I am going. Switzerland? maybe. Or maybe just... away. Anywhere that isn't here.
I texted my parents while I waited.
I didn't tell them why. It would break their hearts. They think Gabriel is a Prince Charming.
The Uber arrived. The driver helped me put the luggage in the trunk.
I climbed in with Primrose. She scooted beside me, resting her heavy head on my lap.
I looked out the window as the car drove away.
I wish this was a dream, I thought, tears blurring the city lights. I wish I was in the Alps with Sydney. Living peacefully. Just us and the cows.
But Sydney is dead. And my marriage is dead.
★
The airport was busy. People rushing. Announcements blaring. Bing-bong.
I walked to the counter.
"One ticket to... wherever the next flight is going!" I told the lady. "And one for my dog!"
The lady looked at my puffy eyes and red nose.
"Um... the next flight is to Japan. In three hours."
"Japan is good!" I nodded. "Sushi! Anime! Give me two!"
I paid with my card (not his!).
I sat in the waiting area. It was cold.
I bought a burger. I took a bite. It tasted like sadness.
RIIIIIIING.
My phone vibrated on the metal bench.
I looked at the screen.
My heart stopped.
He is awake.
He knows.
He probably saw the empty closet. He probably saw the empty dog bed.
I stared at the name. Hubby 3.
I put the heart there. I put the ringtone there (it's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing").
Now... I just want to miss everything.
I bit my lip so hard it bled.
I don't want to talk to him. I don't want to hear his excuses. "It was just business, Aleesha!" "It meant nothing!"
Liar!
The phone stopped ringing.
Then it rang again immediately.
RIIIIIIING.
I declined again.
RIIIIIIING.
He is persistent! Just like a logistician!
"Leave me alone!" I whispered.
I pressed the power button.
The screen went black.
Silence.
I sat there. Hugging my knees. Primrose slept at my feet.
I thought about the times he held my hand.
I thought about the birthday cake. The smile on his face. Was that fake too? Was he acting? Is he an award-winning actor?!
I imagined him with Natalia. Laughing. Drinking wine. Doing... things.
It made me want to throw up the burger.
"Finally!"
I stood up. I grabbed my bag. I woke up Primrose.
"Let's go, baby. Japan awaits!"
I walked toward the gate.
I looked around the airport one last time. Just to be sure.
And then... I froze.
There.
At the main entrance. bursting through the glass doors.
He looked... wild.
He wasn't wearing a suit. He was wearing a wrinkled white shirt (the one he slept in!) and black pants. His hair was messy. He looked like he hadn't slept in a week (even though he just slept for 3 hours!).
He was scanning the crowd. frantically. turning his head left and right.
His eyes were terrifying. Dark. Crazy. Desperate.
He saw me.
He locked onto me like a heat-seeking missile.
"ALEESHA!"
His voice boomed across the terminal. People turned to look.
My heart dropped to my feet.
Run!
I spun around.
"Run, Prim! Run!"
I sprinted. I ran toward the boarding gate.
"ALEESHA! STOP!"
I heard his heavy footsteps behind me. Thud. Thud. Thud.
I ran faster! I dodged a stroller! I jumped over a suitcase!
"Ticket!" I shoved my boarding pass at the attendant. "Let me in! Emergency! Crazy ex-husband chasing me!"
The attendant looked confused but scanned it. "Go ahead."
I ran down the jet bridge.
"Faster!"
I scrambled onto the plane. It was crowded. People putting bags in overhead bins.
"Excuse me! Pardon me! Emergency potato coming through!"
I squeezed past a large man. I found my seat. 14A.
I sat down. I pulled Primrose under the seat (she has a carrier now).
I buckled my seatbelt. My hands were shaking so bad I couldn't click it.
Click.
"Please take off," I whispered, squeezing my eyes shut. "Please fly away! Go go go!"
I waited.
One minute. Two minutes.
Why aren't we moving?!
"Close the doors!" I prayed.
Suddenly, a commotion at the front of the plane.
"Sir! You can't go in there! Sir!"
"Get out of my way."
A voice like thunder.
I gasped. I slid down in my seat, trying to become invisible.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Heavy boots walking down the aisle.
Everyone went quiet.
I saw shoes stop next to my row.
Expensive, black Italian leather shoes.
I didn't look up.
A hand—large, warm, and shaking slightly—gripped my wrist.
Hard.
"Found you," a voice growled.
I looked up.
Gabriel was looming over me.
His chest was heaving. He was sweating. His eyes were blazing with a mix of fury and... terror?
He looked like a man who had just run through hell to catch a butterfly.
"You are not going anywhere," he breathed.