Chapter 9%
The apartment the Reid family had assigned to me was simple, clean, and painfully quiet. It wasn’t home–not that I really knew what “home” meant anymore. But it was a place where no one yelled at me, no one called me useless, and no one looked at me like I was a burden.
Since moving here, I hadn’t even met the man I was supposed to marry.%
The Reid family had been clear: The young master was bedridden, still recovering. They said he needed time. They said it was better this
way.
Fine by me. I didn’t need a fairy–tale love story. I didn’t need anything anymore.%
Just a few more days, and I’d be a Reid. Just a few more days, and I’d be far enough away from the ruins of my old life that maybe… maybe I could finally breathe.
I filled my time by keeping busy. Cleaning the apartment even when it didn’t need it. Reading books I had never finished. Researching everything I could about the Reid family.
But no matter how deep I dug, there was almost no information about the young master. No pictures. No stories. No scandals.%
It was like he didn’t exist at all. Sometimes, late at night when the apartment was dark and still, my mind would betray me. It would drift back to Cameron.
What was he doing now? Was he thinking of me at all?%
Probably not. I had thrown away my phone–the only link he could have used to find me. That part of my life was over.
I chose this. New life. New beginning. No more looking back.
Days passed. Boredom set in.
One afternoon, tired of staring at the same four walls, I decided to go shopping. Just something to fill the time until the wedding day.
I wandered store after store, letting the noise of the mall drown out the noise in my own head. Shoes, dresses, jewelry–none of it made me feel anything.
I was exiting a boutique, my arms full of shopping bags, when laughter rang out from the other side of the hallway.%
I turned instinctively.
Katie. Dressed to perfection, surrounded by her adoring friends. Walking like she owned the entire world. And trailing behind her, arms heavy with more bags, was Cameron.”
I stopped, frozen for a moment.
So I was right Cameron had stayed with her. Followed her like a loyal, obedient dog.”
A sharp pang twisted in my chest, but I forced myself to turn away. It didn’t matter anymore. I didn’t care.%
I was about to step into another store when I heard someone scream.”
Whipping around, I saw it unfold in a blur. Katie stepping onto the street without looking, a car speeding toward her and Cameron, without hesitation, throwing himself into the path.
There was a sickening thud as his body slammed against the hood of the car, then crumpled to the ground.
People screamed. Katie stood there, frozen in shock, her hands covering her mouth.
Cameron lay there bleeding, motionless for a long moment before groaning and trying to sit up, his face twisted in pain.
And still, even now, he was looking at Katie.
Still choosing her. Always choosing her.”
For a brief moment, the scene blurred into another memory. Another street. Another car. Another night. Back when Cameron had been drunk. Back when he stumbled into traffic, too drunk to even notice the danger. And it was me–me–who grabbed him and pulled him to safety. Who shielded him without thinking twice./
I had thought then that maybe he would finally see me. Finally notice me.”
But he didn’t. His eyes had searched the crowd until they found Katie.
It had always been Katie.
Never me.%
I tightened my grip on my shopping bags, turned on my heel, and walked away.
Let them have each other. Let them live in the world they built out of lies and stolen things./
I had my own life to live now.”
The city lights blurred outside the windows as I made my way back to the apartment.
