On the way home, my phone buzzed with messages from Tom.
“Why aren’t you home? Where are you?”
“I already told you. I’m working overtime. Do you really need to make such a big deal out of it?”
“Just come back already. I got you a gift.”
Attached was a picture of a tiny bottle of perfume—a sample size at best.
Curious, I opened Rachel’s social media again. As expected, she had posted a picture of the same perfume, but hers was a full-sized bottle. The caption read: “Grateful for my amazing friends.”
The moment I saw that, my chest tightened. Rachel had gotten the real “gift”—and Tom thought a cheap little sample would be enough for me.
When I got home with Danny, I found Tom pacing outside our apartment. The second he spotted me, his face twisted into irritation, and he stormed over.
“Where the hell have you been? And why is that kid with you?”
“We just got back from the hospital. Miss Lauren got hurt,” Danny said earnestly.
Tom crouched down, looking Danny straight in the eye. “Now listen, lying isn’t cool, okay? Did she bribe you with candy to say that? Be honest.”
“I’m not lying!” Danny shouted, his face flushed with frustration.
I gently patted his head. “It’s okay, Danny. Go get some rest.”
After walking him back to his apartment, I returned to mine. Max was sitting on the couch, glaring at me like I’d committed some unforgivable crime.
Normally, I would’ve scolded him for being up so late on a school night. But right now? I couldn’t care less. Let Rachel deal with him.
Tom followed me inside, holding out the tiny bottle of perfume. “Here, I got this for you. Try it, see if you like it.”
Before I could even protest, he sprayed it in the air, filling the room with the sharp citrus scent I couldn’t stand. I’d told him a thousand times I hated citrus, but he always bought me perfume like this. Looking back, it was clear that it was Rachel’s favorite, and Tom just bought me a leftover sample to keep up appearances.
“You can keep it,” I said flatly. “I’m not interested in someone else’s leftovers.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? This isn’t a leftover—it’s a gift I bought just for you!” Tom snapped, defensive.
I walked past him, heading toward the bedroom. I pulled a suitcase out of the closet.
“What are you doing? Why are you packing?” he demanded.
“I’ve accepted a job at Mr. Lewis’s new company. It’s far, so I’ll be staying in the employee dorms. I won’t be coming back.”
Tom froze for a second, then scoffed. “Are you serious? After being a stay-at-home mom all these years, you think someone’s actually going to hire you? What are you going to do—clean the bathrooms?”
“I wouldn’t mind. At least cleaning bathrooms pays,” I shot back calmly.
His face darkened even further. “So this is how it is? After everything I’ve done for you, you’re just going to throw it all away? Lauren, have I ever denied you anything? Haven’t I always given you whatever you wanted? What more do you want from me?”
He stepped in front of the closet door, blocking me from packing. His angry face was so absurd I almost laughed.
“What have you ever given me? The citrus-scented perfume I hate? Or that outdated housekeeping robot you bought me years ago when I asked for something practical? Thanks, but no thanks. I don’t need anything from you anymore. From now on, I’ll buy things for myself—with my own money.”
I zipped up the suitcase and stood up, making my way toward the door.
“Where do you think you’re going this late?” Tom demanded, following me.
“I don’t need to answer that.”
I opened the door, ready to leave.
But before I could step outside, Max grabbed my arm, his fingers tight. “Mom! How much longer are you going to keep this up? Stop acting crazy!”
The sudden jerk of his pull sent a sharp pain shooting through my shoulder. I stumbled forward, collapsing to my knees as the wound reopened. Bright red blood quickly soaked through my shirt, dripping onto the floor.
