Chapter 6 she was no longer someone I could be close to.
And I didn’t want her, or Chloe and Ryan, to show up and ruin my wedding.
I called a car on my phone. While waiting, Ryan pulled up in his car.
“Aria Young, what are you doing with that suitcase?”
“Moving out.”
Ryan frowned. “What for? I already gave that house to Chloe. Don’t make trouble for her for no reason.”
“I’m looking for a new place. Wait until I find one, then you can move.”
I said nothing, walking past his car expressionlessly.
Ryan abruptly grabbed my arm. “Aria, do you have to make things so unpleasant between us? Can’t we be happy like before?”
“You cheated on me with my adopted sister, yet you have the gall to hope we can be happy together? Where do you get the nerve?”
“Why do you keep harping on about that? I’ve explained it to you countless times. Why are you still being so petty about it? Can’t you be more understanding like Chloe?”
Seeing him blame all the wrongdoing on me, criticizing and belittling me with such a self–righteous look on his face,
I witnessed the epitome of shamelessness incarnate.
“Since you find Chloe so understanding, why don’t you just marry her then.”
Ryan didn’t believe a word I said.
After all, everyone knew how much I loved him,
They all thought I would never let him go.
They certainly wouldn’t believe I would choose to leave when the wedding was so
Including Ryan himself.
So he said dismissively: “Fine you said it
close.
10:58 AM
<
P
“Ryan, you came to see me?” Chloe’s voice interrupted our conversation as she came out.
“Aunt said you had a scare earlier. What happened?”
Chloe pretended to be afraid, glancing at me before nestling into Ryan’s arms. “Sis went crazy today, chasing after me with a baseball bat…”
Ryan’s brows furrowed. He was about to scold me when Chloe tugged on his sleeve.
“Ryan, don’t yell at Sis. I don’t blame her anymore. It’s my fault, really. If Mom hadn’t adopted me, I wouldn’t be here bothering her.”
“How could it be your fault? She’s the one who’s petty and can’t tolerate others. She’s the one in the wrong.”
Ryan put his hand on Chloe’s shoulder in an intimate gesture. “Aria Young, I can overlook you hitting someone this time for Chloe’s sake. But you must kneel down and apologize to her.”
Their shameless act made me laugh in anger.
“Apologize to her? Keep dreaming!”
My ride had just arrived.
I slammed the car door and left without a backward glance.
Living in a hotel for the next few days, away from those toxic people and situations, I felt very at ease.
But then Mom sent me a text message.
“Aria, it’s my birthday today. Come home for a bit. I wasn’t going to let you come, but Chloe begged me to invite you. Remember to thank her when you see her.”
Of course I hadn’t forgotten her birthday.
But I would no longer be like before, starting preparations a week in advance to organize the venue and gifts, determined to give her a pleasant birthday celebration.
Of course, I wouldn’t be going back either.
That place was no longer my home, and she was no longer my mother.
Around noon, I was enjoying a nice meal.
Probably because she hadn’t seen me show up, Mom impatiently sent another text: “Why aren’t you here yet? Even Ryan has arrived. What kind of daughter are you, not showing up for your mother’s birthday?”
