5
This slap shattered any last shred of attachment I had for her.
This was for the best.
I could leave without any lingering feelings.
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Without sparing another glance at Mom who stood there stunned, I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth and went upstairs.
Since Mom found me an eyesore.
And Chloe had taken over my room.
11:05 AM
<
I packed a few clothes quickly.
I didn’t take anything else, whether gifts from Mom or expensive presents from Ryan.
I didn’t bring any of our old photos either, just burned them all.
I’m not one to drag things out.
Since I was leaving, I would leave cleanly.
As I dragged my suitcase downstairs, Mom was applying medicine to Chloe’s bruises.
She glanced at me coldly, “Just because I scolded you a bit, you’re running away from home? How petty!”
“Fine, you go stay somewhere else. It’ll bring some peace and quiet to this house.”
“Come back on your wedding day with Ryan!”
I stayed silent, taking one last look at Mom.
I wouldn’t tell her that I had changed my wedding partner.
Nor would I tell her that my wedding was in just ten days.
Because she was no longer someone I could be close to.
I also 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 drove up.
“Olivia Young, what are you doing with that suitcase?”
“Moving out.”
Ryan frowned, “Why are you moving out for no reason? I already gave that marital home to Chloe. Don’t cause trouble for Chloe for no reason.”
“I’m looking for a new place. Wait until I find one before you move.”
I said nothing, walking past his car expressionlessly.
Ryan suddenly grabbed my arm, “Olivia, do you have to make things unpleasant between us? Can’t we be happy like before?”
“You cheated on me with my stepsister, 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 pin all the blame on me, criticizing and belittling me with such a righteous face.
I witnessed the epitome of shamelessness.
“Since you find Chloe so understanding, why don’t you marry her instead.”
Ryan didn’t believe a word I said.
After all, my love for him was common knowledge.
Everyone thought I would never let him go.
They wouldn’t believe that I would choose to leave when the wedding was so close.
Including Ryan himself.
1
11:05 AM
<
So he said dismissively: “Fine, you said it. Don’t come crying back to me when you regret it later.”
“Ryan, you came to see me?” Chloe’s voice interrupted our conversation as she came out.
“Mom said you got startled earlier, what happened?”
Chloe pretended to be scared, glancing at me before huddling into Ryan’s arms. “Olivia went crazy today, chasing after me with a baseball bat…”
Ryan’s brows furrowed, about to scold me when Chloe tugged on his sleeve.
“Ryan, don’t yell at Olivia. I don’t blame her anymore. After all, it’s my fault. If Mom hadn’t adopted me, I wouldn’t be here getting in her way.”
“How could it be your fault? She’s the one who’s petty and can’t tolerate others. She’s the one at fault.”
Ryan put his arm around Chloe’s shoulders in an intimate gesture, “Olivia Young, I can overlook you hitting someone for Chloe’s sake. But you must kneel down and apologize to her.”
