"Don't worry." My voice came out so calm it startled even me. "I won't be around to upset your mistress anymore. I'm grabbing a few things and leaving, Mr. Delgado."
The word mistress landed like a slap. His expression curdled.
But I was already walking toward the guest room.
Dustin had moved all my belongings in there long ago—locked everything away so the sight of my things wouldn't upset Alice.
His gifts filled half the room. Plush teddy bears. Limited-edition Chanel bags flown in from overseas. A museum of devotion from a man who no longer existed.
Back then, he'd chased me like a man possessed. He knew I loved Chanel, so he had people ship the latest collections from abroad. He knew I loved teddy bears, so he'd bring one home from every business trip. I'd kept every single piece, imagining the day I'd have a child and could tell her the story of how her mom and dad fell in love.
I shoved it all into a suitcase. Fast. Without a shred of sentimentality.
A man's silhouette appeared in the doorway. "You're taking all of that?"
My hands didn't stop. "No. I'm throwing it away."
He paused, as if he'd misheard. "Throwing it away? All of it? These are gifts I gave you. You always treasured them. You said you'd keep them forever."
I didn't look up. I kept stuffing things into the suitcase. "People get tired of old things. That's human nature. Doesn't matter if it's a person or a possession—once it's old, you don't need it anymore."
Something strange crossed his face, a flicker of displeasure he couldn't quite mask. He wasn't used to this version of me. The Cecily who used to gaze up at him adoringly, who cherished every smile, every gift—how could she possibly throw his presents away?
He opened his mouth, but before he could speak, the housekeeper appeared in the doorway.
"Sir, the missus isn't feeling well. You should go check on her right away."
Dustin's expression shifted instantly to alarm. He tossed out a parting line without looking back: "Fine, throw them out. I'll buy you new ones. Finish packing and leave."
He was gone before the words finished hanging in the air. Hurried footsteps pounded up the staircase.
I smiled bitterly. He didn't need to tell me twice. I didn't want to spend another second in this house.