Chapter 4

The phone rang. The screen lit up. Valery glanced at it—it was Bryce calling. It was already past ten in the evening. They had said they’d come to pick her up when they left. Now, they hadn't shown up, but the call did. Valery had already guessed the outcome. Yet, as she answered the phone, she held her breath, clinging to a faint hope for a different answer. "Valery, Hanna's been taking care of you all day and hasn’t had a chance to rest. You should take a cab home yourself." As expected. Suppressing her disappointment, Valery replied calmly, "Alright." A nurse happened to come by with her medication. Seeing her expression, the nurse gave her shoulder a light, encouraging pat. "Everything will be fine. Stay positive." Valery rarely spoke to strangers, but at that moment, she felt a small sense of comfort. In the past, she had basked in Bryce’s affection, reigning like a queen at home, never once understanding what it felt like to rely on others. Now, she knew. But there was nowhere else she could go. In this vast world, the only person she had was her grandmother. On the way back, Valery stared blankly ahead, her phone lying to the side. The screen displayed a photo—a picture of Hanna and Bryce together. They couldn’t pick her up because they were having a candlelit dinner. At the very restaurant where she had celebrated her 18th birthday. Candlelight illuminated Bryce’s gentle features as he gazed affectionately at Hanna by his side, completely forgetting the promise he had made to 18-year-old Valery. That place was meant to be hers alone. Promises, as it turned out, only held meaning at the moment they were spoken. As she got out of the cab, Valery happened to run into Bryce returning home. He had his arms wrapped around Hanna, kissing her face with a happiness that was almost tangible. "You bad girl, just wait until Valery starts school. I'll deal with you then." So, he was already looking forward to her going back to school. Valery closed her eyes briefly, then smiled. "Bryce, Hanna." Hanna nodded in response. Bryce withdrew his arm from around Hanna, his smile stiffening. "Valery’s back. Go on inside." The atmosphere shifted, becoming slightly awkward. Valery could feel it. After a moment’s hesitation, she spoke up. "Bryce, I’m starting school soon, and I have a lot of coursework to catch up on. I’ve decided—I’ll move out." Her voice, hoarse from a lingering cold, masked the catch in her throat. Valery was grateful for that. This way, she wouldn’t appear so pathetic in front of Hanna. "What nonsense are you pulling now?" Bryce was clearly displeased. Ever since they were kids, he had indulged Valery in everything, creating a habit where any dissatisfaction from her would result in a tantrum. Once, he had enjoyed pampering her. Now, it only irritated him. "Valery, Hanna and I just got engaged, and now you want to move out? Do you want everyone to think Hanna can’t tolerate you?" "Why are you so difficult? If I’d known you’d turn out like this, I wouldn’t have taken you in back then." He knew exactly where to strike to hurt the most. Valery’s face turned ashen, and she almost burst into tears. "Bryce, I’m just busy with schoolwork. You know I’m studying art. Mr. Newton said—" "Enough. Stop finding excuses. I don’t want to hear this again. Get inside." Bryce had lost all interest in continuing the conversation, leaning back into Hanna’s embrace. Valery lowered her head. They were so in love. She just didn’t want to keep watching the person she liked shower someone else with affection. Was that too much to ask? Or was Bryce so afraid she couldn’t let go that he insisted on forcing her to watch? That night, Valery dialed her tutor’s number.