Chapter 2: The last time she stayed.
938 Words
The night air outside was cold, but Trisha felt nothing.
Her heels clicked softly against the pavement as she walked past the glowing entrance of the hall, past the valet, past the curious glances of strangers who meant nothing to her. The music from inside still echoed faintly, laughter blending into a distant blur.
Everything behind her felt unreal.
Like a scene she had already outlived.
She didn’t stop walking.
Her phone buzzed again in her hand. Once. Twice. Three times.
She didn’t check it.
There was nothing left to hear.
A black car slowed beside her.
“Miss Trisha?”
She stopped.
The driver stepped out, polite, composed. “Mr. Trevor sent me.”
Her fingers tightened slightly around her clutch. “I don’t need a ride.”
“He asked that I bring you to him,” the driver replied calmly, as if refusal wasn’t an option.
Trisha’s gaze lingered on the car for a moment, then shifted away. “Tell him I’m not interested.”
She resumed walking.
The driver didn’t follow.
But the car didn’t leave either.
…
By the time she reached the house, the lights were still on.
Of course they were.
Nothing had changed here.
She stepped inside quietly, the familiar scent of the place wrapping around her like something she had long outgrown. Voices drifted from the living room.
Her parents.
Annabel.
And Sebastian.
They were already here.
Trisha didn’t pause this time. She walked in.
The conversation stopped instantly.
Annabel sat close to Sebastian, their hands intertwined like it had always been that way. Her mother sat beside them, smiling softly, while her father leaned back with a satisfied expression.
A perfect picture.
As if nothing had been broken.
“As you can see,” her father began, his voice firm, “we’ve discussed everything.”
Trisha said nothing.
Her mother sighed lightly. “Annabel and Sebastian are serious about each other. It’s only right we support them.”
“And you,” her father added, his gaze sharp, “will stop interfering.”
Interfering.
The word settled quietly in her chest.
“I wasn’t aware,” Trisha said calmly, “that I was part of something to interfere with.”
Annabel shifted slightly, her lips curving. “You always make things difficult, sister. Why can’t you just accept reality?”
Reality.
Trisha looked at her for a long second.
Then at Sebastian.
He didn’t meet her eyes.
Not once.
That told her everything.
“Fine,” she said simply.
The room stilled.
Her mother blinked. “Fine?”
Trisha nodded once. “I accept it.”
Annabel’s brows lifted slightly, clearly not expecting that.
Her father studied her, suspicious. “Then act like it.”
“I will,” Trisha replied.
And for the first time, she meant it.
She turned and walked toward the stairs.
“Trisha,” her mother called. “Where are you going?”
“To my room.”
“Don’t forget,” her father added coldly, “you still represent this family. Don’t embarrass us again.”
Trisha paused for a fraction of a second.
Then continued upstairs.
…
Her room was exactly how she left it.
Neat. Quiet. Empty.
Just like her life had always been.
She closed the door behind her and leaned against it, her eyes closing briefly.
No tears came.
They never did anymore.
After a moment, she walked toward her wardrobe and pulled out a small suitcase. It didn’t take long.
She never owned much.
Clothes. A few personal items. Nothing that tied her down.
Her gaze drifted to the desk by the window.
A laptop sat there.
Closed.
Untouched.
A life no one knew about.
Her fingers brushed lightly over it before she turned away.
Not yet.
Her phone buzzed again.
This time, she looked.
Unknown Number: You shouldn’t be there.
Her expression didn’t change.
Another message followed.
Come outside.
Trisha stared at the screen for a moment before locking it.
She picked up her suitcase.
Walked to the door.
And left.
…
The car was still there.
The same black car.
The driver stepped forward immediately, opening the back door without a word.
This time, Trisha didn’t refuse.
She got in.
The door closed quietly behind her.
The interior was dim, the scent subtle, controlled. Power without noise.
The man inside sat calmly, his presence filling the space without effort.
Trevor.
He didn’t look at her immediately.
“Rough night?” he asked, his voice low, unreadable.
Trisha set her suitcase beside her, her posture straight. “You already know the answer.”
A faint pause.
Then he turned his head slightly, his gaze finally landing on her.
Sharp. Observant.
“You left,” he said.
“Yes.”
“And you won’t be going back.”
It wasn’t a question.
Trisha met his gaze without hesitation. “No.”
Silence settled between them.
Heavy. Intentional.
Then Trevor spoke again.
“Good.”
Her eyes flickered slightly, but her expression remained calm.
The car began to move.
“You knew,” she said after a moment.
“I know many things,” he replied.
“That he was using me. That my family knew.”
Trevor didn’t deny it.
“I wanted to see how long you would stay.”
The words should have hurt.
But they didn’t.
Not anymore.
“And now?” she asked.
He studied her quietly.
“Now,” he said, “I know you’re done.”
Trisha looked out the window, the city lights passing in a blur.
“Yes,” she said softly.
For the first time…
She truly was.
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