Chapter 5: The Departure
1081 Words
Bianca Shane stepped out of the building just as the first hint of dawn touched the sky. The city was unusually quiet at this hour. The streets that had once felt familiar now looked distant, almost foreign. Eight hours, that was all the time she had been given to leave everything behind.
Alexander had moved quickly after their conversation. Within minutes, travel arrangements had been made, documents prepared and a driver assigned to take her to the airport. Bianca barely had time to process how fast her life was changing.
A black car waited by the curb. The driver stepped forward respectfully. “Miss Shane?”
“Yes.”
“Mr. Grant asked me to take you to your apartment first. He said you might want to collect your belongings.” Bianca hesitated at first. Her apartment, the place she had shared with Carson for nearly three years.
The driver opened the back door. Bianca took a slow breath before getting in.
“Let’s go.”
The drive across the city felt strangely surreal. The streets she had walked countless times now felt like part of someone else’s life. Her phone remained silent in her purse. Carson hadn’t called again. A small part of her wondered if he would but Bianca pushed the thought away,that chapter of her life had ended.
The car pulled to a stop in front of her apartment building just as the sun began rising over the skyline.
“Take your time,” the driver said politely. Bianca nodded and stepped out.
The building entrance looked exactly the same as always but stepping inside felt different. The elevator ride up to the seventh floor was quiet. When the doors opened, Bianca walked slowly down the familiar hallway. Her heart beat a little faster as she reached the apartment door. She stood there for some time then she unlocked it.
The apartment was silent. Sunlight streamed through the large windows, illuminating the living room. Everything looked exactly the way she had left it earlier that evening. Carson’s jacket hung over the back of the sofa, a coffee mug sat on the table, their life together was frozen in place.
Bianca walked inside slowly as memories rushed through her mind. Late night takeout dinners, celebrations when the company landed its first big client, the night Carson had carried her through the door after they finally signed the lease. She remembered all these but she forced herself to keep moving, there was no time to dwell on the past.
Bianca went to the bedroom and pulled out a suitcase. She packed quickly, clothes, important documents, a few personal items, nothing sentimental and nothing that would hold her back. Fifteen minutes later, the suitcase was full. Bianca closed it and stood still for a moment, looking around the room. Five years of her life had revolved around Carson and now she was walking away from it all.
Her phone suddenly vibrated and Bianca froze. Slowly, she reached into her purse. Her breath caught when she saw the caller ID. It was Carson Dane. For several seconds, she simply stared at the screen then she answered.
“Hello?”
“Bianca.”
Carson’s voice sounded sharper this time, “Where are you?”
“At home.”
There was a brief pause.
“I’m coming over.”
Bianca’s heart skipped slightly.
“That’s not necessary.”
“It is,” Carson replied firmly. “I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
Before she could respond, the line went dead. Bianca stared at the phone, ten minutes. She looked around the apartment again. Parts of her wanted to leave immediately but another part of her knew this confrontation was inevitable.
Bianca picked up her suitcase and walked toward the door. She would leave before Carson arrived but just as she stepped into the hallway, the elevator doors opened and Carson stepped out.
He stopped immediately when he saw her. For a minute , neither of them moved. Carson looked different from the night before. His tie was gone, and his hair was slightly messy, as if he hadn’t slept but his sharp eyes were focused entirely on Bianca then his gaze dropped to the suitcase in her hand.
“What’s that?” he asked.
Bianca’s voice remained calm.
“My luggage.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m leaving.”
Carson frowned.
“Leaving where?”
“Somewhere else.” She replied.
His expression darkened. “You’re running away?”
Bianca shook her head slightly.
“No.”
She met his gaze.
“I’m moving forward.”
Carson stepped closer.
“This is because of what happened last night.”
“Yes.”
His jaw tightened.
“I told you, the situation with Victoria is complicated.”
Bianca almost laughed.
“You seemed pretty certain about the engagement.”
“That’s not the point.”
“Then what is?”
Carson ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated.
“The point is you’re making a big decision based on emotions.”
Bianca looked at him quietly, “For five years, I based my life on you,” she said.
“That wasn’t a mistake.”
“Wasn’t it?”
The question hung between them. Carson looked momentarily caught off guard. Bianca adjusted her grip on the suitcase.
“It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“You can’t just disappear,” Carson said.
“Why not?”
“Because”
He stopped.
For a moment, it looked like he was searching for the right words but none came.
Bianca waited. When he remained silent, she nodded slowly.
“That’s what I thought.”
She walked past him toward the elevator.
Carson turned quickly.
“Bianca.”
She pressed the elevator button.
“Yes?”
“Where are you going?”
The doors slid open and Bianca stepped inside with her suitcase then she looked at him one last time.
“Somewhere you won’t have to worry about me anymore.” The elevator doors closed and Carson stood frozen in the hallway.
Downstairs, Bianca walked out of the building and climbed into the waiting car. The driver glanced at her through the mirror.
“Airport?”
Bianca nodded.
“Yes.”
The car pulled away from the curb. As the city slowly disappeared behind her, Bianca made a silent promise. When she returned one day, no one would ever underestimate her again and Carson would finally understand the price of the choice he had made.
- Writer
