Chapter Five
1153 Words
The departure
Audrey's pov
I answered the phone. “Hello?”
“I’m outside your villa… Your mom said you’d be going with me abroad, so I decided to pick you up.”
So that’s why they’re sending me abroad early—so I could tag along with Marcus.
“Just a minute. I’ll prepare my stuff.”
“Okay, don’t be long.”
“I won’t.”
I changed my clothes, and our butler carried my suitcase outside. There he was, leaning on his sports car, fiddling with his keys.
“That was quick… I thought you’d be hours late. Typical woman.”
“Well, let’s just say I’m not like your girlfriend, who has to put on layers of makeup before going out.”
“Hey, don’t be like that… My girl is perfect just the way she is.”
“Whatever… Let’s just go.”
The butler placed my suitcase behind the sports car. I took one last glance at our villa before getting into the passenger seat.
I scrolled through my phone for the entire ride to the airport, reading old messages between Asher and me—messages I’d have to forget, at least for a while.
Asher just wait a little longer until I inherited the company.
“You okay?” he asked.
“What makes you think I’m not okay?”
“You look like you’re about to cry… Is it because of your boyfriend?”
I closed my phone. “How did you know?”
“You keep looking at your phone a lot… It’s too obvious.”
“Oh… is that so?”
It’s better if he doesn’t know who my boyfriend is. Who knows—maybe one day he’ll be confronted by Asher and spill everything, even if the plan isn’t ready yet.
“It’s going to be okay… Just bear with it for a little while. Think of it as doing this for his own sake.”
I nodded and put my phone in my bag. Hours later, we finally arrived at the airport. Part of me wanted to go to Asher, but another part wanted to explain everything and be selfish.
Since we arrived early, we sat in the waiting area for a while.
“Audrey… just a sec, okay? I’ll be right back—I need to use the bathroom.”
“Okay… just be quick.”
While waiting, I saw Asher. Panic hit me. Why is he here? Is it for me or his brother? No matter his reason, he can’t see me. I dragged both my suitcase and Marcus’s to the check-in counter before going inside the plane.
I took my first-class seat, booked by my parents. My heart pounded—not just from exhaustion, but from a storm of emotions. Is this it? Am I really not going to see him again? Four years… that’s a long time.
“Asher… I’m sorry,” I whispered.
A minute passed before Marcus sat beside me.
“I’m sorry it took me so long. You had to get in first and carry my suitcase.”
“It’s fine… What took you so long anyway?”
“My brother went to say goodbye. He asked about you—how we’re doing.”
“Really?”
“Yes… Do you two know each other?”
“No, I don’t… I’ve only heard about him.”
Marcus looked at my hands and squeezed them. I pulled away instinctively.
“What are you doing?”
“I noticed you were trembling and that your hands are cold… Are you nervous about the flight?”
“The flight?… Yes. Yes, I’m nervous about the flight.”
I lied.
Four years passed. Time really does fly. I’d already graduated with a business degree. I wanted to see him so badly… but not yet. I wondered how he was—was he eating well, living well? I hadn’t heard a single word from him all these years. Even when I asked Marcus, he only said Asher moved out a month after we left.
Now, there was only a month left before we’d return to Washington.
One afternoon, Rachel and I went shopping at the biggest and most famous mall in the world—The Star Mall. It had become world-famous four years ago, the same year I arrived in Paris with Marcus… and his girlfriend, Rachel. She’d disguised herself as my “assistant” whenever our parents visited so no one would get suspicious. The two of them were practically glued together, shamelessly making out in front of me at times.
“Girl, let’s go see the new limited-edition Hermès. I'm buying one for myself as a birthday present. You’re gonna pay for me, right?” Rachel said excitedly, her arm wrapped around mine.
“Okay, okay… since it’s your birthday.”
“Yay! You’re the best, Audrey.”
“I know.” I took out my black card and handed it to her. She snatched it instantly and kissed my cheek.
We’d grown close over the years, living under the same roof.
“You go in first. I’ll follow shortly—I just need to buy something,” I told her.
“Okay, I’ll go in now.” She disappeared into the boutique while I wandered the mall, searching for a jewelry store called Crystal, famous for its stunning pieces. I wanted to buy a ring for Asher, to give it to him when everything was finally over.
After a few minutes of searching, I found it. But the moment I stepped inside, my world stopped.
Asher.
He was wearing a black suit, and a woman was clinging to his arm. My chest tightened when I saw who she was—my sister, Lilly. They looked happy. Too happy. They were browsing through a couple 's wedding rings.
I quickly hid behind the wall, but their voices still reached me. My knees trembled. My whole body lost its strength. I wanted to march over and rip her away from him, but… what right did I have? He considered me his ex. He had moved on.
“Ash… do I look good in this ring?” Lilly asked, holding it up for him to see.
“It’s good,” he said seriously, taking her hand and studying it carefully.
I bit my lip hard, my nails digging into my palm until I felt skin break. A single tear slipped down my cheek, but I forced myself to stay silent.
Why am I feeling this way? I should be happy for him… happy that he moved on.
The store owner told them they looked good together. I hated that he was right. They did look good. He was happy—truly happy.
Then my foot hit a small metal stand. It clattered loudly. Both of them turned toward me.
Panic shot through me.
I was about to be caught.
- Writer
