He Took the Memory Potion Instead of Me Chapter 09

He Took the Memory Potion Instead of Me Chapter 09

Callum carried the breakfast tray down the last step.

He pulled out the key and unlocked the door.

The basement was empty.

His mind went blank.

“…Maren?”

The tray hit the floor. Food everywhere.

He spun and took the stairs three at a time.

Tessa was sitting upright on the living room couch.

“Don’t bother going after her, Callum. She’s already gone.”

Callum stopped dead.

Tessa sighed. “I told Sienna everything. She showed up this morning with a locksmith, went down there, and talked to Maren herself. Maren walked out on her own.

Something dark flashed across Callum’s face.

“…You let her leave?”

“Yes.” Tessa’s voice was steady, deliberate. “It was the right thing to do, Callum. You can’t stay stuck in this forever. It’s time to move on.”

“I know what he did. It was his fault-his debt, not yours. You don’t have to throw your whole life away for his mistakes. You’ll destroy yourself.”

“Sienna and I are trying to help you. Look at yourself-you locked a girl in a basement. Do you think any of this is normal?”

Callum didn’t move.

“Normal… What does that even mean?”

His voice scraped out of his throat.

“Does normal mean marrying some girl from the right family when you know you’re still in love

with someone else? Feeling nothing for the person next to you, but doing it anyway? Settling down, having kids, living the life everyone mapped out for you?”

Then I don’t want to be normal.”

“That’s not fair.” Tessa pressed on. “Love can grow with time, Callum. You and Sienna have known each other your whole lives. You’re perfect together. I’ve been rooting for you two since I was a kid. You can’t just…”

“Shut up!”

He didn’t look back.

He yanked the front door open. Cold air flooded the room.

“We haven’t hurt anyone! Can you normal people just-for once-leave the rest of us alone?”