The Seat They Never Saved And The Offer I Finally Took Chapter 04

The Seat They Never Saved And The Offer I Finally Took Chapter 04

It was my last day before leaving the country.

I had eight hours until my flight to our London headquarters.

Bright morning sunlight filled the apartment as I packed my belongings, one by one.

There wasn’t much.

After five years together, reminders of Nathan and Chloe were everywhere in our home. Everything that was truly mine fit into one twenty-four-inch suitcase.

I stuffed all the clothes Nathan had complained were “too drab” into garbage bags.

I took my toothbrush and towel off the bathroom counter and threw them in the trash.

Finally, I went to my dressing table and opened a drawer.

A few things lay inside.

An old-fashioned silver bracelet Mason had given me as a graduation present during his senior year of high school.

A guitar pick from a guitar with a broken string. Ellie had treasured it in middle school and insisted on giving it to me.

And a diamond ring with a simple setting.

Nathan had bought it for his proposal the previous year.

He hadn’t even bothered to get the size right. It was so loose that I had to wrap a ring-size adjuster around the band to wear it.

I threw the bracelet and the pick into the trash.

Then I took off the diamond ring and set it where he couldn’t miss it on the coffee table.

A handwritten note sat beside it.

“Here’s your ring back. I hope the four of you stay stuck with each other forever.”

When I was done, I wheeled my suitcase to the entryway.

The door lock suddenly beeped.

Nathan pushed the door open.

He paused in surprise at the sight of me standing by the door with my suitcase.

His gaze swept over the empty closet and the cleared surfaces.

“What are you doing?” he asked, frowning.

“Packing,” I said flatly.

Nathan relaxed and set his briefcase on the entryway cabinet.

He walked over and reached to stroke my hair as usual. I tilted my head away.

His hand stopped in midair before he awkwardly drew it back.

“Still upset about the hospital?” He sighed, softening his tone a little.

“I was wrong yesterday. I didn’t realize you were sick. But why didn’t you say something sooner? Going to the hospital all alone like that makes people worry.”

I’d listened to that dismissive tone for five years.

All the favoritism, all the neglect, dismissed with a little remark that somehow made it my fault.

He sat on the sofa, never even noticing the diamond ring on the coffee table.

“It’s just as well you threw out those old clothes. I’ll take you and Chloe shopping for new ones in a few days.”

He looked at me, taking it all for granted.

“Chloe says she wants to go to the beach to clear her head. When she’s feeling better, we can make up for our anniversary and take her with us.”

Taking my best friend on our anniversary trip.

He made something that absurd sound perfectly normal.

I watched him quietly, without anger or argument.

It was almost funny.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” He looked up at me.

“Don’t bother.” I tightened my grip on the suitcase handle.

Nathan took it for a little tantrum and gave me a dismissive smile.

“Enough already. Stop making a big deal out of every little thing. I have to be back at the office for a meeting at noon. Stay home and rest this afternoon. I’ll bring your favorite chicken pot pie tonight.”

He stood and went to the door to put his shoes on.

As he opened it, he glanced back at me.

“Claire, you’re usually reasonable. Don’t make this difficult for me.”

The door closed.

Those were Nathan’s last words to me before I left.

I stood there for a while, then took out my phone and booked a car to the airport.

An hour later, I wheeled my suitcase into the international terminal.

I picked up my boarding pass, checked my bag, and went through security.

Then I sat on a bench at the gate, watching planes take off and land beyond the glass wall.

Messages from their little circle of four kept popping up in the group chat.

Chloe sent a screenshot of a beach house. “Look at the rental Nathan booked. It’s gorgeous.”

Mason replied, “Anywhere Chloe wants to go, we’ll take care of it.”

Ellie added, “Nathan thinks of everything.”

Nobody asked where I was or whether I was feeling better.

I opened the group settings and tapped Leave Chat.

Then I blocked all four of them on Messenger and blocked their phone numbers.

“The flight to London will be departing shortly.”

A woman’s gentle voice sounded over the airport speakers.

I turned off my phone and tossed the SIM card I no longer needed into the trash.

I didn’t look back. I didn’t hesitate.

I boarded the flight to another country.