Three Breakdowns A Year Was All I Was Allowed Chapter 04

When I woke up the next day, Sophie’s things had already been moved in.

My desk had been cleared off, too.

I opened the drawer.

Empty.

I frantically searched the cabinets, flung open cardboard boxes, and swept papers onto the floor.

“Where’s my brother’s appointment confirmation?”

Nobody answered.

The longer I searched, the more I panicked. Finally, I tore open the trash bag.

A corner of white paper showed at the bottom.

When I pulled it out, it was soaked in coffee.

[Could I beg Nathan to treat my sister a little better?]

The words [my sister] had blurred into a black stain.

I tried to soak up the coffee with my sleeve. The more I wiped, the more the ink smeared.

“Who threw this away?”

Sophie glanced at it.

“I thought it was an expired appointment slip.”

“You already know what it says. Keeping it won’t change anything.”

I grabbed her.

“Who told you you could touch it!”

“This was the last thing my brother wrote for me!”

Sophie struggled.

“I already apologized! It’s just a piece of paper!”

I lost control and screamed, “Then give me my brother back!”

Nathan gripped my hand and pried my fingers loose one at a time.

A nail split. Blood welled up.

“Claire Bennett, enough!”

He moved Sophie behind him.

“Look at what you’ve become!”

“She ruined my brother’s things…”

“I know, but that doesn’t give you the right to put your hands on her.”

He looked down at Sophie’s wrist.

My blood dripped from my fingertips.

“The slightest upset, and you lose control.”

“The slightest upset?”

He frowned.

“He’s gone.”

“Holding on to this stuff will only make you worse.”

I crouched to pick up the paper, afraid to wipe it or cry.

Sophie urged him on. “Nathan, we’re going to be late.”

He left with her anyway.

When the door closed, I curled up on the floor, holding the paper.

My brother’s words filled my head.

“Claire, tell me if you need money.”

“And tell me if anyone mistreats you.”

Tears ran between my fingers.

Only when my legs went numb did I open Three Ninety-Nine’s chat, my hands trembling.

[The last thing my brother left me was ruined.]

He replied, [Take a picture of it first.]

[Do you remember the parts you can’t read?]

[Yes.]

[Then read them to me. I’ll write them down.]

I closed my eyes.

“Could I beg Nathan…”

“To treat my sister…”

“A little better.”

It took three tries to get through the whole sentence.

That evening, Nathan saw the messages, and his face darkened.

“You’re still talking to this person?”

Sophie spoke softly.

“Claire suddenly wants to work, move overseas, and get divorced. You don’t think he talked her into all of it, do you?”

Nathan held out his hand.

“Give me your phone.”

I stepped back.

“No.”

“You’d rather trust some stranger who charges $3.99?”

I tightened my grip on the phone.

“When I said I was scared, he didn’t tell me I couldn’t do it.”

“When I said I was upset, he didn’t tell me how many times I was allowed to cry.”

Nathan’s voice turned cold.

“Because you’re paying him to agree with you.”

“Someone who really loves you won’t just go along with everything you want.”

My phone rang suddenly.

The company called about my overseas assignment. “Ms. Bennett, your husband said you’re emotionally unstable and asked us to delay your assignment. Is that what you want?”

“You contacted my company?”

Nathan didn’t deny it.

“Today proved you shouldn’t go.”

“I’m making sure you have something to fall back on.”

So even my falling apart only proved him right in the end.

I spoke into the phone. “Don’t postpone it.”

“I’ll report for work in ten days as planned.”

After hanging up, I asked my chat companion: [They all say I’m being impulsive.]

[Do you think so, too?]

[If nobody praised you and nobody tried to stop you, would you still want to leave?]

[Yes.]

[Then go.]

[That’s your answer.]

Nathan was still saying, “People like this aren’t professionals.”

I stopped listening.

I signed the divorce agreement, set my wedding ring on top of it, and took hold of my suitcase.

My phone lit up.

[Are you ready?]

My hands were still shaking.

But I didn’t look back.

[Yes.]

[I’m leaving.]