Chapter 5

The visa process was way more complicated than I expected.

Degree verification, language tests, financial proofs, housing sponsors—everything required time.

Julian helped me go through the list over Snapchat voice calls.

"Do you speak French?"

"I self-studied in high school. Level B1."

"Good enough for a language prep program. I'll sponsor your financial proof and arrange your apartment. You just handle your transcripts and degree certificates."

He paused, then asked, "Does Chloe know? Or your mom?"

"No. Nobody knows."

"When do you plan to leave?"

"As soon as possible."

Julian was silent for a few seconds.

"Maya, studying abroad isn't just running away. Have you thought about how you'll survive out there?"

"I've thought it through."

And I had.

Fighting them directly was useless.

I had thrown the ring, questioned the recipe book, and confronted Arthur.

And every time I rebelled, they just tightened their grip.

Eleanor took my lock. They cut off my credit cards.

Arthur locked my passport in his study's safe, and only he knew the combination.

They used "family love" as a cage and smiles to push me toward the Vances.

So, I had to stop fighting openly.

I started acting.

Eleanor wanted me to take flower-arranging classes? I went.

Arthur wanted me to memorize the Vance family tree? I memorized it.

Chloe wanted me to taste her new dishes? I smiled and said they were delicious.

Every day, I played my part flawlessly, like a well-programmed machine.

Only late at night, under the covers, did I open my burner phone to work on my visa.

The passport was the hardest part.

The safe was in Arthur's study. It was a six-digit code. I tried his birthday and their anniversary, but neither worked.

On the eleventh day, Eleanor took me to a spa.

While waiting, she took a call from Arthur.

"What? The safe combination? How should I know? You set it. Isn't it Chloe's birthday?"

She didn't even try to hide the conversation from me. In her eyes, I had completely surrendered. I was no longer a threat.

Chloe's birthday. June 8th.

0608.

No, it had to be six digits.

June 8th, 2003.

030608.

That night, I waited until the house was dead silent.

At 2:40 AM, I slipped barefoot into Arthur's study.

0-3-0-6-0-8.

The safe clicked open.

My passport was at the bottom, tucked between property deeds.

I pulled it out, closed the safe, and scrambled the lock.

The whole thing took less than forty seconds.

Back in my room, I slid the passport into the secret lining of my backpack and lay back down.

My heart was hammering, but my hands were steady.

Three days later, my visa was approved.

Julian emailed me the digital copy with a note: I booked your flight. Direct to Lyon next Tuesday. Confirm the time.

Next Tuesday.

My eighteenth birthday.

And the exact day Eleanor planned to host the Vance family for our official engagement party.

I texted back on the burner phone: Confirmed.

Then, I cleared all chat histories, turned off the phone, and hid it back in my bag.

The night before my birthday, Eleanor knocked gently on my door.

"Maya, tomorrow is your birthday. I ordered a cake. We'll have a family dinner, and the Vances are sending flowers."

"Thank you, Mom," I said with a smile.

She blinked, clearly surprised by how cooperative I was.

"You've been so mature lately. I'm really proud of you."

Proud.

She was only proud when I fell in line.

Birthday morning.

I woke up at 5:00 AM and cleaned my room.

On my desk, I left only my etiquette graduation certificate and the engagement ring I had refused to wear.

I threw my backpack on, put on a pair of flat sneakers, and took one last look at this room with no lock.

I closed the door.

When I went downstairs, the house was empty.

The cake was in the fridge, decorated with pink frosting that read: Happy 18th Birthday, Maya.

I didn't open it.

The moment I stepped out of the mansion with my suitcase, my phone buzzed. It was a text from Chloe.

"Happy birthday, Maya! I'm cooking a whole feast for you today, all your favorites."

She still had no idea what I actually liked.

I didn't reply.

A cab was waiting at the corner. I gave the driver the airport address.

At 9:20 AM, Eleanor sent a voice note.

"Maya, why is your door locked? Come out and have some cake. The Vances' flowers just arrived."

At 10:00 AM, Arthur knocked on my door.

"Maya? Open up."

No answer.

At 10:30 AM, Chloe came out of the kitchen, tying her apron.

"Is Maya still throwing a fit? It's fine, let's just eat without her."

Eleanor sighed.

"Fine, let her cool down. Chloe, why don't you blow out the candles for Maya?"

By the time they lit the candles, I was already on a flight to Lyon.

As the city below shrank into tiny dots through the window, I took out my old SIM card, snapped it in half, and dropped it into the trash bag.