Chapter 4

When I got back to the hotel from the clinic, they were discussing cutting the island trip short.

Not out of concern for my injury.

It was because Chloe was so shaken that she refused to stay anywhere near the sea.

Ethan handed me the checkout and ticket change forms.

"The hotel and train tickets are in your name."

"Handle the cancellation fees first."

I laid all the booking confirmations and payment receipts flat on the table.

"You changed the rooms without telling me."

"The upgrade was paid using my deposit."

"Now that Chloe doesn't want to stay, why should I eat the cancellation fees?"

Lucas frowned.

"We're on vacation together. There's no need to tally every single penny."

Julian chimed in, criticizing me:

"When you booked the rooms and got the tickets, you didn't demand our money upfront either."

"Throwing a fit over petty drama looks really bad on you."

Chloe said tearfully, "I can pay for part of it..."

Ethan cut her off instantly.

"You stay out of this."

"You just went through a scare. Don't blame yourself for this."

Then, he glared at me.

"You have a steady job and savings."

"This little bit of money won't hurt you."

"Chloe doesn't even have a stable income. Are you really going to force her to cough up cash right now?"

I finally saw the truth clear as day.

Because I was independent, my room could be taken away.

Because I was capable, every messy chore was mine to solve.

Because I earned money, my funds could be hijacked at will.

And Chloe was helpless at everything.

So whether she took my room, my anniversary, or my travel budget, she was simply "being taken care of."

I pulled the receipts back toward me.

"From now on, everyone pays their own way."

"I'm keeping records of every expense that belongs to you three and Chloe, and we will settle every cent later."

"And the rest of this trip has nothing to do with me."

Ethan finally snapped.

"Nora, if you insist on keeping score like this, then stop following us around."

"Go home by yourself."

I looked him straight in the eye.

"Are you telling me to leave this trip, or leave you?"

The room fell dead silent.

Ethan glanced at Chloe, his voice turning cold.

"Both."

"If this is how you're going to act, consider us broken up."

He was certain I couldn't bear to lose our five-year relationship.

He was convinced that the moment he mentioned breaking up, I would compromise just like I always did.

I asked simply, "Are you sure?"

He didn't take it back.

"I'm sure."

"Once you learn some empathy for others, then we'll talk."

I nodded.

"Fine."

Ethan's expression twitched.

He clearly didn't expect me to agree so fast.

I didn't waste another breath arguing.

I saved every confirmation, bill, and transaction record on my phone.

Then, I grabbed my passport, luggage, and phone, and checked myself out at the front desk.

Ethan still assumed I was just going home early to cool off.

Before I walked out, he even threw out a reminder:

"Once you get your head straight, send me the return travel details."

"Chloe can't handle long travel delays. Don't drag your feet on purpose."

I didn't answer.

They stayed in the hotel.

Waiting for me to handle their checkout, their ticket changes, and their ride home, just like I always had.

Instead, I took a cab straight to the airport.

While waiting at the gate, I opened an email I had put off for months.

[London Office Overseas Placement: Final Confirmation Deadline: Today.]

I had delayed accepting this offer over and over again, unwilling to do long-distance with Ethan.

Now, I typed a single word in the reply box: [Accepted]

Then, I exchanged my ticket for a red-eye flight to London that very night.

The next morning, Chloe realized no one was handling the hotel deposit, return tickets, or change fees, and started blowing up my phone in the group chat.

Lucas and Julian assumed I was just giving them the silent treatment.

Ethan was equally certain that I couldn't throw away five years of history, let alone abandon all of them.

Until an update popped up on their Instagram feeds.

The photo showed an employee badge from the London branch.

My name was printed clearly across it.

Through the window behind it was a foreign cityscape they had never seen.

The geotag read: London, UK.

The caption had only two lines:

[Just landed.]

[Not coming back for the next three years.]

All the color drained from Ethan's face.