「Hey, we all heard about you and Zane. It's just a misunderstanding. How about we all get together tonight and clear things up?」

I didn't reply. I was busy downing coffee to stay awake.

But they wouldn't let up. Each message that came through sounded more earnest than the last.

I sighed and figured it might be better to just hash it out face to face. So I agreed.

Zane messaged me too, said he'd come pick me up.

I waited and waited, until the sky turned pitch black and a downpour hammered the city.

Ninety-nine calls. He never showed.

I sighed again, hailed a cab, and headed over. The moment I reached the door of the private room, I stopped.

Laughter poured through the gap, bright and careless.

“You have no idea. I was just being polite when I invited her, and Eva actually said yes!”

"If you ask me, she's scared that if she throws too big a fit, Zane will dump her for real. So now she's crawling back to make nice.”

“I mean, she's used goods after eight years. If Zane doesn't want her, who's gonna pick up the leftovers? No parents, no family, nowhere to go.”

They talked about me the way people talk about a stray on the sidewalk. Not a shred of feeling.

Zane sat at the far end. The dim light made his expression impossible to read.

A girl with a sweet, innocent face was practically glued to his side.

It hit me a beat too late. The mole on her collarbone was identical to the one in the photos.

She stuck out her tongue, playful and cute：

“Oh, stop being so mean. She kept him company for eight years, after all. Even if you raise a dog that long, you'd feel something!”

Zane didn't nod, didn't push back. He just pinched her nose and smiled at her, indulgent and fond.

A smile pulled at the corner of my mouth. My whole body was shaking from how cold my heart had gone.

I didn't bother announcing myself. I shoved the door open. The girl scrambled to push Zane away.

“Oh, quit playing shy! You two are usually joined at the hip. Why pretend you don't know each other now?”

Zane's smile froze on his face. One by one, the others turned and saw me.

The room went so awkward you could hear the silence curdle.

Someone tried to smooth things over：

“Hey, you made it! We were just saying you were taking forever. What kept you?”

I didn't take the bait. I found a seat in the farthest corner, as far from Zane as a galaxy between us.

Everyone traded uneasy glances. It was Norma who broke the silence：

“Come sit by me! We've all been waiting for you!”

I looked at that pretty face and thought about the file my lawyer friend had pulled up for me just hours ago.

Norma Stewart. Fresh out of college. Hired at Zane's company not long ago, interning directly under him.

The truth was, I'd known for a while that a new intern had joined his team. Back then I was too proud, too sure of myself to give her a second thought.

When Zane suggested the three of us grab dinner, I straightened his tie and shooed him off to work：

“I don't have time for that. And you don't need to run this stuff by me. If anything happens between you two, you already know what I'll do.”

Looking back, that had been him testing the waters before he cheated.

I ignored Norma's invitation. The color drained from her face in an instant, and she turned to Zane with wounded eyes.

That was when Zane decided to open his mouth：

“I was working late and forgot to pick you up. Is that really worth this much attitude? She's talking to you. Did you not hear her?”

I scoffed. Then I unclasped the bracelet he'd given me and hurled it straight at his head.

The bracelet was solid and heavy. It split his forehead open on impact, and blood welled up instantly.

Before he could react, Norma threw herself in front of him, eyes blazing.

“What is wrong with you? Can't you just talk like a normal person instead of getting violent?”

The fierce resolve in her eyes was the exact same look I'd had the time I drank myself into coughing up blood to shield Zane at a business dinner.

I let out a cold laugh. I looked at every single one of them closing ranks against me, and all I felt was the bitter taste of irony.

I used to be stupid enough to believe I'd actually become part of his world.

Running around doing favors for his friends, drumming up business for them, helping with every little thing in their lives.

All for one lousy ‘Thanks, Mrs. Harding’ so Zane could look good in front of his boys.

In the end, none of it mattered. I'd been the only one who cared.

I was tired, and I was done looking for answers.

I picked up my bag and looked Zane dead in the eye.

“We're done. Go chase whatever freedom you think you want.”

I didn't wait to see the shock in his eyes. I turned and walked out without looking back.

He never argued. Never came home. Never sent a single message for days.

I finished tying up loose ends, ready to say goodbye to this place for good.

I was reaching for my suitcase when Zane strolled through the door, smelling like fresh body wash, in an irritatingly good mood.

He spotted me and froze, guilt flashing across his face as he shoved something behind his back.

：“Company team-building trip the last couple days. Got caught up having fun, couldn't get away,” he blurted out.

I looked at the thing he was trying to hide. A jacket. One of those matching couple's sets that had just dropped. Norma had posted the other half in the group chat, showing it off.

I didn't call him out. I just kept walking toward the door.

He raked a hand through his hair, agitation creeping into his voice：

“Eva, why won't you just let me explain? All you ever do is throw a tantrum and run off!”

I held up my hand and cut him off.

I pulled out my approved overseas transfer and felt the weight lift off my chest.

He stood rooted to the spot, clutching the paper, his eyes trembling：

“What is this? You're lying, right?”

He searched my face desperately, hunting for even a trace of a bluff.

There was none.

I shook my head, exhausted by his refusal to face what was right in front of him.

It was all there in black and white.

There was no reason for me to fake a transfer approval just to make him feel guilty.

“Stop lying to yourself. The day you started hiding things from me, you should've known this day was coming.”

I looked up at him one last time. All that was left in my eyes was disappointment.

Then I grabbed my suitcase and walked out. No hesitation. Not this time.

Zane Harding, I was setting you free.