Could we have it wrong? Could Vanessanotbe the killer?
My phone rings, pulling me from my haze, and I glance at thescreen and see Paige’s name. A part of me wants to ignore it, to stay cocooned in this numbness, but I know she needs me more than she’s letting on.
“Hey,” I say as I pick up.
“Hi. It’s good to hear your voice. How are you holding up?”
I swallow hard, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’m… managing. You?”
“You know. We’re coping differently,” she says with a laugh. By “coping differently,” she means that I’ve isolated myself, as opposed to the way she’s thrown herself into work, hobbies, and casual sex. “Have you heard from Ethan?”
The question twists the knife in my chest a little deeper. “No. He’s still not answering my calls. I’ve left messages, sent texts… Nothing.”
She sighs. “He’ll come around. I’m sure he will.”
“Yeah. I hope so,” I say, though really, time’s almost up. We’re supposed to be back at court on Friday, and Steve was clear: after that shit show, if Ethan doesn’t show up, I’m done. I’ll lose the case.
There’s another pause, this one longer, before Paige speaks again. “Have you gone out at all? I know you’ve been taking time off work, but everyone’s worried about you. You’ve been holed up in that house for days.”
That’s because ofwhois right outside.
“I’m fine,” I say quickly, too quickly.
“No, you’re not. You’re going to have to leave the house at some point, you know?”
“I’ve been busy,” I lie. “But I’ll be in court Friday, and back to work on Monday.”
“Tell me you haven’t been staring out that window for five days,” she says in a sharp voice. “Tell meconvincingly.”
“I haven’t.” Another lie. Ihavebeen watching. I’ve been noting when he leaves the house, when he comes back. He’s had people over, women, too, has been going out at night, living his life like nothing happened. Likewenever happened.
Two days ago, I ordered food, and when I opened the door to collect it, Rafael was leaving his house. He didn’t even glance in my direction, and I keep telling myself he didn’t see me, but deep down, I know he did. He just didn’t acknowledge me.
Paige sighs, like she knows I’m lying. “Scarlett, you know I understand heartache more than anyone, but a breakup doesn’t stop the world from spinning.”
I know she’s right, but it feels like everything has stopped. Facing the courthouse again, seeing Ethan’s hurt and anger, feels impossible. The weight of it all is suffocating, and the only thing I’ve been able to do is sit in this house and pretend the world outside doesn’t exist.
“Look, I… I didn’t want to tell you this, but I don’t know what else to do.”
My stomach drops. “What do you mean?”
“Rafael…” she says softly. “Rafael sold the house.”
“What?”
“I figured he’d tell you eventually,” she continues, her voice gentle. “But, um, he’s leaving.”
I can’t breathe. My mind races, trying to make sense of her words. “He sold the house? When? Leaving where?”
“Just today. Scarlett, I’m telling you this because you should move on, too.He’sdoing it.”
I clutch the couch cushion, trying to steady myself. This makes no sense. He never spoke about wanting to sell the house, and nowhe’s done it in five days? “Why?” I ask, more to myself than to her. “He didn’t even tell me,” I insist. “And now he’s just leaving?”
“Scarlett—”
“I have to go,” I say, ending the call before she can respond.
The silence in the house feels suffocating now, and my pulse pounds in my ears. He’s leaving. He’s cutting ties, erasing me. The realization claws at my chest, leaving me raw and breathless.
