Chapter 5

"Yvaine! What on earth did you share? Take it down immediately!" he exclaimed. "Where are you? Come back and say sorry to Gwyneth!"

I simply switched off my phone.

It's almost amusing. He never responded to my messages before.

I used to believe he was just too occupied.

As it turns out, he saw everything—he simply didn't care enough to reply.

My mother, whom I hadn't seen in years, arrived to collect me.

She was wearing a crimson gown, looking as beautiful as ever, but I could see age had caught up with her.

She embraced me tightly and said, "Oh, darling, you've been through so much."

Even though I'd left home years ago, I still kept in contact with her.

She was aware of all my issues with Gerard and had been cautioning me for ages that it wouldn't end well.

I didn't heed her advice then, but I do now.

On our journey home, Mom filled me in on the changes around the house.

I was already aware of most of it, but I still listened attentively.