Chapter 11%
“You’ll be invited to our wedding soon.“2
Jared stared at the message for a long moment, waiting for it to vanish like a mistake. A joke. He reread it five times, then ten. But the words didn’t change.?
He quickly typed back: Stop joking, Maureen. Come on. You’re just losing your temper again. I know you’re doing this to get my attention, and well–you got it, okay? You win. So how about you come home now? I’ll book a flight for you. We’ll all go to Finland, have a party. Like before.
He hit send. Waited.
Nothing.
He sent another message. Then another.
Still nothing.2
A hollow pit began forming in his chest. He called. The line rang once. Then went dead.
Blocked.
“Damn it!” he roared, hurling his phone across the room. It hit the wall with a loud crack, shattering on impact.
Audrey flinched from the doorway. “What the hell’s going on?“%
Jared’s eyes burned. “She’s not replying. She blocked me.“%
“Maureen?” Audrey asked carefully, stepping in.%
He nodded. “She sent some cryptic crap about getting married. Now she’s gone.“%
He gritted his teeth as his memory rewound–back to the hospital. The man. Tall. Quiet. Dark eyes filled with something Jared hadn’t expected.2
He remembered approaching him that night.
“Who are you to her?” Jared had demanded.%
The man didn’t flinch. “Just someone who actually gives a damn.“%
Jared shoved him. “I am her boyfriend.”
“Then act like it,” the man said, his voice calm but heavy. “You weren’t there. I was.”
“You paid her bill?”
“I took care of what you didn’t.”
That was all it took for Jared to swing
They scuffled in the hallway, fists thrown, until nurses broke them up. But those words stayed.%
I took care of what you didn’t.
The truth stung deeper than the bruises. Maybe Maureen had changed. Maybe she was distant because he had been cheating on her–in silence, in spirit, in loyalty. And now someone else had seen what he’d ignored.
His thoughts were shattered when Audrey walked over, her robe slipping slightly from her shoulder.
“Hey,” she said softly, “don’t worry about her.”
She cupped his cheek, then leaned in and kissed him.”
“I’m here. Like I’ve always been. I’ll never leave you,” she whispered against his lips. Just… choose me.“>
Jared closed his eyes.
But it wasn’t Audrey’s face he saw.
It was Maureen’s.
And his heart ached.
The next morning, Audrey was glowing. Finally, Maureen was gone. Finally, she could breathe.
She made herself coffee in the kitchen, wearing Jared’s shirt, humming softly. It was her home now. No more judgmental stares. No more sharp comebacks. No more second place.”
She thought back to high school, when Maureen first saved her. A shy, skinny girl being shoved against lockers, her books thrown in the trash.%
Maureen had stood up for her. Held out her hand. Smiled.”
Audrey had adored her then. She’d wanted to be like her.”
But then the boys had come.%
Maureen had them both. Their laughter, their late–night talks, their hearts. Audrey was always the little sister. The outsider.
Until she decided to become her.
Now, she had Jared’s bed. Jackson’s approval. And Maureen’s silence.@
It was perfect.
Until a sharp knock interrupted everything.2
An agent stood at the door, papers in hand.
22 40.0%
2:13 PM
“We need you out. Today.”
Audrey blinked. “What?”
“The apartment’s been sold. The new owner wants the property vacated. Immediately.”
Her world tilted. “What are you talking about?”
The man flipped the contract. “Ownership transferred yesterday. You’ve been living here rent–free, correct? The owner is enforcing full eviction. You’ll need to leave.“}
Audrey ran to Jackson’s room in tears.
“She’s kicking us out!” she sobbed.”
Jackson sat up groggily. “What? Right. Shit. She wasn’t really joking!“}
“Maureen! She sold the apartment!“}]
Jared stormed out from the kitchen. “She what?“}
They read the notice together. Eviction. Sale complete. No appeal.”
“That bitch,” Jackson growled. “She actually did it. She’s making us pay back rent too?“}
“She’s bluffing,” Jared snapped, though his voice cracked. “She’ll text. She’ll calm down. She always does.”
Audrey sniffled but nodded. “Of course she will. Don’t worry, I’m here.“}]
Jared barely heard her. His eyes were fixed on his broken phone screen.
Time passed.}]
They packed what they could.
Still, no message.
Audrey smiled again as she buckled her suitcase. “We’ll go to Finland. It’ll fix everything.”}]
Jared nodded. “She’ll come around. She always does.“”
Even Jackson grunted in agreement. “She’ll miss us eventually.”
But she didn’t.”
No text.”
No cal!.
No apology.
The plane touched down in Finland days later. Audrey rushed to get Wi–Fi. Checked her phone.
Stil!… nothing.}
They sat at the café, surrounded by snow and silence.
And that’s when Jared felt it.0
She wasn’t coming back.
Not to him.”
Not to them.§
They had lost her.
Forever.
1/2
