Chapter 6
As soon as Peter Williams found out I had returned to the old city, he dropped everything and booked the
earliest flight to follow me.
I had thought I could finally get a moment of peace-time to sort through my emotions and start over. But he never gave me that chance.
“Audrey, why did you leave without saying a word? Do you have any idea how crazy I went looking for you?”
In all our years together, he’d rarely ever raised his voice at me. But this time, he was genuinely angry.
“My parents went through so much trouble to pick an auspicious date for the marriage registration. Everyone was waiting on you! How could you be so reckless?”
“Was it really just because I didn’t come home that night?”
I looked into his furious eyes and gave a small, quiet nod.
“Yeah. You didn’t come home. So tell me-where were you?”
“I already told you-my advisor called. There was a set of lab data that didn’t match up. It was urgent.”
I gave a cold little laugh.
“Peter, do you even hear yourself anymore? You lie so smoothly now, you don’t even blink.”
“I left this time because I wanted to end things with some dignity-for both of us. But you… do you even
realize what you’ve done?”
“…What did I do? I’ve done nothing I’m ashamed of!”
My hand snapped up and slapped him across the face.
I’d been holding it in since the moment I saw him. My rage had been growing like air trapped in a balloon-
and now it had burst.
“Did you enjoy Born to Run? How about that Oasis concert?”
“And those stars on the school field the other night-were they brighter than usual?”
The moment the words left my mouth, his expression changed completely.
His face went pale. His outstretched hand trembled in midair.
“…Audrey, please, let me explain-”
“Explain what, exactly?” I cut him off. “When the earthquake hit, who were you worried about? Was it me-or
were you just afraid she’d be all alone, with no one to comfort her?”
40.00
“Answer me!”
He couldn’t. His eyes darted everywhere, unable to meet mine.
That was all the answer I needed.
Everything I’d been bottling up-the heartbreak, the betrayal, the disappointment-came pouring out.
I grabbed the collar of his shirt and slapped him again. Then again. My nails raked across his cheek and neck, leaving angry red welts. Blood seeped from the scratches.
The blows were so fierce, I ripped the buttons clean off his shirt.
I could feel people watching us, staring, whispering. But I didn’t care. Not one bit.
From beginning to end, Peter didn’t fight back. He didn’t say a word. He just stood there and took it, like a
silent tree rooted in place.
When the storm inside me had finally run its course, he looked utterly defeated-face scratched, shirt torn,
blood drying on his skin.
“Are you done now, Audrey?” he asked quietly. “If you’ve let it all out… will you hear me out?”
I looked at him, bitter amusement curling at the corner of my mouth.
“Go ahead,” I said. “Let’s hear your grand explanation.”
