stared at his face. He genuinely believed he had done nothing wrong; that his family had done nothing wrong.
“Tyler, even now, you think this is all my fault?”
He didn’t respond, but the tightening of his hands on my suitcase told me everything.
“I’ll let you know when the divorce hearing is scheduled,” said firmly. “Now let go!”
I yanked the suitcase free from his grasp, turning and never looking back.
Tyler’s initial calm facade shattered as his temper flared.
“Fine! Go! Let’s see where you end up, walking around in the middle of the night. Maybe a wolf will eat you!
“You want a divorce? Fine! Let’s finalize it as soon as we get back!”
However, I didn’t respond. I just kept moving, the chilly night air biting at my face.
Tyler’s family home was on a mountain, and the steep path was uneven. The road uphill was hard enough and downhill was treacherous.
It was dark. Fear crept into my chest, but I couldn’t turn back now.
To make things worse, my phone died.
1/2
Chapter 7
+25 BONUS
With no light and no sense of direction, I stumbled through the darkness. Every rustling sound, every animal cry, sent my heart racing.
I tried to reassure myself, whispering, “Don’t be afraid,” under my breath. But the eerie noises made it impossible to calm down.
Just as panic started to set in, a beam of light cut through the darkness.
“Hey! Who’s out there?”
The flashlight’s glare made me squint. When I adjusted to the brightness, I saw an older man approaching,
“What are you doing in my orchard at this hour?” he asked suspiciously, shining the light in my face.
I raised a hand to block the light. That’s when I realized I’d wandered completely off course and ended up in someone’s fruit grove.
“Sorry, sir. I got lost. I’ll leave right away.”
I turned to drag my suitcase out of his orchard, but the old man called after me. “Wait…‘
His voice made my heart skip.
11
I froze, countless worst–case scenarios flashing through my mind. My hand tightened around my dead phone, ready to swing it if he tried anything.
“You’re trying to get down the mountain, aren’t you? It’s not safe for a young woman to be out here alone this late. I’ll give you a ride.”
The old man gestured for me to follow him, and I decided to take the chance.
A short walk later, we reached a small farming shed where he parked an old, rickety motorized tricycle. He helped me climb into the back before driving us down the dark mountain road.
