Page 24 of A Sinful Gravity

The agreement gave up all property, stocks. I only wanted freedom.

I pulled it out, read through it, signed my name at the bottom. Left it on the coffee table, pressed down with that sapphire ring.

The ring looked like a blue teardrop now. Mocking three years of stupidity.

Chloe helped me pack. She moved efficiently, but I knew her eyes were red. She didn't let me see. We moved quickly, silently, precisely taking only essentials.

I set down the keys. Stood in the entrance. One last look back at this home.

The kitchen where I made soup. The plant on the balcony still alive. Like nothing had happened. Like the woman who waited late every night, who left soup on the table, might come back.

But she wouldn't.

Just as I picked up that simple suitcase to leave, a sudden intense nausea hit my throat.

I leaned over the sink, retching violently. Maybe the emotional upheaval plus the crash shock—I figured it was just a physical stress response.

I touched my flat stomach. A strange premonition made me freeze.

But I didn't have time to confirm it.

One last look at this home full of oppression, cold violence, and humiliation. I turned away.

Six a.m. I was about to board a flight to London. Before takeoff, I deleted all social media accounts, pulled out the SIM card that had been with me three years.

Chloe sat beside me watching. Knees touching. She'd cried last night. Calm now. Holding coffee, head on my shoulder.

"Message me when you get there," she said.

"Okay."

"When it rains in London, eat something hot," she said. "Don't deprive yourself."

"Mm."

"If you ever want to come back," she lifted her head, looked at me, "I'm here."

I squeezed her hand. "I know."

"And," she let go, looked at me seriously, "if you notice anything wrong with your body, go to the hospital. That episode earlier worried me."

I nodded silently.

The gate announcement came. My flight.

I stood, shouldered my bag, walked to the gate. Didn't look back.

Besides Chloe, no one knew where I was going.

The plane's roar filled the cabin. I watched New York shrink to a dot below.

Cassian, starting today, your puppet's done performing.

Chapter Six

Cassian

I woke up to a dull throb.