Chapter 5 "Camryn's already forgiven you. I get that you're upset, but what happened was your fault. No matter how angry you were, you shouldn't have taken it out on her. "Anyway, just stay home and wait for me. Let's spend some time with Shannon when I get back." I read Milton's message but didn't reply. Instead, I quietly went on packing. I didn't take a single thing that had anything to do with him.

After three years of living inside the web of lies he spun, I was exhausted-mentally, emotionally, completely. When I got to the airport, I stood in front of the departure gate, looking down at the plane ticket in my hand. A one-way trip overseas. And for the first time in a long time, I smiled. I was finally leaving this place where every memory stung. I used to have nothing but Milton in my head.

I gave up the chance to go abroad with my family just to stay behind and live under his roof, tiptoeing around his world. But my humility never earned me an ounce of respect-only endless humiliation. Thinking about my baby, gone too soon, my tears fell silently down my cheeks. All I brought with me was a single photo of him. It wasn't much, but I wasn't about to leave even that for Milton. Right before boarding, I opened the recording I had saved.

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I had planned to send it to Milton immediately but then paused. Instead, I scheduled it to be sent at a later time. Then I pulled out my SIM card and tossed it into the trash. With that, I cut off every connection I had left in this country. I didn't look back as I boarded the plane. At that same moment, back at the Shaw's manor, Milton had just returned-only to find the lawyer waiting at the front door. The lawyer didn't waste time. "Mr. Shaw, perfect timing. This is the divorce agreement.

Mrs. Shaw has already signed." Milton froze like he'd been struck by lightning. The words hit him like a punch to the gut. "What did you just say?" he asked, his voice low, slow, and laced with a dangerous chill. His assistant looked puzzled, then tried to clarify, "The divorce papers, sir. Isn't that what you told… " "Shut up!" Milton snapped. He shoved open the front door and rushed inside. The house was silent. Empty. There wasn't a single trace of me left.

Milton's eyes reddened with panic. His mind went completely blank. "Lauren?" he called out. "Lauren!" But there was no answer. The assistant and the lawyer stood frozen in place, shocked by what they were witnessing. The assistant quickly ushered the lawyer away. Milton finally looked down at the divorce papers in his hands. A storm of emotions churned inside him-so tangled he couldn't even name them. One memory after another flashed through his mind like a cruel movie reel.

He'd always been calm, composed, and in control. But at that moment, even his breathing started to spiral out of control.