On the day of Landon’s engagement party, he arranged for a couple of street thugs to pick a fight with me. By the time I finished giving my statement at the police station, night had fallen. When I finally got home, I overheard someone ask where I’d been. Landon just laughed. “I was worried she’d make a scene, so I arranged for her to spend the day... getting acquainted with the police. By the time she gets out, it’ll all be over.” I stood outside the door, a bitter smile twisting my lips. I blocked Landon’s number and every other contact we had in common, turned on my heel, and boarded a flight out of the country. I heard later that when Landon couldn’t find me, the ever-composed man finally lost his mind, his eyes turning a feral red as he muttered to himself, “She’s just jealous. She’s playing games to punish me. Once she cools off, she’ll be back. She has to be.” But he didn't understand. I wasn't playing a game. I was really, truly, leaving him for good. 1 The sky was already dark by the time I finished my statement at the police station. The day Landon got engaged, my world tilted. I was so out of it that I turned a corner and hit another car. The other driver was determined to drag it out, and the whole mess had only just been resolved. Landon’s phone went straight to voicemail, every time. My social media feed was a minefield of photos of him and his fiancée. Each picture was a fresh stab to the heart. I was furious. A full day’s worth of humiliation and anger churned inside me, demanding release. I hailed a cab and went straight to his house. The door was ajar, and the sounds of laughter and conversation drifted out. Landon often had friends over for drinks or to watch a game. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but when I heard my own name, I froze. “Honestly, man, we all thought you and Aria would be the ones,” his friend Ethan was saying, his voice laced with regret. “You guys grew up together. She’s stunningly beautiful, but damn, that temper…” “She’s spoiled,” another voice chimed in. “She’s been throwing tantrums for years. You’d think she’d get tired of it.” Landon was sunk deep into the sofa. He glanced at his watch, a flicker of irritation crossing his handsome features. He was probably thinking it was about time for me to show up, ready for a tearful, screaming match. The thought alone gave him a headache. “It’s weird, though,” Ethan mused. “You getting engaged to Lila… I expected Aria to raise hell. But she’s been a ghost all day. Where is she?” Landon chuckled. “I was worried she’d make a scene, so I arranged for her to spend the day getting acquainted with the police. By the time she gets out, it’ll all be over.” “Damn, that’s cold. Only you could handle Aria like that, Landon,” his other friend, Josh, said with admiration. “Landon,” Ethan said, his tone more serious now. “Have you ever thought… with you engaged to Lila, what if Aria is really hurt? What if she just… leaves?” An image of my tear-streaked face flashed through Landon’s mind, and a wave of unease washed over him. He quickly snuffed it out with a cold scoff. “Frankly,” he said with a shrug, “I’d be relieved.” Relieved. That’s what seven years of devotion had earned me. I pulled my hand back from the door and turned away. It was early winter, and the air hadn't turned truly cold yet. But a chill seeped right through my coat and into my bones. All these years, orbiting Landon, fighting and making up, I was the only one who ever stayed. I truly believed we were endgame. But here he was, having me detained just so he could get engaged to someone else without a fuss. How pathetic did he think I was, to let him degrade me like this, again and again? Rain began to fall, and the weather forecast had predicted a drop in temperature, maybe even snow later tonight. When it snowed in this city, it never seemed to stop. I used to hate the winter, but Landon would wrap me in his oversized coat, and he always kept a warm blanket in his car just for me. Now, it was clear those moments of perceived happiness were just illusions, destined to crumble before the finish line. The rain fell harder, plastering strands of hair to my forehead. My steps faltered. I shook my head, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. How had my life come to this? Suddenly, the fight drained out of me. The endless arguments about love and loyalty felt like a joke. I pulled my damp coat tighter around myself, and an idea took root in my mind. I needed to go somewhere warm. Somewhere without winter, without snow. And most importantly, without Landon. 2 I blocked Landon and all his friends. Every last one. A message came through from an unknown number. It was Lila, Landon’s fiancée. [He's engaged to me now. You have no idea how much he adores me. You should back off gracefully and keep some of your dignity. Landon always hated dealing with you. Every time he had to see you, he’d buy me a gift to make up for it. Everything you have, I have. And I have plenty that you don’t. Stop bothering him. Or I’ll tell everyone how you’ve been trying to seduce my fiancé.] Lila. Landon’s perpetually clumsy personal assistant. Delicate and fragile, her eyes would well up at the slightest harsh word, like a frightened kitten. Did Landon know this venomous side of her? She had been subtly sabotaging me for months. “Accidentally” spilling wine on my couture gown, “unintentionally” breaking my diamond necklace. I saw her for the master manipulator she was back then, but Landon was always completely taken in by her act. If I so much as raised my voice to her, he would leap to her defense. A shame about all those beautiful clothes and jewels. I’d tried to argue with him, but he’d just placate me with a dismissive, “You have plenty of things like that. She’s just a girl new to the real world, what does she know? Don't make things hard for Lila.” I had plenty. But if someone else broke them, they had to pay. I forwarded the matter to my lawyer, instructing him to bill Lila for every last penny. Then I took out my SIM card and tossed it in the trash. Good riddance to bad rubbish. I hope they’re miserable together forever. My parents came upstairs to find me packing, their faces etched with worry. “Aria, sweetheart, are you sure about this? What that Landon boy did was unforgivable. We’re going to march over there and demand an explanation!” Our families had always tacitly approved of our relationship. Similar backgrounds, a shared history—it seemed like the perfect match. “Mom, Dad, if you want me to have any pride left, please don’t,” I pleaded. “I can go abroad and help my brother with his business, right? You always wanted me to get more real-world experience.” They were stunned to hear me say it. For years, I had been completely obsessed, chasing Landon around since high school. “You’re not just doing this to make a point?” my mother asked cautiously. I hugged them both tightly. “I used to be a mess, I know,” I said, my voice firm. “But not anymore.” My parents had the same high hopes for me as they did for my brother. It was I who had been reckless and stubborn, mistaking Landon for my entire world. “Alright,” my dad said, his voice thick with emotion. “Our daughter is strong and capable. If you’ve made up your mind, you go do it. If you get into any trouble, Dad will be right here to bail you out.” “I will,” I promised, my voice catching in my throat. I turned and walked onto the plane, leaving the city and everything it held behind me. It was a closed chapter. 3 That night, Landon waited. For Aria. Or a call from her. He told himself that if she called again, he’d be gracious and pick up. He’d even tolerate her tears and her accusations. But there was nothing. The feeling was like a kite string snapping in his hand—a sudden, gut-wrenching hollowness. “Landon, I can’t hang, man. I gotta get some sleep,” Josh said, his eyes barely staying open. They’d been drinking all night, but as the hours wore on, it was clear Landon’s mind was elsewhere. Lila called, her voice a soft, cooing murmur. “Landon, are you still up? I miss you. I want to come see you.” Landon swirled the liquor in his glass. “Josh and Ethan are here. It’s my last bachelor party. Be good, get some sleep.” After a little more pouting, Lila reluctantly hung up. Josh sidled up to Ethan. “What’s with him?” he whispered. “Who throws themselves a bachelor party after they get engaged?” Ethan stared into his glass and sighed. “What bachelor party? He’s waiting for someone. Isn’t it obvious?” Normally, Aria’s temper would have sent her storming over hours ago. The fact that she hadn't was a very bad sign. “Should I try calling her? See where she is?” Ethan offered. Landon walked to the window without turning around. “Do what you want.” Ethan called the police station first. They confirmed Aria had left at dusk. Her own phone was unreachable. When Landon tried, he discovered he’d been blocked. So had Ethan and Josh. “Looks like she’s really pissed this time, man,” Josh said. “Aria’s not one to sit still. What if she’s serious this time? You had her locked up and got engaged to someone else. It was a bit much, Landon,” Ethan said, finally voicing what he’d been thinking all night. They tried calling Aria’s friends, but no one had seen or heard from her. The ever-composed Landon finally snapped. He kicked over the coffee table, sending bottles crashing to the floor. Glass shattered everywhere. He had never, not for a moment, imagined she would actually leave. She was like his shadow, always there, always clinging to him. They had been together for so long, and both their families had accepted it as fact. As for Lila… the more Aria bullied her, the more he felt the need to protect the girl. He’d protected her for so long he couldn’t even untangle his own feelings anymore. His eyes were bloodshot as he muttered to himself, “She’s just jealous. She’s playing games to punish me. Once she cools off, she’ll be back. She has to be.” It had happened before, before Lila. She’d get angry, they’d fight. But if he was patient, if he just coaxed her a little, she’d always forgive him, and love him even more fiercely than before. But he didn't know. Aria wasn't running away in a tantrum. She was running away for good. 4 The flight was long. After an entire night in the air, I landed. My brother wasn’t there to pick me up. Instead, it was his best friend, Caden. I’d heard they were inseparable, the kind of friends who grew up practically sharing the same pair of pants. There were even rumors that Caden was secretly in love with my brother. So, I kept my guard up and offered him a polite smile. “Long time no see, Caden.” He was tall and strikingly handsome, dressed casually in jeans and a t-shirt. His smile was as bright and warm as the climate here. “Your brother had to fly out for a business meeting last minute. He asked me to pick you up.” He reached for my suitcase and patted the top of it. “Wanna ride?” “I’m not a kid anymore.” Caden was five years older than me. He used to come over to our house all the time when we were younger, and his favorite game was to pull me around the house in his suitcase. He whistled, tossed my luggage into the trunk, and drove me to his place. The weather here was perfect, a comfortable 70 degrees. He blasted music from his flashy red convertible, and as I watched the scenery fly by, the warm wind seemed to blow away all my fatigue, washing away the icy residue of my old life. I liked this place. “Your brother’s place is being renovated, so you’ll have to rough it here with me for a few days. Your room’s ready. Upstairs, second door on the right. It’s across from mine.” The room was great, with a huge floor-to-ceiling window. The decor, however, was… questionable. Pink. Everywhere. Classic straight-guy decorating. I was exhausted. I unpacked a few things and crashed, hoping to catch up on sleep. In my dreams, I was back in high school, the first time I saw Landon. He was leaning against a windowsill, listening to music, reading a book. The wind rustled the leaves outside, playing with his hair and the hem of his crisp, white shirt. It was a scene straight out of a movie. A group of girls were daring each other to be the first to confess their feelings to him. Without a second thought, I walked right up to him. “Landon, I like you.” He looked up at me, a mocking smile on his lips. “Aria, are you an idiot?” I woke up with a jolt. It was mortifying, even in a dream. God, I really was brave back then. As I recalled, on the actual day of my confession, Landon had just smirked and said nothing. Caden’s voice came from outside my door. “Aria, are you a damn pig? You’ve been sleeping for a day and a night! Even a pig would lose to you in a sleeping contest. Get up and eat!” The food was Caden’s own cooking, and it was incredible. He was famous for his impulsive passions. If he had a bad meal at a restaurant, he’d open his own. He liked drumming, so he started a band. He got interested in geology, disappeared into the mountains, and had to be rescued by a helicopter. He dropped out of college halfway through to become a race car driver. His life was a long list of rebellious acts. Finally, his family had enough and shipped him abroad to learn some discipline. When he found out my brother was here, he moved his company’s branch office to be nearby. At the time, my parents and I were terrified he would corrupt our family’s only son. But a part of me envied him. A life lived like that… could he have any regrets? “So, Caden, what have you been up to all these years?” I asked, curious. “Business,” he said, not even looking up. “And you? What are you doing here?” “Learning business from my brother.” We sounded like we were conducting a very dry interview. He frowned, then said thoughtfully, “Well, your brother’s out of town. You can learn from me for now.” 5 And so, I started learning business from a former delinquent. It turns out you really can’t judge a book by its cover. When a person who spent their youth messing around suddenly gets serious, they can be dangerously sharp. I started as Caden’s personal assistant, which basically meant making tea, fetching coffee, and making copies. It was a bit of an insult to my shiny diploma. A new girl in the secretarial pool, her makeup caked on and her neckline plunging, snatched a cup of coffee from my hands and sashayed into the president’s office. “Mr. Hayes, your coffee.” Caden didn’t even lift his eyes from his screen. “Before you ‘accidentally’ spill that on me, I feel compelled to inform you that my suit and shoes cost a combined total of twenty-three thousand dollars. They are handmade and took three months to complete. Are you quite sure you can afford to replace them?” The girl silently retracted the foot she’d been about to trip with. As she placed the coffee on his desk, she leaned over deliberately. Caden held a handkerchief to his nose. “Is that poison you’re wearing? The fumes are about to trigger my rhinitis.” She fled the office in tears, her makeup streaking down her face. I stood outside the door, trying desperately not to laugh. “Ms. Summers,” he called out. “Your posture is excellent. The military training at your university must have been top-notch.” I stiffened. “It was alright, sir. Thank you for the compliment.” “With form like that, perhaps I should transfer you to the security department?” “No, no, thank you!” “Then what are you waiting for? Get in here.” I made a mental note to call my brother and ask what on earth had happened to Caden over the years. His tongue had become a lethal weapon. Caden leaned back in his chair, one leg crossed over the other, his long fingers tapping a rhythm on the keyboard. His sharp eyes were fixed on the screen, a faint smile on his lips. “Did you write this quarterly report?” My stomach clenched. “Yes, Mr. Hayes.” “It’s very good,” he nodded. I beamed, quickly laying on the praise. “Thank you, sir! I’ll keep working hard.” He looked up at me. “It reads like a damn novel.” My heart shattered. “Rewrite it. I want it on my desk before you leave today.” But backing down wasn’t my style. It was just a report. I could do this. I was still working on it at ten o’clock that night. “Not done yet? You’re writing so slowly you’re making me hungry,” Caden complained from his seat nearby. I was perched on the edge of his leather executive chair, feeling like I was sitting on a bed of nails. An hour later, the takeout he ordered arrived. “Eat first, write later. It’s not like you’re going to finish anytime soon anyway. A few more minutes won’t make a difference.” Could someone please pay to have this man silenced? He was insufferable.
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