Chapter 6

Amelia's POV

His words were quiet, but they made my heart swell.

When I visited the Carters in the past, everyone praised me for being "obedient." Obedient meant waiting for Julian when he was busy, yielding to Hailey when she arrived, and letting Julian's mother walk all over me.

The next day, I prepared myself for a difficult meeting with his grandmother.

Mrs. Evelyn Vance sat in the garden. Despite her white hair, her eyes were sharp. She looked me up and down. "I heard you used to be obsessed with the Carter heir?"

Greyson frowned. "Grandmother."

Evelyn waved her hand dismissively. "I'm asking her, not you."

I didn't dodge the question. "I was."

"And now?"

"Not anymore."

Evelyn stared at me for a few seconds, then smiled. "Good. Loving the wrong person isn't embarrassing. Knowing they are trash and still jumping back into the dumpster is."

Grandma Martha nodded vigorously in my head. "I like this old lady! She speaks the truth!"

Greyson drank his tea, hiding a smile.

For the first time, I felt like this alliance wasn't as cold as I thought.

In the afternoon, Evelyn showed me an old photo album. There were pictures of Greyson as a boy, looking grumpy in the yard, while a younger me made faces at him in the background.

I was stunned. "I don't remember this."

Evelyn chuckled. "You had just argued with him, promising you'd never talk to him again. Then you turned around and stole his birthday cake."

Greyson cleared his throat. "Grandmother, that's enough."

I stared at the photo. It turned out Greyson and I weren't always enemies. In the years I had ignored, he was always there, standing just a little out of my sight.

As we prepared to leave, Evelyn held my hand. "If you ever feel wronged, come to me. Don't be afraid of Greyson. He looks mean, but his heart is soft."

Greyson coughed behind us.

I smiled. "I will. Thank you."

Next, I decided to go to the Carter estate to pack up my belongings.

This wasn't a sudden decision. Growing up with Julian meant I had left too many things at his house. Books, photos, gifts, a scarf I spent weeks knitting, and a necklace Julian claimed he was "keeping safe" for me.

Grandma said a clean break required action.

"Take everything back. Leave nothing behind. Let them know you aren't playing games; you are truly gone."

I agreed.

I didn't sneak in. I had the Cole family driver park right at their front door and brought two movers with me. Julian's mother came out, her smile stiff.

"Amelia? Julian isn't home. Why don't you come in and wait?"

"No need," I said. "I'm just here to take my things. I'll leave once I'm done."

Her smile vanished.

Several Carter relatives were in the living room, whispering. In the past, I would bring them gifts and help host. Today, I didn't even take off my shoes.

Julian's mother whispered, "Amelia, let's talk when Julian gets back. You two have years of history. Making a scene like this is embarrassing."

I replied calmly, "I didn't start this."

The movers went upstairs and quickly brought down several boxes. The first was full of my books, the second was old gifts, and the third had albums and the hand-knitted scarf. I touched the dark grey scarf, my fingers pausing.

I had stayed up late learning how to knit because Julian said he was cold in the winter. But after Hailey returned, he never wore it once, claiming it didn't match his style.

I pulled the scarf out and threw it into the trash can in front of everyone.

Julian's mother gasped. "Amelia!"

I picked up the photo album. It was filled with photos of Julian and me. I didn't tear them; I simply took out my solo photos and left the rest on the table.

"These belong to the Carters' memories, not mine."

Suddenly, the sound of screeching tires echoed outside.

Julian rushed in, his face dark as he saw the boxes. "Amelia, what the hell are you doing?"

"Moving out."

"Do you have to make a joke out of us?"

I looked at him. "Julian, I kept my things here because I thought I was welcome. Now I know I'm not. What's so funny about that?"

Julian grabbed my wrist. "Have you had enough of this tantrum?"

He squeezed hard, aggravating my injured arm. I gasped in pain.

In the next second, Greyson's voice boomed from the door. "Let go of her."

He had arrived with his own driver. When Julian didn't let go, Greyson marched over, grabbed Julian's wrist, and forced him back.

"She said she's leaving. Are you deaf?"

Julian grit his teeth. "This is between her and me."

"She's my fiancée now." Greyson's eyes were freezing. "Before you touch her, remember your place."

I grabbed the last necklace from the table and put it in my bag.

I turned to Julian's mother. "You don't need to save a room for me anymore."

I walked out of the house.

The sun was bright outside. The boxes were loaded into the trunk.

Grandma whispered gently, "This is how you leave, Amelia."

I sat in the car, never looking back. I knew Julian was watching, and I knew if I looked back even once, he would think he still had a chance.

Greyson sat next to me, unusually quiet. After a long time, he asked, "Does it hurt?"

I touched my bruised wrist. "A little."

"I wasn't asking about your wrist."

I froze.

The Carter estate grew smaller in the rearview mirror. I whispered, "It hurts. But I can bear it."

Greyson kept his eyes on the road. "You don't have to keep bearing it. From now on, if it hurts, say so. If you want to scream, do it. You didn't leave the Carters just to learn how to be quiet."

My eyes stung, and I gave a quiet nod.