Chapter 2
At seven the next morning, the moving truck was parked downstairs.
Two movers followed me upstairs.
I unlocked the door with yesterday's passcode and told them to start with the study.
As I passed the master bedroom, the door was slightly ajar.
I pushed it open. Chloe was standing in front of the full-length mirror, wearing my wedding dress.
A custom white satin gown.
I had it custom-made in Paris last year. The fabric alone cost twelve thousand dollars.
She was twisting her body to admire the flare of the skirt. When she heard the door, the smile on her face froze instantly.
"G-Grace... I was just trying it on..."
She took a step back, her heel catching on the hem. The lace trim ripped with a sharp tear.
I pulled out my phone and took two quick photos of her and the torn hem.
Heavy footsteps sounded on the stairs.
Carter rushed in. He froze when he saw the movers, then saw me standing at the bedroom door.
"What are you doing?"
"Moving my things," I said.
"Is this really necessary?" He leaned against the doorframe, adjusting his tone to a softer, placating one.
"Cool down, okay? I'll take you to City Hall tomorrow. Deal?"
Inside, Chloe said in a small voice, "Carter, I didn't mean to wear it..."
"It's fine, Chloe. Go change out of it."
Carter turned back to comfort her.
Then, he lowered his voice and spoke to me. "Tomorrow. I promise."
I didn't look at him.
I pulled out my phone, opened the calculator, and turned the screen to his face.
"The fabric of this dress was twelve thousand. The labor was fifteen thousand. With the custom fee, the total was thirty-five thousand dollars. She ripped the lace. Depreciation plus damage---pay me twenty-five thousand."
Carter's expression froze.
"What did you say?"
"Pay up."
"She's just a young girl."
"Twenty-five thousand. Wire transfer or cash."
He stared at me, his lip twitching.
"Fine."
He pulled out his phone and opened his bank app. He flashed the balance screen at me.
$26,310.
Over the last ten years, I had invested over two hundred thousand dollars into this home.
And he only had this much left in his account.
Before he could transfer the money, his phone rang.
Caller ID: Mom.
He picked up on speaker. Helen's voice blared out.
"Grace. Carter told me what's going on. Are you throwing a tantrum again? Chloe is young and doesn't know any better. You're the older one here, be more generous. A wedding dress is just a piece of clothing."
I reached out and hung up the call.
Carter opened his mouth. "You---"
I walked past him into the master bedroom, straight to Chloe.
She had gotten half of it off, the white satin pooled at her feet.
I bent down, picked up the dress, and grabbed a pair of scissors from the desk.
With a sharp snip, the sound of ripping fabric echoed in the room.
"Grace!"
The cold light of the scissors sliced through the satin. White fragments drifted to the floor like snow.
Chloe covered her mouth and shrank into the corner. By the time Carter rushed over, the last piece of the skirt had slipped from my hand.
The shredded pieces lay right at his feet.
"Thirty-five thousand dollars," I said, putting down the scissors.
"Your precious neighbor wore it, and your mom says I'm petty. Now, nobody gets it."
I walked out to the living room.
On the coffee table lay the itemized bill I had prepared last night. Ten years. Every single expense, date, amount, and purpose. Three pages of printed paper.
"Take your time reading it."
I slung my canvas tote over my shoulder and took my suitcase from the mover.
Carter stood amidst the white shreds, his mouth open, unable to make a sound.
The scissors lay by his feet, the metal reflecting the harsh overhead light, cold and sharp.
I walked to the door.
The door slammed shut with a loud bang that vibrated through the hallway, making my soles tingle.
The elevator doors were open. The movers stepped aside.
I dragged my suitcase inside and pressed the button for the lobby.
In the very last second before the doors closed, I heard the apartment door fly open down the hall.
But the elevator was already moving down.