Leaving was the Only War I Won

“I knew it! Love and hate work the same way, right?”

This time, Grady didn’t respond.

But the slight curve of his lips seemed to acknowledge Zeth’s words.

Marcella leaned against the wall, slowly sliding down until she sat on the floor.

‘Grady, soon… Soon, you’ll get what you want.’

The next second, her phone rang.

“Miss Westerman, your identity erasure will be finalized the day after tomorrow. We will come to escort you to the organization’s base. Would you like more time with your family before then?”

“No need. Please get here on time.”

When Marcella requested to be discharged, even the nurse couldn’t help but advise her to stay and recover longer.

But she insisted on leaving.

She had unfinished business in these last two days.

As soon as she stepped into the villa, a stuffed toy came flying from the living room—smacking her right on the head.

Seth didn’t apologize. Instead, he sneered.

“You deserve it, Mom! That’s what you get for staying away so long! Hurry up and make me something to eat. I’m starving! If Dad finds out, he’ll be mad!”

At those words, Marcella was reminded of what Grady had said at the hospital.

He hated her.

So, of course, he didn’t care about the child she had given birth to either.

And Seth—he had chosen their side.

‘How pathetic!’

From the corner of her eye, Marcella noticed her son munching on junk food, the kind she never allowed him to have.

‘Zeth must’ve bought it for him.’

Sensing her gaze, Seth clutched his snacks and tablet close, staring at his mother like a little wolf pup baring its fangs.

“Aunt Zeth gave these to me. Dad didn’t say anything about it, so you don’t get to have an opinion!”

Marcella walked up to him, looking down at the boy she had raised for so many years.

She thought she’d feel reluctant when the time came to leave.

But standing here now, gazing at Seth… she felt nothing.

“Hey, look, I won’t care about you anymore. Hope you stay this happy forever.”

With that, she turned and walked into her bedroom.

Seth was stunned.

He had always hated how Marcella controlled him, always nagging and restricting him.

But just now, the way she looked at him—something felt different.

A strange emptiness welled up inside him, though he couldn’t quite place why.

So he brushed it off.

He figured she was just acting like that because he liked Zeth.

When Marcella entered the master bedroom, her wedding photos with Grady were still there.

In every picture, his face was cold, devoid of any joy.

Even the photographer had urged him to smile.

But what did he say back then?

“It’s just a wedding. No need to look so happy.”

Over the years, he started smiling more and more.

She had once thought—just maybe—he had finally turned around.

But no.

She had only been fooling herself.

A sudden ding snapped her out of her thoughts.

A message.

An unknown number.

It was a picture.

Two people standing by the seaside at sunset, holding an ultrasound result.

[I’m pregnant. Dee said he’ll divorce you as soon as we get back from our trip. If you know what’s good for you, leave before we return.]

Marcella glanced at the message and ignored it.

She took all the wedding photos down and tore them to pieces.

But Zeth wasn’t done yet.

Marcella’s phone kept buzzing with messages.

[Grady never loved you. If it weren’t for the fact that you saved his life, he would’ve divorced you years ago!]