The Day I Disappeared

The next day, I didn't bother dressing up. I didn't put on any makeup and just stepped out the door in a simple set of loungewear.

When I stepped into the private dining room, Edgar was already there, clearly waiting for a while. His face lit up with anticipation when he looked toward the door. But the moment he saw me, his expression faltered.

He looked a little hurt. "Darling, it's our anniversary today…"

I smiled slightly. "We've been married long enough. Do we really still care about formalities?"

I took my seat. Our son, Crispin Snider, sat beside him, his eyes flickering toward me before quickly looking away.

I knew why.

Winifred had already told me. Crispin had accepted her as his godmother.

I could tell that Edgar didn't look pleased. But I no longer had the energy to care what he thought.

Ever since I was brought back into the Clayton family, I had lived like I was walking on glass—constantly afraid of upsetting anyone and terrified they would decide I wasn't worth keeping.

After being abandoned for over a decade, all I wanted was a family. But now, all I felt was relief. It turned out letting go was a strange kind of freedom.

"Darling, if I did something wrong, I can fix it. You never acted like this before. You always looked forward to our anniversaries. It feels like… something about you has changed," Edgar said after a long silence.

"Changed? Maybe I have." I chuckled softly and picked up a piece of steak with my fork.

"After I came back to the Clayton family, they taught me etiquette. I had to show up at every event, always perfect, always polished. Then, I married into your family, where the rules were even stricter.

"I've spent years trapped in a cage, Edgar. Now I want a taste of freedom. Is that really too much to ask?"

Edgar pulled me into a tight embrace. "I'll give you anything you want—everything. Just don't leave me."

He could feel it, too—that something was slipping out of his grasp.

The dinner was tense. Each of us was lost in our own thoughts.

Just before we left, Crispin tugged Edgar's sleeve and gave him a meaningful glance.

Edgar cleared his throat. "Wanda, Crispin wants to spend the night at his grandma's place. I'll drop him off."

"Mom, Grandma got me a huge cake! I really want to have some," Crispin added quickly.

The lie was flimsy, but I didn't call it out.

Half an hour ago, Winifred had posted a photo of a giant cake on Instagram with the caption, "Celebrating my new 'son.'"

I forced a smile. "Sure, go ahead. Just… come home early."

That was the last night Edgar and Crispin came home. Every day after that, there was a new excuse. A new reason why they couldn't make it back.

And every day, I simply replied, "Got it."

I watched the house grow quieter and emptier. And something inside me grew still and cold.

As the days passed, my visa was finally expedited and approved.