When Love Becomes a Cage by Nora

Chapter 104

Chapter 104



I knew Merritt would have Clyde stick around to hash things out and might even give him a piece of his mind.

Scrolling through my phone, I noticed the video had been less viral. The Patterson Group's legal team had even released a statement, which said they'd contacted the police, and the authorities confirmed the video was a deepfake, not me. But they didn't mention how I got drugged and rescued by Eliana and her gang.

Eliana called, offering to set the record straight publicly, but I declined. How the Patterson family handled it meant they knew Kayla was behind it, but they protected her.

Walking into my room, I yanked open a drawer and pulled out the divorce papers. I had printed dozens of copies, signed my name on two, pressed my fingerprint, and left them on the living room couch. I had hoped Clyde would return and sign, but he never did that night.

I booked a small van on an app the following morning and planned to move. I didn't have many belongings, just some personal items. I left all my jewelry, taking only clothes, shoes, and daily necessities.

Then, spotting a red leash in the corner, I thought of my Rocky living happily abroad, my eyes misting over before tossing the leash into the trash. I didn't need Rocky to remember me. It was better off living happily with Brenda. And Clyde didn't need to remember he once had a dog that defended him at every turn, let alone that I was ever there.

Then, I called Jade. "Jade, did you tidy up the apartment for me?"

After Kayla brought her kidnapped daughter to my place and the police had dealt with the situation, I never went back, leaving Jade to take care of it. Jade said, "I got a cleaning service to tidy up and replaced the old lock with a coded lock. The old one was useless. Melanie, where are you now? Are you moving there?"

didn't hide it, briefly explaining over the phone, and Jade immediately

to leave, but when the time came, I felt a profound

already downstairs. The driver, a young lad, enthusiastically helped me with

placed it on the divorce papers. At the door, I touched the necklace around my neck. My throat tightened, and I removed the necklace with shaky hands, placing it with the ring. Those were the last ties to Clyde, and I didn't

her arm around my shoulder. "Melanie, everything

get better," I repeated softly, convinced everything would

nothing much to clean. The cleaning

this much effort into

be

and look, she's reaping the benefits now. The bitch meets the

noticed Clyde was

opened them, saw a 59-second voice message, and texted back without

divorce is the only

it over and text me, or I'll

phone, not caring if Clyde would lose his mind over it. I never

it were all for revenge

years were no easier

a passing fancy for him, or he realized he didn't love me But whatever the reason I saw no point in clinging to

busied herself planning the small room's layout and was full of ideas. "We need