Chapter 4 4

A blizzard bursts into the grand foyer, wrapping around her ankles and freezing the sweat from Carie's skin.

She stood at the door and looked back at them indifferently.

"If you walk out that door," screamed Brandi, supported by a maid, "I'll have the lawyer freeze all your credit cards before you get in the car!" "

Carie slowly turned around.

She held the doorknob so hard that her fingers hurt.

Eric wiped the whiskey from his eyes and blinked quickly.

His face was red and swollen, and his eyes were full of anger and unwillingness.

"You're a madman," he spat out. "Completely out of control."

"Really?" Carie asked. Her voice was unusually calm in the howling wind. "Or am I the only one who can see the essence of this family?"

She looked at Brandi. "Do you think I can't have children because of my genes? Because I'm 'out of stock'? "

"Look at you," Brandi sneered. "Desolate. It didn't work. "

"I got pregnant two years ago," Carie said. The phrase hung heavy and sharp in the air.

"We know about miscarriages," Eric snapped, stepping forward. "It was an accident. The road surface is icy. Don't live in the past. "

"It's not an accident," Carie said, her eyes locking on him. "Athena drove behind me."

Eric froze. "What?"

"She stopped at the intersection," Carie raised her voice. She waited. I saw her in the rearview mirror. She waited until I was in the middle of the corner and then picked up. She bumped into me, Eric. She pushed me against the guardrail. "

"That's a lie!" Eric roared. "Athena has PTSD! She can hardly get in the car, let alone drive hard! She was in shock! "

"She's a murderer," Carie said. "She killed your first child. She's been laughing at you ever since. "

"You're such a vicious and jealous woman," Brandi growled in a low voice. "Slander a grieving widow. You should be ashamed. "

"I saw her eyes," Carie whispered, more to herself. She didn't look shocked. She looked satisfied. "

"Get out," Eric said. His voice was low, trembling with anger. "Get out of my house, or I'll kick you out."

He believed her. Of course it will. Athena, the fragile bird with broken wings. Carie is just a vulture circling a corpse.

"Would be happy to," Carie said.

She reached for her neck.

Diamond necklace. The Flynn family heirloom. A collar.

She hooked her fingers under the platinum chain. No clasps. It's a constant cycle.

She pulled suddenly.

Metal pierces her skin. She felt a sharp pain as the chain slashed into the back of her neck.

Snap.

The chain is broken. Warm blood runs down the neck and mixes with cold sweat.

She clenched the sparkling diamonds for a moment, feeling their sharp edges.

Then she threw it.

The thing hit Eric in the chest and fell at his feet with a snap.

"Keep the money," Carie said. "I want to take my name back."

Eric looked down at the diamond, then at the blood on her neck. His expression faltered for a moment. A hint of regret? Care?

But then Brandi moans, covering his heart, and he turns to her.

"Are you okay?"

Carie ignored them anymore. She backed away and walked into the snow.

Then like a lion, he slammed the door shut.

Bang!

The voice echoed like a tombstone seal.

She was alone.

The wind tore her clothes. The snow made her unable to open her eyes. She dragged her suitcase along the long winding lane. Within seconds, her hands were numb.

She arrived at the main road. There are no streetlights here, just the endless darkness of the Hampton winter.

She pulled out her phone. Her fingers were stiff and bluish.

She called Katie's number.

"Carie?" Katie's voice was loud, with panic. "Where are you? I've been fighting for an hour! "

"I was completely relieved," Carie said. Her teeth trembled so much that she could barely speak. "I'll come over right away."

"I'm still sending you off, I'm waiting for you."

Carie hung up.

She stood under the lonely street lamp at the end of the road, watching the snowflakes fall. It obscures her tracks, erases the path to the house.

She took a deep breath. The air is cold, but it tastes like freedom.