Chapter 4 Letting Go

"My Prince Charming."

It read out loud for me, making sure to call out names of the numerous emojis I had added. I smiled, my David.

Was he calling to apologize? Or perhaps to tell me that this was all an act and the whole family was just messing with me.

Maybe, this was all a prank or stuff.

They were probably pulling a joke even though I find it to be an expensive one.

I smiled internally, wiping the half dried tears off my cheek as I slid my finger across my screen to take the call.

"Davi-"

I heard Audrey's shrill voice through the speaker before I could even let out a single word.

"Of course you would take his calls and ignore mine, you shameless pathetic slut. Wherever the fuck you are, daddy said you should get home now and without a scratch on that car." I rolled my eyes at that last part, it was my car. 14 years of our parents being together and I never quite understood why she still calls him daddy even up to this age.

She was wrong though.

I would have taken her calls if I had heard it ring earlier but, I was probably too caught up in my thoughts that I hadn't heard or seen it ring.

"Let me speak to her," I heard David's voice in the background. "No, there's nothing more that you both have to say to each other, you'll see her when she gets here to finalize the confidentiality contract." Audrey said, her voice sounding a bit distant. She had probably held the phone away from her mouth so I wouldn't hear that part.

A confidentiality contract?

What is going on?

Did I hear that correctly?

What are they scheming?

"Audrey, what do you mean by a confidentiality contract?" I asked her with an edge to my voice.

I couldn't believe this. Were they really trying to make me shut up about this for life with a contract?

My heart broke into a million pieces.

I was beyond flabbergasted.

Why would they do that to me? Why?

I wouldn't have even mentioned it to a soul regardless.

"And you wonder why he can't get married to you, you clearly don't know how to mind your own fucking business. I delivered the message already."

I heard the sound of the disconnected call before I realized she had ended the call on me.

What audacity!!!

I chuckled dryly. The intensity of my laughter grew louder and soon enough, I was on a full blown laughing spree inside my car. I laughed and laughed like a mentally deranged woman. It took me a full minute to stop laughing but my eyes won't stop twitching.

I was hot with embarrassment.

White in colour.

My supposed fiance's family was going to pay me off to stay quiet about their son's misgivings and here I was, turning back to receive the insult head on.

I steered back into the road keeping my eyes out for a U-turn. Might as well figure out my way home.

"I'm calling off the engagement Soph, I'm getting married to Audrey"

"I am getting married to Audrey."

"I am getting married to Audrey."

"I am getting married to Audrey."

"I am getting married to Audrey."

It played like a fucking tape in my head, kicking at my senses, heightening my anxiety. I almost went crazy.

I noticed a U-turn just a few meters ahead and made a sharp turn into the lane to avoid missing it.

That should have been the least of my worries though because, what I did miss was the blue and white truck driving up furiously in that lane.

Trying to steer myself back on track, I realized my brake had failed. I looked down in panic wondering what I could do and for a fleeting moment there, I decided to not try.

I let go.

I decided to let go and not try to do anything because, nothing was worth it anymore. It was a drastic decision at that moment even though there was nothing I could do.

The headlights of the truck flashed repeatedly as it approached my car that suddenly seemed very small before it.

I heard the crash before I felt the impact. The car must have spun in the air at least twice before coming to a halt upside down. The weight of the steering wheel was pressing at my chest.

You know how they say when you're dying, you see your life flashing before your eyes. All those happy memories with your loved ones, flipping like a magical book. That wasn't true. My sight was blank and dark. Just the shards of broken glass flying across the seats and the battered head of the truck across me, on the opposite side of road.

I couldn't ignore the metallic taste in my mouth as the smell of petrol filled my nostrils.

Oh how I hate you, Audrey!

How I hate you so much, David!

How I hate all of you!

I could feel the remaining air drain from my lungs. I was choking but I wasn't coughing. It felt peaceful, safe even. Nothing like the moment when the love of my life proclaimed that he was getting married to my sister. Nothing like when my father told me Audrey would be the one to handle the Russian project.

Just peace.

"Your sister is in a better position to handle this project", my father's voice flooded my memory. They downplayed my efforts at work and in my relationship. Pushing ne aside and shoving my sister in my place.

The shrill robotic sound of my call identifier filled the car. "My prince charming, red heart emoji, smiley face emoji, gem emoji". I cracked a smile as my eyes blinked shut.

"Well, fuck you prince charming", I thought to myself just before it went dark.