Chapter 5

Harry jumped down from his seat. Before he could run to her, his brother held him back and pushed a sandwich to his mouth.

“This one is good,” Justin told him. “Hurry up so we won’t be late for school.”

Harry looked at his brother, refusing to eat the sandwich. “But I want Mommy’s.”

Anna looked at Cynthia, her eyes silently pleading. Cynthia walked past the room and headed towards her bedroom without a moment's hesitation.

After showering, Cynthia sat down with her laptop and began browsing recent news in the dance industry. While she was away, many emerging trends and companies had taken over the scene.

She was so engrossed in it that she didn’t take a break until two hours later when her phone rang. The call was from Rowan Radcliffe, Kane’s grandfather.

Just seeing his name filled Cynthia with a sense of peace. Rowan Radcliffe treated her like his own granddaughter, supporting her more than her parents ever had.

“You haven’t brought the boys to see me in a long while,” Rowan said after the pleasantries. “I brought back limited edition action figures from that anime they like from Tokyo. Can you bring them over tonight to collect their gifts?”

Rowan always brought back gifts from all over the world whenever he travelled. And not just for the twins, but for Cynthia too. He was a powerful man, but nowhere near as cold as his grandson.

His kind voice was enough to bring tears to her eyes. After the hostility her husband, sons, and parents had subjected her to, it felt like a lifeline.

“Are you there?” Rowan asked when she said nothing.

She wiped her tears and took a deep breath. “Yes. I’m sorry I haven’t been able to come over recently. I’ll ask Kane to bring the twins over tonight.”

Cynthia had never passed up an opportunity to visit Rowan. Other than that, her voice was enough to tell him that something was wrong.

“What did he do this time?” he asked her.

That only made her more emotional. Rowan could pick up her state by the tone of her voice. Meanwhile, someone she had lived with for five years couldn’t see the real her.

“I…it’s nothing.”

“Doesn’t sound like it,” he said. “I’ll always support you, no matter what. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to tell me.”

Rowan had always been there for her since the beginning. After the incident five years ago, Kane had almost abandoned her and the twins to follow Aurelia, who had fled abroad in anger. It was Rowan who had insisted on the marriage.

Half an hour after their call, Rowan’s personal assistant, Ben, arrived at the house. He presented Cynthia with an envelope from Rowan. Inside was a key, a check, and a note.

“I’m sorry that the Radcliffe family has failed you. It’s not too late to pursue your dream. Go and live your life, dear.”

Reading the message caused another flood of emotions. She had thought she’d never dance again. But Rowan’s words were an assurance that she could do whatever she wanted. She could pick up from where she left off. As long as she worked hard, she could catch up with her peers.

The key was to a villa in the suburbs, and the check was worth a million dollars. With these, she could escape from Kane and start a new life.

Under Rowan’s orders, Kane’s bodyguards stepped aside as she left. As Ben drove her from the complex, she felt a lightness she hadn’t felt in years. It was as if suddenly, all the excess baggage weighing her down had disappeared.

Ben left after dropping her at the villa. The house was well furnished, containing everything she needed. After settling down, she sat down and made a call she wished she had made several years earlier.

“Maude?” she said tentatively when the other side answered. It had been so long, so she wasn’t sure the number still belonged to her friend. “It’s me, Cynthia.”

The other side remained silent.

Hoping she was talking to her friend, she continued, “I know it’s been long. Sorry for coming out of the blue like this. I want to dance again. Are you free? Can we meet?”

Still, there was no response.

“If you want to see me, I’ll be waiting for you,” she said, giving her address. If it was indeed Maude on the other side, she understood the silence.

Maude had been her best friend for over ten years before Cynthia got married to Kane. She had warned her against the marriage, but Cynthia paid no heed.

But Cynthia had been so blinded by love. She was convinced that things would work out between her and Kane. Frustrated, Maude had cut all communication between them.

While Cynthia’s life faded into the shadows of the Radcliffe residence, Maude advanced her dance career to the top. Now, she was one of the most revered dancers in the industry.

Shortly after hanging up, her phone rang. Cynthia answered without taking a glance, thinking it was Maude calling back. “Hello?”

A mocking laugh came from the other side. “Miss me already?”

It was Kane.

Cynthia deflated like a balloon.

“Can you now stop pretending to want a divorce?” he asked.

Cynthia clenched her teeth. “Grandpa Rowan has approved of the divorce. The sooner you sign the papers, the better. Either way, I’m free.”

“Free?” He scoffed. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? You instigated the public after your sister, and she almost took her own life. Are you trying to flee from your sins?”

“I’m sorry,” Aurelia’s crying voice came through the phone. “I was wrong, I’m sorry. Please don’t do this anymore. Everybody hates me so much. I can’t stop thinking about it.”

“Now you know the feeling,” Cynthia said coldly.

The internet had dragged her through hell and back five years ago. She had been called every name in the universe and received threats from millions of strangers. Her fellow pack members rejected her as luna, only acting appropriately in front of Kane.

“Unlike you, Aurelia doesn’t deserve this,” Kane told her.

Of course, he thought that.

“I know where you are,” he added. “If you’re not back at the house in half an hour, I’ll come and drag you back myself. You must pay for what you’ve done.”

“Her misfortune is her own fault,” Cynthia said. “Leave me out of it. After everything she has done, karma is probably having its turn with her.”

“We’ll see about that.”

After he hung up, Cynthia could not relax. She had thought she’d found freedom, but there he went, trying to take it away. He wouldn’t stop until he used her to clean up Aurelia’s mess. She had to make sure he couldn’t make up any more stories.

Taking her laptop, she opened her email. Within minutes, she had sent footage to several reporters. It was a video from the police station, showing Kane pressuring her to take the blame.

Within minutes, the video was online. The effort Kane had put into deleting negative articles about Aurelia’s accident was obliterated by one video. The comments were outraged at Kane and Aurelia’s behaviour while sympathizing with Cynthia.

Kane called her, but Cynthia ignored him.

He sent a threatening message, (YOU’LL REGRET THIS!)

Minutes later, there was banging on her door. On the security system, she saw a bunch of Kane’s bodyguards standing outside.

She was not going to lose her freedom again.

While they tried to knock her door open, she climbed out of a back window and ran as fast as her legs could carry her.