oline reached me, mostly through my father who was

iser," Dad would mention. "They looked very cozy.

ion. My plan, or rather, my desper

Caroline, as he sho

tal "that's nice," and contin

d, an observer of a life

ah elite who had always been vaguely aware of my quiet

hour talking about her lineage," he chuckle

ut Rhett and Caroline because of his occasional, fleeting att

spotlight, the scrutiny, the gil

nounced one evening over our strained dinner. "Rhett and C

peas around my pla

bout time," Dad said, oblivious to the turmoil

ented. And I couldn'

approached me, his exp

ooking uncomfortable. "

comes, I

coming up, and your past... feelings for him... he thinks

ppressed. Of course Rhett would fra

d, avoiding my eyes, "if perhaps you consi

as my

elope from my bag. "I was going to tell

Austin and a copy of the lease a

, and Bree's cousin is helping me look

ents, stunned. "Austin? But..

ast," I lied smoothly. "I

surprise, relief, and a touch of

e living room, Rhett showed up at my apartment a

my father to "deliver the ne

, confirming last-minute details, when I hea

Dad saying something like, "She's already decided to leave, Rh

. Surprise, yes, but also a st

father had prompted this. Or that I was ru

ter than usual. "Your father just tol

al support to get you settled, connections... I want yo

other form of control? A way to keep me

him a magnanimous air, as if he could now afford

coolly. "But I'll be fine

oor opened again

Rhett here, or perhaps followed

k in the scene: me, Rhett looking so

ly made-up face as she hear

t with an edge of steel. "How... generous of you. Considering Scarle

ing away dramatically, making a statement. Or wor

ed on Rhett, th

ent crackled with unspoken

en surveying a minor provincial squabble, and m

This was exactly the kind of

I said, my voice tight. "I

rse and keys. "

partment, leaving them to s

e Spanish moss swaying like ghostly curtains

are – they were trying to pull me back into their

f me simply walking away, indi

e gone before they found another way to complicate my escape, before Car

The more you struggle, the deeper