Unsubscribing from the Drama Chapter 2

The apartment was filled with traces of me.

The tableware in the kitchen, the mugs on the table, the photos on the wall...

I had hand-picked everything.

I didn't know where to start packing, so I realized that everything I truly needed was already in the suitcase I had just brought back.

I had been in New York at a top-tier hospital for a month-long exchange program.

I finished everything at 3 PM today and ran to the airport, suitcase in tow. I even tripped and scraped my knee in the process.

But the storm delayed the flight. I was thirty minutes late for Noah’s party.

When I arrived, Caleb sat on the couch, face dark, interrogating me.

"Why didn't you buy an earlier ticket? Did you not check the weather?"

"Do you even care about Noah? Do you care about me?"

"Are we less important to you than a bunch of strangers?"

Noah snatched the toy from my hand—the one I stood in line for three hours to get—and smashed it on the floor.

Then he stomped on it, crushing the plastic bricks, crushing my heart.

"I hate Mommy! You break promises! You’re late! Bad Mom! Bad Mom!"

...

Waiting for the elevator now, I unlocked my phone.

I saw a post from Caleb’s childhood friend, Chloe—the "Auntie Chloe" Noah loved to mention.

[Birthday vibes with the little prince! Noah, you have to be happy every day! You too...]

Caleb’s devastatingly handsome side profile was caught in the frame.

Next to him, Noah, with cream on his nose, was feeding a spoonful of cake to the person taking the photo.

They were laughing, playing, and capturing memories.

Compared to me...

They looked more like a family of three.

[Oh no, the Female Lead is definitely misunderstanding... The Male Lead is just forcing a smile. His phone is definitely on loud, waiting for her to call.]

[Why does she look actually mad? Don't torture me! My baby Noah is so young... he’s just more sensitive than other kids.]

[Chloe is just a plot device, guys. She’s a test for their relationship. Life isn't smooth sailing, wake up Female Lead!]

[Exactly. Just go find them, apologize properly. This gloomy, possessive man loves you so much, he’ll forgive you.]

...

I tried calling Caleb. I wanted to tell him Noah had a magnet school interview tomorrow.

Divorce is an adult problem; it shouldn't affect a child’s education.

The call connected and was immediately hung up.

I called again. Blocked.

I called Noah’s phone watch. The background noise was loud.

It sounded like a karaoke room.

"Caleb, bro, why are you fighting with Lyra again? Aren't you scared she'll actually divorce you?"

Silence for about three seconds.

Then, Caleb scoffed, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Divorce is just a leash I use on Lyra. It works every time."

"You guys know how hard she chased me in high school."

"We’ve been married for years. Every time I’m unhappy, she apologizes like her life depends on it."

"She can't leave me."

Laughter erupted in the room.

"I always wondered why I couldn't get you even though we grew up together. Turns out, being a simp pays off," Chloe’s voice chimed in, dismissive. "I didn't expect Lyra to look so dignified but be such a doormat in private."

"Right? Back then she beat up Caleb’s stepdad for him. A total maniac."

"And when she had Noah, the doctors told her not to, but she risked her life just to 'give Caleb a family.' Hahaha!"

...

I gripped my phone so hard my knuckles turned white.

The compromises I thought were sacrifices for love... in Caleb’s eyes, they were just proof of my servitude.

He wasn't acting out because of insecurity.

He was acting out because he was entitled.

He was certain I couldn't leave.

He thought he had me in the palm of his hand.