Chapter 4
Once I moved out, Lily became even more unrestrained. She insisted that Mateo stay by her side at all times, forbidding him from seeing me.
I didn't mind. Being alone meant fewer things to worry about. It was just that the villa was newly renovated, so the sharp, biting scent of paint gave me a constant migraine.
Mateo unexpectedly appeared as my departure date drew near. He looked at me with a remorseful expression. "I know you've suffered lately, so as an apology, I've booked us a trip to the beach. I want us to have some quality time together, just the two of us, Phoebe."
He had just said that when his phone suddenly rang. He glanced at the screen, and the mask of guilt immediately shattered, replaced by a smile of genuine, tender affection. He answered the phone and said, "Got it, Lily. I'll head back this instant."
He had just stepped out of the door when he suddenly recalled our supposed trip. He looked slightly sheepish as he said, "You'll have to go to the beach alone this time since Lily wants to go shopping today. I'll go with you next time, Phoebe."
"Alright," I whispered as the last of my affection for him withered away.
It didn't matter to me at that point, as I knew that there would never be a "next time".
…
Third-Person Point-of-View
It was several days later, and Mateo noticed that Phoebe still hadn't come home. He also realized that she wasn't answering any of his calls. For the first time, a flicker of genuine concern started to gnaw at him.
Olivia was visibly displeased. "How could a grown adult like her forget to return home after having some fun outside? That irresponsible woman could never fulfill the duties of a daughter-in-law. Not that it matters, since she can't even bear a child anyway."
She then turned to Lily, her voice dripping with affection. "You're the most sensible one here for bearing an heir for the Spencer family. You should continue to bear children for us and help the Spencer family thrive in the future, Lily."
Lily giggled and said, "You can rest assured that I'll keep the grandchildren coming year after year for you as long as my body allows it, Olivia."
Mateo remained uneasy. He noticed that none of the messages he sent Phoebe had been replied to, and a sense of foreboding crept into his heart. It wasn't like Phoebe to stay away this long.
He drove to the suburban villa. Once he stepped inside, he found that all of Phoebe's belongings were gone, which he found rather odd. It seemed rather unnecessary for someone to pack so much for a short trip.
Lily followed him in, covering her face with her hand to shield herself from the paint fumes. "Do you think Phoebe is refusing to come home because she's jealous that I'm the one carrying your child, Mateo?"
Mateo, filled with doubt, suddenly spotted the handbag Lily was carrying. He recognized it instantly. It was Phoebe's birthday present from the previous year. She was practically inseparable from that handbag, yet this time, she had pointedly left it behind.
He pointed at the handbag and asked, "Where did you get that? That belongs to Phoebe."
Lily lifted the handbag and looked at it before replying, "Phoebe left a whole wardrobe full of handbags behind when she moved out."
Mateo, for some reason, felt an inexplicable sense of unease rising within him, his doubts intensifying. He took out his phone to call Phoebe again, only to see a news alert in his notifications.
"Flight C200 Crashes with Zero Survivors."
He suddenly felt a sharp pang of dread seize his chest. That was the exact flight Phoebe was supposed to take for her return trip.
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