Chapter 2

Logan stayed the whole night taking care of Aaliyah.

The next morning, when I went downstairs, Aaliyah was busy in the kitchen.

She'd fried eggs, warmed milk, and cut toast into triangles, arranging them neatly on a plate.

Then she carried it over to Logan, her voice soft: "Eat up while it's hot."

Logan grinned and poked her. "Since when did you become so good at taking care of people?"

Her eyes settled on his face. She didn't reply, but her lips curved up.

In my last life, after we got married, she used to cook for me too.

When I was sick, she'd clumsily make me plain rice porridge.

I stopped at the foot of the stairs.

"Charles, come have breakfast." Logan waved me over.

Aaliyah glanced up at me, her gaze flat.

No extra words. No expression.

I sat down at the table, and she got up, leaving an empty seat between us.

She looked at me like I was a stranger.

It reminded me of the cold cruelty in her eyes when she forced me out of our marriage with nothing.

After I shoved a piece of bread into my mouth, I stood up.

"I'm full. I have class. I'm heading out."

Logan said, "Already? You haven't even finished your milk—"

"I'm running late."

I grabbed my backpack and escaped out the door.

I spent the whole day at the library, researching study-abroad programs and filling out applications.

In my last life, I'd given up the chance to study abroad just to stay near Aaliyah.

This time, I was going far, far away. I'd live for myself.

That night, I'd planned to stay at the dorm, but Logan called.

"Charles, come home for dinner! I have big news!"

When I got home, Aaliyah opened the door.

She frowned when she saw me. "Why are you back?"

Clearly, she hadn't been the one to invite me.

"Logan said he had something to tell me," I said quietly.

Logan poked his head out of the kitchen.

"Charles is back!"

He pushed me onto the couch and shoved the remote into my hands. "Watch some TV—dinner's almost ready!"

Aaliyah was helping him in the kitchen.

Through the glass door, I could see her tilting her head down to listen to him talk, the corners of her lips lifted slightly, her eyes so soft they could melt.

She'd cooked for me before, too.

On my birthday, she'd canceled her work plans and made an entire spread of dishes for me.

"What are you spacing out for?"

Logan caught me staring and pushed Aaliyah out of the kitchen.

"Go keep Charles company. I'll handle the soup."

Aaliyah wiped her hands and sat down on the single armchair across from me.

There was a wide gap between us.

The silence stretched.

Some boring variety show was playing on the TV. The canned laughter sounded grating.

"Charles." Aaliyah suddenly spoke.

I looked over.

She met my eyes, her gaze heavy. "Focus on your studies. Stay grounded. Don't think about things you shouldn't."

My heart clenched hard.

Things I shouldn't think about.

In her eyes, my feelings for her were something I shouldn't even have.

In my last life, when she found my diary, she'd said: "Charles, you really disgust me."

She thought I'd schemed against her, that I was greedy for what wasn't mine.

But I'd only loved her. I never said a single word to Logan to come between them.

She didn't believe me.

"I understand," I heard myself say calmly. "I won't."

At dinner, Logan announced excitedly: "Aaliyah proposed to me today!"

He held out his hand—the engagement ring sparkled under the light.

"Congratulations," I said with a genuine smile. "I hope you two are happy."

Aaliyah's hand paused mid-air, fork hovering. She looked up at me.

I kept my head down and pretended not to notice.

After dinner, I volunteered to clean up.

Faint laughter drifted from the living room. Logan was talking about his vision for the wedding, and Aaliyah's voice answered low and indulgent.

After washing the dishes, I dried my hands and went to tell them I had to head back to school.

Just as I reached the living room doorway, I heard Aaliyah's voice:

"…After he graduates, let's have him move out. I'll buy him an apartment near his school. He's a grown man—it's not really appropriate for him to keep living with us."

Logan disagreed: "But it's not safe for Charles to live alone."

"And you're his sister—what's wrong with him living with us?"

Aaliyah's voice was flat. "He's grown. He should have his own life. We need our own space too."

I stood frozen for a moment, then didn't listen to any more.

I turned, slipped quietly upstairs, grabbed my bag, and left.

After I'd walked far enough away, I sent Logan a message:

"Logan, something came up at school, I had to head back. Goodnight."

I took a deep breath.

Moving out was for the best.

The farther away, the safer.