Kicked out

Nolan

I drove back home, my mind a storm of anger and betrayal. The roads blurred in front of me as I tried to make sense of everything that had happened. Brad’s smug face, his words, the years of lies—it all echoed in my head like a twisted symphony. By the time I pulled up to the house, my knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel too tight.

The house loomed in front of me, a symbol of everything that had gone wrong in my life. Every corner of it held a memory—memories of my father’s abuse, the disastrous marriage to Alanna, the cold, loveless relationship with Chloe. This place had seen the worst of me, and I couldn’t stand it anymore.

As I got out of the car, I saw Chloe standing in the driveway, looking as though she had been waiting for me. Her arms were crossed, her face a mix of defiance and something I couldn’t quite place.

“Where the hell have you been?” she demanded, as if she had any right to ask.

Ignoring her, I walked past her toward the house. I wasn’t in