CHAPTER 10

The moment I stepped into the mansion, I knew there was no turning back. The air was crisp, different from the suffocating familiarity of my past life. Arizona was my clean slate. No Ortegas. No painful memories lurking in every corner. Just the vast, open desert and the promise of something new.

Brent and Sabrina had already settled in, but for me, everything still felt surreal. The house was too big, too quiet—almost like it was waiting for me to decide whether I truly belonged here.

I walked through the hallway, my footsteps echoing against the marble floor. Sunlight poured through the high windows, casting long golden streaks along the walls. The place felt more like a sanctuary than a home, but maybe that was what I needed.

"This room's yours," Brent called out from behind me.

I turned to see him leaning against the doorway, arms crossed. Sabrina stood beside him, a soft smile on her lips.

"Thanks," I murmured, stepping inside.

The bedroom was spacious, decorated in neutral tones. A king-sized bed sat in the center, draped with crisp white sheets. Large windows overlooked the backyard, where the desert stretched out endlessly.

I set my bags down and exhaled. "It’s... different."

Brent chuckled. "That’s kind of the point."

Sabrina nudged my shoulder. "Take your time settling in. But don’t lock yourself away, alright? We moved out here with you for a reason."

I nodded, appreciating their support more than I could put into words. They didn’t have to come with me. They had their own lives, their own responsibilities, but they chose to stand by me. That meant more than I could ever say.

***

That night, I sat outside on the balcony, a cup of tea in my hands. The Arizona sky was different from what I was used to. The stars seemed closer, brighter. I let the silence seep into my bones, trying to believe that I was really here, that this was my life now.

No Jeff. No Adam. No lingering ghosts from my past.

And yet, my mind wouldn't let go so easily. Adam’s voice still echoed in my head.

Come back home, Demi.

I clenched my jaw, pushing the memory away. There was no home to go back to. I had made my choice. I had to stick with it.

A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts.

"Yeah?"

Brent stepped in, leaning against the frame. "You planning to sit out here all night?"

I shrugged. "Maybe."

He sighed, stepping forward. "You don’t have to pretend you’re fine, you know. We both know you’re still thinking about them."

I looked down at my tea, gripping the mug tightly. "It’s not that easy, Brent. Adam was the only good thing about that family. Walking away from him... it hurts."

"I know," he said quietly. "But you didn’t just leave Adam. You left everything that kept you tied to a life that wasn’t yours anymore. And that’s the right call."

I exhaled, letting his words sink in. "Does it ever get easier?"

He was quiet for a moment before saying, "Only if you let it."

I didn’t know what that meant yet, but I hoped I’d figure it out soon.

The next morning, I decided to do something I hadn't done in a long time—go for a drive with no destination in mind.

I needed to feel the road beneath me, to breathe air that didn’t carry the weight of my past. The Arizona desert stretched endlessly before me, the roads long and open. It was nothing like the city, where everything felt caged in. Here, I could disappear if I wanted to.

I stopped at a small roadside café, drawn by the scent of fresh coffee. The place was quiet, the kind of spot that didn’t ask questions. I liked that.

Taking a seat by the window, I let myself enjoy the moment—no interruptions, no memories clawing at me.

Until my phone buzzed.

I debated ignoring it, but curiosity won. When I glanced at the screen, my stomach twisted.

It was Jeff.

I stared at the name, my pulse quickening. I had changed my number, but somehow, he had found a way to reach me.

Against my better judgment, I picked up. "What do you want, Jeff?"

"Demi," his voice was soft, almost hesitant. "I just... I just needed to hear your voice."

I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply. "You don’t get to do this. You don’t get to call me like nothing happened."

"I know. And I’m sorry. But my father... he’s not doing well. He keeps asking for you."

My grip tightened around the phone. "I said my goodbyes."

"Demi, please. He’s not just some guy—he’s the man who treated you like his own daughter. I know I messed up, but don’t punish my father for my mistakes."

My throat burned. He wasn’t wrong. But going back... it wasn’t an option. "I can’t, Jeff. I already had enough of the lies you have given me for the past five years. wasn't it you who told me that you can't go on and live a life with a loveless marriage with me? That being around me was torture? I really don't get it why you are so insistent about wanting me to come  back into your lives when we'll just both suffer in the end."

Silence stretched between us before he finally said, "I understand. But if you ever change your mind, you know where to find us."

I hung up before I could second-guess myself.

The coffee in front of me had gone cold.

***

By the time I got back to the mansion, I felt drained. I barely made it through the door before Sabrina noticed something was off.

"What happened?"

I shook my head. "Nothing. Just an unwanted phone call."

Brent looked up from his laptop. "Jeff?"

I nodded. "He wanted me to come back for Adam."

Sabrina frowned. "Are you going to?"

I hesitated. "No. I can’t. If I go back, it’ll undo everything."

Brent leaned forward. "Then don’t let his guilt trip you into it. You left for a reason, Demi. You can care about Adam, but that doesn’t mean sacrificing yourself."

I exhaled. "I know. It’s just... I wish it were easier."

Sabrina gave me a small smile. "One day, it will be."

I hoped she was right. Because if there was one thing I knew for certain, it was that I wasn’t going back.

This was my life now.

And I was going to make it count.