I opened the message from Catalina.

"I agreed," I replied.

"Jamari, is it true what your mom said? I thought I was dreaming," she texted back.

"It's true. See you abroad."

Catalina sent a cheerful emoji: "Can't wait to see you!"

I dug out my passport, suddenly realizing I hadn't gathered all my visa documents, so I drove back home.

As soon as I walked in, I saw Laurel sitting on the sofa, clearly upset.

"Jamari, I've had enough of this. You're so focused on the art exhibition that you're ignoring me completely."

"Really, what can you even do right? You just make things worse."

Ever since Curtis returned from abroad, Laurel's criticisms of me had grown relentless.

I tried to smile, wanted to say something reassuring, but the words wouldn't come.

I turned away and headed to the bedroom to pack my bags, quickly gathering my things.

Aside from a few clothes and work essentials, there wasn't much there that felt like mine anymore.

As I dragged the suitcase out, Laurel looked shocked.

"Jamari, where are you going?"

I replied casually, "My mom's not feeling well today, so I'm going to stay with her."

Sensing my mood, Laurel softened, "You don't need a suitcase just to visit your mom."

"Jamari, are you still upset about Curtis and me? I've told you a million times, we're just friends..."

"Yeah, I get it," I interrupted.

Not wanting to hear more excuses, I grabbed the suitcase and headed for the door.

But Laurel clung to me, her face a mix of hurt and pleading.

In the past, I probably would have comforted her.

But now, seeing that supposedly innocent face, all I could picture was her flirting with Curtis, and it made me sick.

"Jamari, your birthday's in a few days. I have a gift for you. Hang on."

She pulled out a piece of clothing from an old box.

"Look at this. It's the latest style. I spent ages picking it out."

Laurel always knew how to keep me tied up in her games.

But I'd had enough.

I glanced at the bizarre jacket, with its strange cut-outs on the chest, and couldn't help but laugh, "Laurel, do you really think this is my style?"

She held it against me, "How would you know if you don’t try it on?"

I snatched the jacket, tossed it to the floor, and checked Curtis's social media.

I found a post from last year, and there he was, wearing the same jacket, posing oddly for the camera.

I showed the phone to Laurel, mocking her, "Did you think I wouldn't figure it out? Giving me Curtis's hand-me-downs as a birthday gift—did you think that would make you clever?"

Laurel, about to retort, saw the post and avoided my eyes, mumbling weak explanations.

She thought I was naive, oblivious to it all.

But I'd grown up with my mom taking me to all the high-end boutiques. Just because I didn't like those things didn't mean I couldn't recognize them.

I shook off Laurel's hand and walked out.

Behind me, I heard Laurel's frustrated shout: "Jamari, if you leave, don't come back! Curtis only wore that jacket once. How dare you call it second-hand?"

Leaving that house felt like shaking off an obsession that had trapped me for years.

Upon returning home, I accessed the surveillance system in my house. As soon as the feed came up, there was Curtis Wagner, and I could visibly see Laurel Howard light up with joy. Their conversation quickly turned into a passionate embrace, with Curtis's hands wandering over Laurel, half-disrobing her from her Victorian-style dress.

Watching this unfold shattered me, my heart twisting with pain. I turned off the monitor, left trembling in the dim room. At that moment, I knew my love for Laurel was truly over.

The next day, I took my prepared documents and headed to the passport office. "Sir, are you applying for a long-term visa?" the officer asked.

"Yes," I replied.

"Alright, please wait a moment."

As I sat in the waiting area, I saw Curtis and Laurel walk in. I turned my face away, hoping to avoid them. But Curtis called out to me, "Jamari? What are you doing here?"

Laurel noticed me and shrieked, "Jamari, how dare you? Are you following me?"

I chuckled in disbelief and retorted, "Why? Are you hiding something from me that you’re afraid I’ll find out?"

Laurel's face turned bright red as she stammered, "What nonsense are you talking about? I have nothing to hide."

"What about you? Why are you here if you're not traveling abroad?" she snapped back.

I waved my documents casually. "Can't I take care of some business here?"

Laurel scoffed, "I knew you’d never actually leave the country. Unlike our great artist Curtis, who’s about to go on an international tour."

Curtis looked at me and said, "Jamari, I’m planning to take Laurel with me on this tour. I need an assistant, and she’s familiar with my routine. You don’t mind, do you?"

Laurel seemed thrilled at Curtis's words. It was ironic that when she was with me, I had always taken care of her. Now, she was eager to become someone else's assistant.

I shrugged, feigning indifference. "Of course, I don’t mind. Laurel is free to make her own choices."

With that, I left. Curtis and Laurel continued their excited chatter, neither noticing my departure.

Back home, I found my mom, Julianna, packing for the upcoming wedding. "This wedding is so extravagant," she said. "Your dad and I insisted that Catalina must not be slighted."

"These are gifts I bought for Catalina," she continued. "Make sure to give them to her. As our daughter-in-law, she should be treated with respect."

The table was covered with gold jewelry that shimmered under the massive crystal chandelier, almost blinding me with their brilliance.

My flight out of the country was set for the day after my birthday.