Chapter 2The Years I Lost Without You

What Silas Peyton didn’t know was that this wasn’t my lowest point.

The year we graduated, we had agreed to move to the same city. Before leaving, I returned to my mother’s house to pack.

What greeted me there was a nightmare.

My stepfather had my mom pinned to the ground, one hand holding her head down, the other raining punches.

When he saw me, he didn’t stop. If anything, he hit harder.

“You worthless leech! Just like your daughter—useless and filthy. You live off my money, but when it’s time to serve me, you refuse? I’ll beat you to death!”

My mother’s wails and his curses blended into a cacophony that shattered my sanity.

I couldn’t stand it anymore. I charged at him and pushed him away.

But I was no match for him. Within seconds, he’d recovered and slapped me across the face.

My mom scrambled up and clung to his legs. “Please, stop! Don’t hurt her. She’ll make money—she’ll help you.”

The mention of money made him even angrier. He shoved her aside and wrapped his hands around my neck.

At that moment, I thought I was going to die.

In desperation, my hand found a fruit knife on the table. Without thinking, I plunged it into his chest.

At barely twenty, I had taken a life.

The day I awaited sentencing, I called Silas.

His first words were angry: “How could you do this to me?”

I wiped the tears streaming down my face and, for the first time, forced myself to sound cold and disdainful.

“Silas Peyton, listen. In a few days, I’ll be in Europe living my best life.”

“Only a fool would stick with someone like you.”

My lies were enough to crush him, who had nothing back then. His voice trembled as he warned me not to regret it before hanging up.

I was sentenced to five years for manslaughter. My mom hanged herself a week later.

From that moment, I lost not just my freedom but also my mother.

Regret consumed me, but it was too late.

Silas Peyton was perfect, the kind of man no one could ever replace.

And I—my carefully built inner fortress had crumbled into ruins.

I was no longer worthy of him. Never would be.

When I was released, no company would hire me. I managed to find a job delivering food, but once my record was discovered, even my kind boss turned cold.

“You stupid girl! Don’t you know they’ll investigate and come down on me? Get out—now!”

Who would’ve thought a graduate from a prestigious college would end up unqualified even to deliver takeout?

Eventually, I survived by selling crafts I’d learned in prison, working from dawn until dusk just to make ends meet.

The money Silas threw at me today was almost what I earned in a month.

But I didn’t want it.

That money hitting me felt more painful than a slap across the face.

Later that night, I got a call from my college roommate, Madison Vance. She was the only person I’d stayed in touch with after my release.

“Evie, I’m getting married next month. Silas will be there—my dad’s working with him, and I can’t avoid it.”

“But you have to come. We promised back in college, remember?”

I glanced at the money I hadn’t returned, steadying my voice. “Don’t worry. I’ll be there.”

“I have something I need to give back to him anyway.”

It’s time to return it. And let go.