Chapter 3Spilled Milk and Severed Ties

I bought a plane ticket out of New York. I randomly selected a southern city, Charleston.

Since I was fourteen and told I would marry into the Vance family, my freedom and choices had been restricted. Later, after marrying Harrison, he never offered to take me out unless it was for necessary social events. My most common life routine was probably waiting for the father and son to come home every night and delivering a glass of warm milk before bed.

Everyone in our circle said Mrs. Vance had raised me well, that I was a wife custom-made for Harrison. Worthy of his status, capable of taking care of his life. The only flaw was: I was too perfect. Perfect to the point of being boring, appearing a bit rigid.

I once heard Harrison's friends teasing him. "Harrison, what's it like living like an old married couple at such a young age? "Your wife is too dull; she smiles like a mannequin. "Want us to introduce you to someone interesting? "Just a few days ago, Leo met a funny girl, really hilarious, just like Victoria used to be. How about it, interested?"

Victoria. Harrison's first love. Back then, Mrs. Vance didn't agree to them being together, and Harrison resisted in every way possible. Later, I don't know what happened. They broke up, and Victoria went to Europe. After that, when he was twenty-four, Harrison suddenly accepted the family's arrangement and proposed to me. Four years later, I gave birth to Ethan.

Oh, right, I remember now. The familiar perfume I smelled that night was the one Victoria used to love. A custom-blended gardenia scent.