Chapter 3

Evangeline was gesturing enthusiastically at the wall, holding architectural drawings.

"Here, I want to knock down this wall and create an open bar area. And those old videotapes? Oh, I had Augustus put them all away. Uproot all those roses as well."

I stood frozen in the doorway of what used to be my parents' house.

A designer was measuring the wall where my father's handprints had been preserved since I was seven. Augustus stood nearby, nodding along with whatever Evangeline was saying.

My heart stopped.

"What are you doing here?"

All three of them turned to look at me. Augustus's face went white, but Evangeline smiled brightly.

Augustus finally spoke. "Camilla, I was going to tell you—"

"Tell me what? That you're giving away my childhood home? That you're letting her destroy everything my parents built?"

"Camilla, you're being dramatic," Evangeline said gently. "It's just a wall. We can make new memories—"

"New memories?" I felt something snap inside me. "You want to erase my parents completely?"

I looked at Augustus, desperately searching for any sign of the man who used to love me.

"The roses in the garden," I continued, my voice rising. "Every single one was planted by my mother. She taught me how to care for them. And you want to rip them out?"

"Plants can be replanted," Evangeline said with a shrug. "Besides, roses are so old-fashioned."

That's when I lost it completely.

I lunged forward and grabbed the blueprints from her hands, tearing them to shreds.

"These aren't just plants! These aren't just walls!" I screamed, throwing the pieces in her face. "This is my family! This is everything my parents left behind!"

Evangeline stumbled backward, her eyes wide with shock.

"You're not taking a house. You want to take everything away from me," I continued, my voice breaking. "You're murdering my memories!"

"Camilla, stop!" Augustus rushed between us, but I was beyond reason.

I shoved him aside and grabbed Evangeline by the shoulders.

"Get out! GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!"

We struggled briefly before Augustus pulled me away, his arms wrapping around me from behind.

"Let go of me!" I fought against him, but he held tight.

Evangeline had tears in her eyes now, her perfect composure finally cracking. "I... I just wanted to make it beautiful. I didn't know—"

I broke free from Augustus and pointed a shaking finger at her. "You just assumed you could waltz in here and erase my entire life!"

"That's enough," Augustus said firmly. "Camilla, you need to calm down."

I stared at him in disbelief. Even now, even after everything, he was protecting her.

"I want a divorce."

The words came out.

Augustus went completely still. "What did you say?"

"You heard me." I stood straighter. "I want a divorce, Augustus. If you want to play house with her so badly, you can do it without me."

The designer had quietly slipped out during our fight, leaving just the three of us in the wreckage of my childhood home.

Evangeline's eyes widened, and I caught something that looked almost like satisfaction flicker across her face.

Just then, she swayed on her feet, pressing her hand to her chest.

"I... I can't breathe," she gasped, her face suddenly pale.

What a performance.

But Augustus was buying every second of it.

"Evangeline!" He caught her as she seemed to collapse, shooting me an accusatory look. "Look what you've done!"

"What I've done?" I laughed bitterly. "She's the one destroying my house!"

"She simply wants a home," Augustus snapped, cradling Evangeline against his chest. "You're the one who attacked her!"

Evangeline looked up at me through her tears, managing to look wounded and innocent despite everything.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I never meant to hurt you. I just... I thought we could be a family..."

"It's not your fault," Augustus murmured to her, then glared at me. "We're leaving."

I watched them walk out of my house—my parents' house—feeling like I was watching my entire world crumble.

The silence felt deafening. I looked around at the house where I'd grown up.

Forgotten in all the chaos, was a manila folder that must have fallen from Evangeline's bag.

I opened it with trembling fingers.

Inside was a property transfer agreement.