Parting Ways
"You what?" Molly turned her head, dropping the bag of chips she was holding. "Why?"
"My father's secretary found out that I'm not staying in the mansion. I'm sorry, but if I don't move out, my father will demolish this whole building just to find me," Abigail sighed.
"Your father must be a powerful man to do that then."
"All my father cares about is wealth. He's even willing to give up his family just for it. What do you expect?"
"Abby...?" Adeline pouted. "Wh-When are you leaving...?"
"I'm leaving in two days." Abigail patted her back.
"Two days?!" Molly's mouth dropped open. "Isn't this all going too fast?"
"Don't worry, I'll have someone bring you food everyday in case Adele sucks at cooking."
"Will we still see each other again...?" Adeline clutched her dress.
Abigail bursted into laughter. "Of course we will, stupid. You work for me."
"Tell us if you need something alright? We'll always be here to help."
"Of course I will, Adele..."
A month after Abigail moved out of the apartment, Adeline had also made up her mind to do the same. It has been a year since she last saw her parents and Nicholas, so she decided that it was time that she forgets the past. She can't just hide from them forever. She had to learn how to face reality.
"You too?" Molly rolled her eyes. "Why are you both leaving me? One after the other?"
"I'll still be staying for a few days." Adeline patted her back.
"What made you think that now was the time to come back?"
"I don't belong here. We both know that."
"B-But I don't mind if you stay!"
"I have a family that's waiting for me. You know that I can't keep them worrying forever."
"You and Abby sure betrayed me." Molly folded her arms.
Adeline sat in the couch. "I'll come back once I've settled everything. There are just a lot of things I need to—"
"How about Nicholas then? Will you be able to face him after everything that has happened?"
"I-It's in the past...and I have Erick now... What's there to worry about?"
"Well it's not me who's worried." Molly took a deep breath. "What do you think Erick will feel once you tell him? Do you really think that he trusts Nicholas?"
"Well he has to. Nicholas doesn't like me anyway."
"You don't know that."
"What are you saying?"
"Feelings can change." Molly stood up. "Like the way how you—"
"Ha ha ha. Stop making assumptions, Molly." Adeline giggled.
"Do I look like I'm lying? I'm just giving you advice as I have already experienced it with Jacob."
"Well Nicholas is different from that boyfriend of yours."
"Even though you say you love Erick, he's still in your mind isn't he?"
"I've answered that a hundred times already. Stop making me repeat it, Molly. I've gotten over him and I won't be stupid enough to fall for someone like him again."
"You've told Abby about this?"
Adeline nodded. "I just gotta get Erick's approval before I leave."
Several days later, as Adeline was on her way to Abigail's office to hand her some files, she saw Erick in the pantry, scrolling on his phone. She then approached him and made up her mind to apprise him about her decision of moving out, but before she could even utter a word, Erick abruptly placed his phone on the table as he grabbed Adeline's arm, pulling her into a hug.
"H-Hey! What are y-you doing?" Adeline's face reddened as she tried escaping his grip.
"Let's stay like this for a while." Erick closed his eyes, putting his head on her shoulder. "I'm tired."
"Do you need some coffee or—"
"Don't you know that having you by my side is more than enough? I don't need anything else."
"Look...Erick...I have some-something to tell you. Ca-Can you please let go?"
Erick loosed his grip as he grabbed her shoulders. "What is it?"
"I'm moving out of Molly's place." Adeline took a deep breath. "I'm going back home."