Page 126 of Hawthorne

It was all just a means to an end. To break me down afterwards.

Like everyone else.

38

Camilla White

My ears are buzzing, locking out the outside noise. There’s an excruciating pain thudding through my skull as my heart burns down to ashes. Still, as my shaky hands grip Edgar’s forearm, I keep the tears at bay.

I will not grant them that satisfaction.

This is the last thing I expected fromhim.

After everything and all the conversations we had, I expected honesty. I expected him to have the courage to tell me to my face that we were done.

It was too much to think that Vincent Hawthorne had the balls to grab the bull by the horns.

Ultimately, he showed me exactly how much I mean to him—nothing.I am a mere nuisance, like an insignificant weed that must be pulled from a beautiful garden.

Worse, he gave that responsibility to someone else. His mother of all people.

Of course, he did. That’s what people like him do.

These so-called blue-blooded royals consider themselves too good for the rest of the world. Up on their high thrones, looking from above, they feel entitled to hurt and stomp over everyone who doesn’t reach their standards—preying on the innocent and naïve around them.

I was dumb enough to fall for their façade, for the niceties only used to disguise their true colours.

“Darling.”

Wobbly legs take me to the wardrobe in the far corner of my bedroom. Right beside it, in a hidden corner, lies a travelling bag, used only once back when I spent some time with Rachel. Now, even those moments are tampered with the memory of him.

I need to get out of here and fast.

Putting my arms to work, I take different clothing pieces and start filling the travel bag.

“Hey.”

Once again, the far-away words fall on deaf ears as I rush back to the dresser to pick and thrust some more in, not even bothering to fold it.

“What are you doing?”

“Leaving,” I answer.

“Camilla, before you make any rash decisions, let’s–”

“Shut up,” I bark, harsher than necessary.

Edgar obliges with wide eyes. A small part of me hesitates, knowing it’s not his fault, but the urge to leave this place is too overpowering.

I don’t have it in me to regret my words or my attitude anymore. For once, I am done with hierarchy and titles. After an entire life respecting everyone else and only getting disdain and arrogance in return, it's enough.

It only took me a broken heart to learn that...No one else will care for you but yourself.

“Could you give me a moment alone?”

Edgar nods weakly before turning around and leaving me in my bedroom. When the soft click of the door sounds, my ass falls on the mattress. Primrose sits down next to my feet, whimpering and licking the exposed skin on my leg.

How could I be so stupid? So naïve?