Kevin stood stiffly in the doorway, eyes flickering between Sophia—still clutching her wrist, theatrically wounded—and Chloe, standing unbothered, untouched, and entirely out of reach.
She exhaled slowly, adjusting her bag over her shoulder. Time to end this.
"I'm moving to Marquesia." Her tone was direct, clean, final.
Kevin's brows furrowed. "Wait—what?"
Chloe met his gaze, calm. She wasn't explaining. She was stating.
Kevin inhaled sharply. "You can't just take Carter—"
"I'm not." She cut him off. "He'll be with you during vacations. And we'll set up regular video calls. Stability, Kevin. That's what matters."
Kevin blinked, absorbing the words. He hesitated. He didn't want to let go.
Sophia scoffed. "How exactly are you going to manage that?"
Chloe tilted her head slightly. That smugness—it was laughable.
Sophia thought Chloe had nothing. No family. No resources. No security.
She still didn't know the truth.
Chloe exhaled lightly, lips curling into something dangerously close to amusement. "That's not something you need to worry about."
Kevin sighed, rubbing his temples, tension rolling off him.
"I won't be able to see him," he muttered. "Marquesia—it's too far. Too expensive—"
Chloe blinked, slow, deliberate. "Then make a life with Sophia."
Sophia straightened slightly, flicking her gaze toward Kevin.
Kevin clenched his jaw, exhaling. Trapped.
Because Chloe had just made it clear—this was happening. There was no fight left to have.
And then—she sealed it.
"If you want, you can visit anytime," she said smoothly. Knowing damn well he wouldn't be able to afford it.
Silence stretched.
Sophia stiffened slightly, reading between the lines. Understanding what Chloe had just done.
Kevin ran a hand over his face, frustration etched deep. But even he knew—he had lost.
Chloe smiled softly. Not bitter. Not mocking. Just done.
She exhaled, glancing past Kevin toward the hallway.
"Where's Carter?"
Kevin hesitated. Then—without a word—he stepped aside.
Chloe walked past him, into the house that no longer held anything for her, making her way to Carter's room.
The small boy sat on the floor, stacking his toys neatly into a box, his movements careful, precise.
He glanced up when he saw her. "Mom?"
Chloe smiled softly. "Hey, bud."
Carter blinked, watching her for a beat. Then, slowly, he closed the lid of his toy box, standing.
"Ready to go?" Chloe asked, voice steady.
Carter nodded.
Chloe grabbed his backpack, slinging it over her shoulder.
And then—finally, fully, without hesitation—she turned toward the front door.
With Carter by her side, she stepped past Kevin, past Sophia, past the remnants of a life she was never meant to keep.
And just like that, she walked away—not just from them, but toward everything that was finally hers.