Chapter 56. Severing False Ties

I reached the door, exhaling a heavy sigh just as something crashed against it from behind. A splash of liquid trickled down the wooden surface, pooling at my feet. The sharp scent of whiskey filled the air—a drink wasted in a petty act of frustration. I glanced over my shoulder to see Connie glaring at me, her eyes ablaze with anger. The shattered glass lay scattered on the floor, glittering like bitter tears under the dim light.

"You think acting like a child is going to make me want to stay?" I asked, arching an eyebrow. My patience was hanging by a thread, and her tantrums were doing nothing to mend it. She curled her lip in a sneer, narrowing her eyes.

"Maybe if you'd stop treating me like one!" she spat back, her voice dripping with venom. She opened her mouth to continue, but honestly, I couldn't be bothered to listen anymore. Her words had become white noise—a constant drone of accusations and self-pity.

Turning away, I gripped the doorkn