I Was Never the Woman in Focus Chapter 04

I Was Never the Woman in Focus Chapter 04

Tuesday. 

My last day in this city. 

My flight to Oslo departed at three in the 

afternoon. 

I’d shipped most of my luggage ahead the day 

before. All I had left was the large black suitcase. 

It was nine in the morning, and Zion was still 

asleep. 

I set my keys on the dining table next to the signed 

lease termination papers. I’d already withdrawn 

my share of the down payment for the wedding 

apartment. 

The bedroom door swung open. Zion stumbled 

out with messy bed hair. 

He spotted my suitcase beside me. “Where are 

you going?” 

“Work trip.” I made up a simple excuse. 

“Where to?” 

“Out of town. I’ll be back in a few days.” 

He just nodded, clearly not caring in the slightest 

about my destination or how long I’d be gone. 

“Perfect. You can give me a ride then.” He headed 

to the bathroom to wash his face. “Selena’s car 

has a road ban today. I need to pick her up for 

work.” 

His sense of entitlement left me too drained to 

even feel bitter. 

“Zion, my suitcase is heavy. If you’re driving her, I 

can’t take any detours.” 

“It’s no detour at all. Her place is in the same 

district, right on the way to the airport.” He pulled 

on his jacket and grabbed his car keys. 

On the way. 

My flight was at Terminal 3, while her workplace 

was in the opposite direction, in the CBD. It was 

nowhere near the route. 

We drove out of the neighborhood. Zion turned on the car’s Bluetooth. It automatically started 

playing Selena’s favorite song. 

“Can you change this song?” I watched the 

scenery blur past the window. 

“What’s wrong with it? It’s a great track.” He kept 

his eyes on the road. 

“Selena says the beat wakes her up in the 

morning.” 

“It gives me a headache.” 

“You’re so picky.” He complained, but switched the 

song anyway. 

Just then, his phone rang. The car display lit up 

once again with Buddy Selena. He answered 

instantly. 

“Hey.” 

“Zion, where are you?” Selena’s voice sounded 

anxious. 

“A water pipe burst outside my building. The roads. 

are flooded, and I can’t get out.” Her voice 

trembled. “Could you drive into the underground. 

garage to pick me up?” 

Zion’s brows furrowed immediately. 

“Alright, don’t panic. I’m on my way. Wait for me in 

the garage.” 

He slammed on the brakes and made an illegal 

U–turn in the middle of the road. 

“Zion, what are you doing?” The seatbelt dug painfully into my ribs. “I have to get to the airport!” 

“Selena needs help right now. Can’t you see?” He shot me an angry glare. “The roads are flooded, and she has an important morning meeting today.” 

“What about me?” I looked at him calmly. “My flight is at three o’clock. I won’t be able to get a taxi here.” 

“You should have left earlier.” He spoke without a shred of guilt. “The subway is only two kilometers. away. Walk there and take the train.” 

He pulled over to the side of the road and popped 

the trunk. 

“Get out.” He ordered me. 

I stayed seated in the passenger seat. 

“Zion, if you make me get out here right now, 

everything between us is over.” My voice was soft 

but firm. 

He froze for a second, then let out a cold laugh. 

“Here we go again.” He unfastened his seatbelt, 

annoyed. 

“You always threaten to break up with me. Aren’t 

you tired of this game?” 

“I’m telling you–get out of the car. Selena’s 

waiting for me.” 

He leaned over and pulled open my car door. 

Cold wind rushed inside. I looked into his furious. 

eyes and felt an unexpected sense of relief. 

The tight string that had held me together for 

eight years had finally snapped. 

“Okay.” 

I unbuckled my seatbelt, stepped out of the car, 

and dragged my suitcase out of the trunk. 

I slammed the trunk shut. 

Zion didn’t say another word. He hit the gas, and 

the car sped away like an arrow, splashing muddy 

water all over my boots. 

I stood in the cold wind, watching the familiar car 

disappear around the corner. 

I pulled out my phone, found the contact labeled 

Zion Xavier–once pinned to the top of my list- 

and deleted and blocked him in one quick motion. 

Clean and final. 

I grabbed my suitcase and turned toward the 

subway station. 

At half past two in the afternoon, I sat in the departure lounge at Terminal 3. 

The announcement came over the speakers: boarding was starting for the flight to Oslo. 

I pulled out my new Norwegian SIM card. Right before I removed my domestic card, a text 

message popped up. 

It was from Zion. 

[I dropped Selena off at work. Did you board yet? 

Text me once you land.] 

I stared at the message, then pressed the power 

button to turn off my phone. 

I pulled out the domestic SIM card, snapped it in 

half, and tossed it into the trash can. 

“Attention passengers: Flight SK996 to Oslo is 

now boarding…” 

I stood up and walked steadily toward the 

boarding gate. 

After dropping Selena off at her office, Zion 

checked the time. It was exactly three o’clock. 

On instinct, he opened Messages to ask if I’d boarded safely. 

A bright red exclamation mark popped up on the 

screen. 

Message failed to send. He have been blocked by 

the recipient.