He Erased Me From The Photo I Erased Him From My Life Chapter 08
In Denver, Natalie placed the last book on the shelf in her new apartment, showered, and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
In Chicago, Owen sat alone in the empty living room.
A torn corner of the ruined property document still lay on the coffee table. He stared at it for a long time before finally admitting to himself that, on that day, it had never once occurred to him that Natalie’s mother was depending on that sale for her care. He’d never even considered how scared Natalie must have been.
All he had cared about was soothing Sloane.
His mind drifted back to the hotel, three months earlier. Sloane emerging from the bathroom in his bathrobe. The pharmacy bag from DoorDash with the emergency contraception inside.
The next day, Natalie had still heated up dinner for him and asked softly, “Was it exhausting, helping Sloane with everything?”
Owen covered his face, a ragged breath catching in his throat.
Before, he had always filed that night away under the excuse of “helping her through a hard time.”
Now he saw it for what it was.
Betrayal.
His phone lit up.
A text from Sloane: “Are you free this weekend? Lucy wants to go to the zoo with you.”
Owen stared at the screen. For the first time, instead of agreeing immediately, he called her.
“Sloane, that ER photo you posted—the one from the night we were at the hotel. It was fake, wasn’t it?”
There was a beat of silence on the other end, then the sound of a sharp, indrawn breath, followed by tears.
“What are you talking about? Owen, are you seriously questioning me because of her?”