Chapter 16
Train Station. 7:40 AM.
The boarding gate announcement buzzed overhead, but Grace Holt still wouldn’t let go of my damn suitcase handle.
“Sweetheart, with a 1350 SAT, you could’ve gotten into Columbia or NYU.”
“Why Chicago? That far out? Why not stay here in New York?”
She looked like she was holding back tears. “I’ll barely get to see you again.”
I didn’t hesitate.
“Because that’s the only way I can cut the cord. For good.”
Her face fell. But she didn’t argue. Just stood there, silently swallowing her words.
Then my phone buzzed.
Bailey White had sent me a message:
Savvy, sooo sorry! Guess I’ll be enjoying your happily ever after for you
Attached was a photo. Of her, pouting sweetly between the Holt twins—Landon and Logan—both kissing her cheeks like she was some damn fairytale princess.
Grace saw it too. Her jaw clenched.
“Those spoiled little shits! This is disgusting!”
I scrolled calmly through my messages, hit “delete” on all three of their contacts, and finally said:
“If that’s really who they want… let ‘em have her.”
Hell, same gene pool either way. Whether the baby calls Landon or Logan “Daddy” doesn’t change the DNA.
If I interfered, they’d just paint me as the villain. I wasn’t gonna be their damn scapegoat.
I gave Grace one last nod, then wheeled my suitcase toward the gate.
No tears. No turning back.
Meanwhile… At JFK Airport.
Photo shoot done.
Bailey was all giggles, uploading her selfie to Instagram.
Landon Holt, though?
Dude was a wreck.
Kept unlocking his phone. Locking it again. Checking the time. Staring at the arrivals gate like he was waiting for a miracle.
Logan finally caught on. “Dude. What’s up?”
“She’s not here,” Landon muttered. “Savannah. She said she’d come.”
Logan’s brows drew in. “Let me try her.”
Both of them called. Over and over.
Every call went straight to that soul-crushing monotone:
The number you’ve dialed is currently unavailable…
Then came the red exclamation marks on their texts.
Blocked.
Hard blocked.
Logan’s whole face darkened. He sent one last text out of spite:
Savannah, seriously? You done throwing your little tantrum yet?
Message failed.
Landon finally got it.
He was too damn late.
