"Tomorrow I'll drive you to turn yourself in. Don't worry, I've already taken care of everything."
Hudson exhaled with visible relief, stood, and hurried toward the door.
"Colton's been fussing for his mom and dad to eat dinner with him. I need to get back."
"Thelma, I love you."
I sat where I was, watching his retreating figure until it disappeared, and sank into thought.
I'd walked out of a small mountain town on my own. Earned my way into Weston University on merit alone.
I was supposed to have a bright future. Instead, I'd become Hudson Farley's caged bird.
It wasn't supposed to be like this.
I pulled out my phone and dialed a number I hadn't called in years.
"That promise you made ten years ago—does it still stand?"
"Of course."
A deep voice came through the line. "Three days from now, no matter where you are, I'll come for you."
After I hung up, my first instinct was to pack.
But then it hit me: I was about to go to prison. What was there to pack?
I sat motionless on the couch all night. When dawn came, I picked up a pair of scissors and cut my waist-length hair short.
Hudson had once mentioned, offhand, that he loved my long hair. So I'd kept it that way for ten years.