"Sophie, what trouble are you causing again? I know you're in there—open the door!"
"When did you become so petty? Why are you ignoring me like this? I know it was wrong to leave you behind back then, but I couldn’t just let Lucia die! And can you stop being so difficult? If you don’t like Lucia, I’ll see him less, okay? Eight years of being together and you want to break up just like that? What do you take me for?"
The more Frederick spoke, the angrier he became. His blindness and arrogance left me too tired to argue. I dragged my barely healed leg and opened the door.
“Frederick, I’m not messing around. I really want to break up."
He looked stunned for a moment, then said, "You’re still saying you’re not causing trouble? You’ve never mentioned breaking up before! Do you need me to admit I’m having an affair with Lucia just to make you happy?"
I laughed bitterly. He truly believed I couldn’t live without him, that I'd never dare to break up. In his eyes, everything I did was to get his attention—nothing like his perfect Lucia.
I was exhausted. My voice was calm.