Chapter 9 1288 Vouchers . I ran out of that house without taking a single thing . I wandered the streets aimlessly , the neon lights of the city blurring into a surreal , kaleidoscopic haze before my eyes . My phone wouldn't stop buzzing - calls from my parents , friends , even Tommy . I didn't answer a single one . I just turned it off . I needed to be alone . I checked into a hotel , collapsed onto the soft bed , and stared at the ceiling , doing nothing . I thought I would cry , break down , maybe throw things like a madwoman . But I didn't . I even found the presence of mind to analyze whether Mom's slap had been hard enough , or whether Dad had been accurate with that wine bottle . Deep down , I knew something about me wasn't right . The next day , I turned my phone back on . Unread messages and missed calls flooded in . I ignored everyone except for the long voice message from Mom . Her voice was exhausted , hoarse , trembling with tears . She said that Tommy's parents had taken him and Jessica away overnight , and no one knew where they had gone . She admitted she and Dad hadn't slept all night , apologized for failing to raise Jessica properly , and worried about my pain . She told me not to come home yet , fearing it would trigger memories . She said she and Dad would sort out the house before bringing me back . Chapter 9 Finally , she asked cautiously , " Annie , what do you plan to do about Mary ? " Hearing Marvin's name still made my chest tighten . 288 ( Vouchers That was the child I had raised for three years . I had breastfed him , helped him say his first words , and guided his first steps . How could I have no attachment ? But the thought of his true origins erased every shred of affection I had left , replacing it with bone - deep hatred . I texted Mom back , " Mom , that child has nothing to do with me anymore . His biological parents will take care of him . " From then on , he belonged to Tommy and Jessica , not me . A week later , Mom and Dad came to bring me home . The house had changed . Every trace of Tommy and Marvin was gone . I understood that they were trying to protect me in their own way . Mom held me and cried . " It's over ... Annie , it's all over . I leaned into her embrace , breathing in the familiar scent of her , and in that moment , the strong facade I had been holding up for days finally crumbled . I let out a gut - wrenching cry , sobbing as if I had to release every ounce of pain and injustice I had endured over the past three years all at once . The divorce papers went through smoothly . Tommy didn't contest ; he walked away with nothing . We met at the courthouse for the last time . He had lost weight , the scab on his forehead made him look harsh , almost menacing . He handed me the signed papers without looking at me , Before he left , he said , " I'm sorry . " Chapter 9 I looked at him and asked , " What about Jessica ? " 289 Vouchers He stiffened . His voice was hoarse . " My parents sent her away , far from here . " " What about Marv ? " I asked . " They went together . " I nodded and said nothing more . I lifted my head to the clear blue sky and exhaled slowly . Finally , it was all over . I thought this chapter of my life had closed . Until six months later , I received an unexpected call . It was from Margaret . Her voice sounded aged and weary . She said she wanted to see me . 11:57