Chapter 22 - Erasing the Ghost
That weekend, Arthur and Chloe tackled the heavy, emotional task of clearing out the master bedroom.
Evelyn had packed frantically on the night of her exile, leaving behind closets full of expensive designer dresses, vanity drawers stuffed with cosmetics, and lingering traces of her suffocating floral perfume.
Arthur pulled a dozen black heavy-duty trash bags from the garage.
"We don't have to do this today if you aren't ready,"
Chloe offered softly, standing in the doorway of the bedroom.
"I have never been more ready for anything in my entire life,"
Arthur stated with absolute, unwavering certainty.
They worked side by side, methodically bagging up the silk blouses, the high heels, and the luxury handbags that Evelyn had bought with Arthur's money. They did not speak much, but the silence between them was an unbreakable bond of shared survival.
May you like
By sunset, the master suite was entirely empty of her presence.
Arthur opened all the windows, letting the crisp, fresh evening breeze blow through the room, physically and metaphorically airing out the toxic residue of the past two decades.
