---- Chapter 11 A Clean Break Skyler came storming over, placing himself protectively in front of Selena, his expression hostile as he barked at me, "Colin, as long as I'm around, don't even think about bullying Selena! I know your type-living off a woman, dragging your feet on the divorce just to keep leeching off her! We're both men. Don't think can't see right through you!" I knew exactly what he was doing-twisting the truth to make himself look good. I lifted a hand to cut him off, my tone cold and clipped. "Shut up. I don't have time for your bullshit." With that, I turned to leave. But of course, Skyler didn't know when to quit. He lunged toward me, trying to grab hold of my arm. Without a second thought, I spun around and slammed a heavy punch into his gut. He dropped like arock, clutching his stomach and groaning in pain. "Tf you want to die, keep coming." Embarrassed and humiliated, Skyler tried to scramble ---- back to his feet, ready to strike back. But before he could so much as raise a hand, a sharp, echoing slap rang out across the space. It was Selena. She had slapped him across the face. Her eyes burned with fury as she glared at him. "Get lost! Who the hell do you think you are? If you ever touch him again, I'll make sure you can't show your face in Mirage Bay ever again!" Skyler froze, stunned. He stared up at her, disbelief plain in his face. "Selena, did you just hit me? For him?" But there was no trace of tenderness left in Selena's eyes-only anger and resentment. "Damn right I hit you. If it weren't for you, Colin wouldn't be mad at me, and my family wouldn't be falling apart! This is all your fault, you pathetic excuse for a man!" Skyler stood there in a daze, struggling to process her words. "Didn't you say we were a family? What about Evie? Doesn't she like me?" Evie stepped forward before anyone else could speak. ---- Her expression was cold, the way she used to look at me. "T never liked you. You're the reason Daddy left. I hate you! We were never a family. We never were!" Selena's expression turned frosty again, her voice sharp and cold as she commanded, "'Get out." Skyler gave a bitter laugh, his face twisted with . "Fine, guess this is what I get for being " Then he turned and fled, utterly defeated. It was pathetic to watch-but entirely his own doing. While their attention was elsewhere, I quietly slipped into a colleague's car and left. To help me unwind, my mentor signed me up for a guided tour across the northwestern regions. It was somewhere I had dreamed about as a boy, a distant land full of deserts and open skies. I didn't hesitate. I turned off my phone, packed my bag, and left. ---- The older folks in the group were warm and welcoming. We got along easily. When we finally arrived and I stood before the vast mountains, lakes, deserts, and rocky plains, I realized just how wide the world truly was-and how small my troubles really were. All the burdens I had carried with me seemed to vanish into that vast expanse. For half a month, I explored every inch of land, soaking in nature's quiet beauty. Even my heart felt lighter. Somehow, without noticing it, that trip changed something in me. The day I returned, I pulled out my SIM card, snapped it in half, and tossed it into the trash. I replaced it with a brand-new one. But just as I stepped into my apartment complex, I spotted someone leaning against a car, waiting. It was Selena. And standing beside her was Evie. Title: ReelTalk EP11-From Memory Lane to Fast Lanes Author: CrushReel Genre: Romance Status: ongoing Embark on an exhilarating journey alongside Luke Charles Stafford as he navigates from the heartland of the Midwest to the glitzy realm of Hollywood in "ReelTalk EP11-From Memory Lane to Fast Lanes" by CrushReel. 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