Chapter 7
As soon as I stepped out of the car, I heard him call out to me in the way he used to when we were still in love. The sound alone made my skin crawl. I acted as if I hadn’t seen him and walked into the courtyard of the villa.
But before the door could close behind me, Jayden stepped in too. He caught hold of my arm and pleaded, “Leah, just give me a minute. Please. After six years together, you won’t even hear me out?”
I looked at his face-clearly groomed with care-and quietly pulled my arm away. I felt nothing.
“If you have something to say, say it here.”
His expression brightened for a moment, then shifted into hesitation.
“Could you… could you lend me some money? Not much, just a few hundred thousand. I’m really in a tight spot right now. Please, for old time’s sake.”
I gave a slight shrug. “I don’t have any money on hand. Everything I have is managed by my husband.”
He froze.
At that moment, the villa door opened. Nick must have noticed the car parked outside for too long without me going in. He came out with the butler to take a look. As soon as he saw Jayden, a trace of mockery crossed his face.
“Well, look who it is. Jayden. Visiting Leah this late-anything important?”
A flicker of embarrassment crossed Jayden’s face, and just as he opened his mouth, Nick cut him off again, scanning him from
head to toe.
“I remember you bought that brand-new luxury watch a few months ago without blinking. And now look at you-dressed like that, not a single label in sight. Don’t tell me you lost money in business and came to borrow from Leah.”
“I, I…” Jayden stammered, unable to form a coherent reply.
Nick stepped forward and took my arm, raising his chin slightly toward Jayden. “Sorry, Jayden. Leah and I were just about to have dinner. We’ll have to see you out.”
The shame on Jayden’s face deepened. Despite being humiliated, he looked at me with a pitiful expression.
“Leah, won’t you even invite me in for a bit?”
Disgusted, I stepped forward and pushed him toward the door. “Jayden, I’ve been more than patient. Don’t come here and disrupt our lives again.”
As he was forced out the door, his eyes turned red. “Leah! I’ll wait for you at the riverside bench where we watched the fireworks. If you don’t come, I’ll keep coming back to bother you and your family!”
I ignored him and went back into the villa. I told Nick what had happened, hoping to get his thoughts.
He took a sip of soup and nodded without hesitation.
“Go. You know, when a person has lost everything, the last thing you should do is push them further. If he keeps showing up and one day snaps… it’ll be dangerous. Besides, it’s good to settle things. Just be careful.”
I was moved by how calmly and reasonably he took it. Later that evening, I went to the riverside.
Jayden was already there, wearing a white shirt-the one I once said he looked good in.
But standing there, seeing him again, I felt nothing. The feeling was gone, and it wasn’t coming back.
I’d hoped we could end things with some grace. But his first words instantly made my face turn cold.
1/2
He smoothed his hair and looked at me with burning eyes. “Leah, I don’t believe you actually love Nick. Divorce him. Be with me. What kind of life are you even living now?
“A rich heiress who can’t even take out a few hundred thousand? Your husband controls all your money? Nick is going too far. I know you’re being forced. My heart aches for you. Come back to me – we’ll build a life together.”
Listening to him, I couldn’t help but laugh.
Pitiful? Me?
The money-I gave it to Nick willingly. It’s just part of the rhythm between husband and wife.
