Chapter 109: Lena is on a mission
The next few days, I barely saw Lena. The only time I caught even the slightest glimpse of her was when she came downstairs to get food, and even then, it was brief, like she was avoiding being seen for too long. Still, I made it a habit to knock on her door every morning, reminding her to take her medication.
She never replied.
Not once.
But I still did it. Every single day.
It became a routine I clung to, even though I knew it was pointless. Even though I knew she was awake behind that door, hearing me, choosing to ignore me. It was my way of holding onto something, anything, that connected us.
That morning, as I stood in front of her door, I hesitated longer than usual. I had something I wanted to tell her. Something important.
A charity event.
I had been invited, and for some reason, I wanted her to come with me. No, wanted wasn’t even the right word. I needed her there. Maybe it would help bridge whatever distance had grown between us. Maybe it would give me a chance to fix things.
But how could I say any of that... when she wouldn’t even open the door?
I stood there for a while, hand raised, debating whether to knock again, to insist, but in the end, I dropped my hand and walked away.
Frustration settled deep in my chest as I made my way to the mini bar in my house. I poured myself a glass of wine and took a slow sip, hoping it would calm the storm brewing inside me.
It didn’t.
Just as I was about to pour another glass, I heard noises coming from the living room, voices, movement, the unmistakable sound of multiple people. Frowning, I stepped out to check.
What I saw made me pause.
Mama stood in the middle of the living room, surrounded by several workers. Racks of designer gowns were neatly arranged, shoes lined up beside them, and tables covered in makeup kits and accessories filled the space.
"Mama, what is going on? Why are you here with all these?" I asked immediately, my eyes scanning the scene in confusion.
"Oh, Raymond, you are here. Good morning to you too. I did not see you there," she replied casually, as if what was happening was completely normal.
"Mama, you arrived early. I was thinking I would be seeing you during the afternoon."
I had barely finished speaking when I heard Lena’s voice from the staircase.
"I know, but you need a lot of exfoliating and body treatment since you haven’t had one since you came back from the hospital. Don’t worry, you will enjoy it," Mama said, her attention shifting completely to Lena.
Both of them ignored me entirely.
I stood there for a while, unmoving, frustration bubbling inside me, threatening to spill over. I ran my hand through my hair once... twice... more times than I could count, trying to calm myself down.
But they didn’t even acknowledge my presence.
In the end, I turned and walked away.
They didn’t notice.
Or maybe they did, and just didn’t care.
I returned to the bar and sat down heavily, gripping my glass tighter than necessary. From where I sat, I could hear Lena’s voice faintly drifting through the house.
And then....
She laughed.
The sound hit me harder than I expected.
I chugged the rest of my wine in one go, irritation flaring.
"So she could be this happy," I muttered under my breath. "But we have stayed together for days, and she has refused to even acknowledge me, talk more of talking to me."
My blood boiled at the thought.
The rejection stung more than I cared to admit. It wasn’t just her silence, it was the ease with which she laughed with others, as if I didn’t exist.
And the worst part?
There was little to nothing I could do about it.
I didn’t know how long I stayed there drinking, lost in my thoughts, but by the time I finally stood up, it was already afternoon. My head felt heavy, my emotions dulled just enough to function.
I went to my room and collapsed onto the bed, shutting out the faint sounds coming from the next room. At some point, it seemed they had moved whatever they were doing into Lena’s room.
I didn’t care anymore.
Sleep took over.
When I woke up later, I checked the time and realized it was almost time for the party.
The charity event.
I dragged myself out of bed and headed to the bathroom. After taking a shower, I dressed up carefully, choosing a fitted suit. I didn’t bother asking Lena again, I was certain she would blatantly refuse if I did.
So I didn’t.
I buckled my cufflinks, adjusted my glasses, and took my cane before making my way out of the room.
But the moment I stepped into the hallway,
My heart dropped.
Lena’s door opened.
She stepped out and began walking downstairs without even sparing me a glance.
Not one.
I froze, my eyes fixed on her.
She wore a long black gown, elegant and bold. The neckline wrapped around her neck like a choker, drawing attention to her collarbone. The sides revealed just a hint of her boobs, enough to make my jaw tighten, while the back dipped low, exposing her skin down to her waistline.
Her hair was styled beautifully, with soft strands falling effortlessly. Diamond earrings caught the light with every step she took. In her hand was a silver purse with gold designs, and on her feet, a pair of gold Louboutin heels.
For a moment, I couldn’t process what I was seeing.
When did Lena become this daring?
And more importantly,
Where was she going?
The shock wore off quickly, replaced by urgency. I hurried after her, my steps quick despite the cane. As I followed behind, my gaze lingered on her movements, the sway of her hips, the confidence in her steps.
It was like she had become a completely different person.
Outside, I saw her approach Sullivan and Eric. She called them over, speaking to them in a low tone. Both of them stood stiffly, their expressions unreadable.
I didn’t know if it was because of her appearance... or my presence.
My eyes darkened at the thought.
I didn’t care what she was telling them. My focus was elsewhere, on where their eyes were. If either of them dared to look at her the wrong way, I swore to myself I would gouge their eyes out.
"Yes, ma’am," they said in unison before quickly leaving.
Soon, it was just the two of us.
"Where are you going dressed like that?" I asked immediately.
"Not that it is any of your business, but if you must know, I was invited to a charity event, so..." she said, gesturing to her outfit.
Realization hit me instantly.
We were going to the same place.
A small smile tugged at my lips. "Perfect. I’m heading to the same event. We can go together."
"Who said I want to go anywhere with you?" she replied, shaking her head.
Her words hit, but I masked it.
"If you don’t want to go with me, then I don’t think you should be wearing that dress. It’s not your taste," I said, my voice curt.
"And what is my taste?" she challenged, stepping closer. "Safe? Innocent? Timid? Foolish?"
She stopped right in front of me.
I could feel her breath, her eyes locked with mine
My gaze dropped to her lips, so close, tempting, almost inviting.
And before I could stop myself,
I kissed her.
Without hesitation.
Without restraint.
To my surprise, she kissed me back.
Our lips moved against each other, the tension between us exploding into something raw and consuming. It was a battle for dominance, neither of us willing to give in. Heat surged through me as she grabbed onto my suit jacket, steadying herself.
My hands found her waist, pulling her closer, roaming over the exposed skin of her back.
She let out a soft moan into my mouth, and that was it, I lost control.
Somewhere in the distance, Sullivan and Eric returned with the car, but I barely registered it. I only noticed when they quickly looked away and got down from the car, moving away to keep their distance.
Then suddenly....
She pulled back.
The warmth vanished.
I stared at her, breathing unevenly. Her face was flushed, her lips slightly swollen, but her eyes...
They were distant and cold.
"The girl you once knew is dead, Raymond," she said quietly. "This is me now."
Her words cut deeper than anything.
"And don’t interfere with my life at the charity event. You are not my boyfriend or husband. You are just someone I used to sleep with, and you are just offering me protection for the time being. So let’s keep it like that."
With that, she turned, walked to the car, opened the door, and got in without looking back.
I stood there, frozen.
Her words echoed in my head over and over again.
Soon, Sullivan and Eric returned, their heads slightly bowed. They glanced at me, waiting.
I gave a small nod.
They got into the car and drove off, leaving me standing there alone.
A dark laugh escaped my lips.
"Dream on, Lena," I muttered. "In this life, you can only belong to me, and me alone. Let’s see who in Vegas City dares to take you away from me."
I turned and walked toward the car already waiting for me.
As I got in, my driver started the engine.
And soon, we were on the road,
Heading straight for the charity event.
Lena arrived at the venue without any strain, her car pulling smoothly to a stop under the bright lights that illuminated the grand entrance. The building stood tall and elegant, its glass doors reflecting the soft glow of chandeliers within. She stepped out, adjusting the hem of her dress, her heels clicking lightly against the polished floor as she made her way inside. Her eyes immediately found Sylvia, who was already waiting for her near the entrance, looking as lively and put together as ever.
