Leland was usually careless, always wearing that lazy, half-smiling air.
I had never known this side of him, the one that emerged when he was truly angry.
My heart took a hard hit in that moment.
So this was what it felt like to be placed at the very center of someone's concern.
Ian wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze dark as it locked onto Leland.
"This is between Margot and me. It has nothing to do with you," he said coldly.
"Nothing to do with me?" Leland laughed. "Ian, you ran off in the middle of your wedding. She ended up with me. And you're telling me it's none of my business? She's mine now. You lay a finger on her, and I'll take one of your hands."
His aura flared, every bit as oppressive as Ian's.
In that instant, the true dominance of Crownport's golden heir was on full display.
Ian's expression darkened further.
He clearly hadn't expected Leland to care this much about a so-called substitute bride.
"Come with me," Leland said, ignoring Ian completely. He grabbed my left hand and turned to leave.
"Stop!" Ian's voice rang out from behind us, edged with desperation and madness. "Margot, take one more step and see what happens."
I froze. But I didn't turn around.
"You should think carefully. The moment you walk out that door, the hospital will lose power. This time, it won't just be a blackout," he added.
Then he leaned in close, his words meant for my ears alone, "I'll have them pull your mother's tubes and dump her onto the street."
My feet felt nailed to the floor.
Leland's hand stalled in midair. Ian smiled, triumphant, vile.
He stepped in front of me, tearing away the last trace of false tenderness.
"Margot, I'll give you one last chance. Either you come back with me—"
He leaned close again, his voice a whisper only I could hear, "Or I make the call right now."
He raised his phone, his finger hovering over the screen. "Stop the meds. Pull the tubes. Toss that trash out."
His smile was cruel. "At this temperature, she won't last two hours."
I stared at the face inches from mine, the face I had once loved to the bone.
Now, there was nothing left but ugliness.
Then I looked at Leland. His entire body was shaking with rage, his eyes so red they looked ready to bleed.
I couldn't drag him down with me.
If the Wade family pulled strings and pinned some charge on him, abducting a mentally unstable patient, it would turn ugly fast.
I couldn't let him be stained because of me.
I took a deep breath and, summoning every ounce of strength I had, pushed Leland's hand away.
"Mr. Riley," I said.
I met his eyes, forcing my voice to stay calm and distant.
"Thank you, but this is my problem. Don't get involved."
He froze.
He looked at me, hurt and confusion flooding his eyes.
"Margot, do you even hear yourself? He'll destroy you."
"Then that's my fate."
I turned away before he could say anything else.
If I looked at him for even one more second, the armor I had so carefully built would shatter.
Step by step, I walked back to Ian.
I could feel that burning, aching gaze on my back the entire time.
It followed me out of the banquet hall. All the way until I got into Ian's car.
The door slammed shut. And only then did the tears finally fall.
"I'm sorry, Leland. Forgive my cowardice."
