Lana threw the last sweater into her suitcase. Her hands were shaking—not from sadness, but from a cold, simmering rage that made her blood feel like gasoline.
She had just brewed a mug of hot tea to settle her rolling stomach when the sound of a key turning in the lock echoed through the small apartment.
The door swung open. Wayne strode in uninvited, using his spare key. He was followed closely by Eleanor and Jessica. They crowded the narrow entryway, bringing the suffocating stench of their hypocrisy right into her sanctuary.
"What are you doing here?" Lana demanded, her eyes narrowing. "This is my apartment. Get out."
Wayne ignored her, tossing a thick legal document onto the entryway console. "I’m giving you one last chance to walk away with some dignity, Lana. This is a relinquishment agreement for the patents. Sign it. Don't make me destroy you legally. You think you can steal Meridian's IP?"
Jessica peeked out from behind Wayne, her hands protectively cradling her flat stomach. She looked at Lana with wide, innocent eyes. "Lana, please don't be stubborn. Wayne is just worried about you. My family's legal team is... well, they're ruthless. I'd hate to see you go to prison for corporate theft. Just take the fifty thousand. I can even ask Wayne to add a little extra from my own pocket... consider it an apology."
Lana stared at the sickening display. "An apology? Or hush money for sleeping with my fiancé?"
"Watch your mouth, you ungrateful little bitch!" Eleanor pushed her way to the front, pointing a manicured finger at Lana's face. "Jessica is a true lady! You're nothing but a gutter rat. My son pays the rent on this dump, and this is how you repay him? By trying to extort us?"
"Wayne pays the rent?" Lana let out a short, mocking laugh. "I paid the deposit and every month's rent for the past three years. Wayne hasn't spent a dime. He’s the parasite. Now get out before I call the cops for trespassing."
Eleanor's face twisted in ugly fury. Stripped of her false superiority, she lashed out. She grabbed the mug of freshly brewed, scalding tea from the console table and hurled it directly at Lana.
"Mom, wait—" Wayne started, but it was too late.
Lana twisted away, but the boiling liquid splashed across her neck and collarbone. A searing, blistering agony erupted across her skin, soaking instantly into her sweater. She gasped, stumbling back against the wall as the sharp pain radiated through her nerves.
"Look what you made her do!" Wayne yelled at Lana, his hypocrisy reaching new heights. "Just sign the damn paper and stop acting like a psycho!"
Something inside Lana snapped. The final thread holding back her restraint turned to ash.
She reached over to the kitchen counter and grabbed the heavy glass pitcher of iced lemon water she had prepared earlier. Without a second of hesitation, she hurled the entire contents right at Eleanor.
Splash!
The freezing water and heavy ice cubes smashed into Eleanor’s face. Her expensive mascara ran instantly, turning her into a black-streaked, shrieking mess.
"Ahhh! You little—!" Wayne roared. His eyes went bloodshot as he lunged at Lana, his hand raised to strike her.
Lana didn't flinch. Her body moved on pure instinct. She grabbed a heavy, solid marble bookend from the console table. As Wayne's hand came down, she swung the marble hard, smashing it directly into his knuckles.
CRACK.
The sickening sound of bone meeting stone echoed in the room.
"Argh!" Wayne recoiled, clutching his hand in agony. He stared at Lana with wide, shocked eyes. In three years, she had always been accommodating, always yielding. He had never seen this ruthless side of her.
Before he could process the shock, Lana stepped forward and slapped him.
SMACK!
Her palm connected with his cheek with the force of a pistol shot. Wayne’s head snapped to the side, a bright red handprint blooming on his skin.
"You're crazy!" Jessica screamed, her fake gentle facade completely shattering. She tried to step around Wayne to push Lana.
Lana whipped her head toward Jessica, her dead, piercing eyes locking onto the pregnant woman. "Take one more step, Jessica. I dare you. Keep pushing me, and I'll make sure your precious baby inherits nothing but millions in debt."
Jessica froze, terrified by the murderous aura radiating from Lana. She stumbled backward, tripping over the edge of the rug, and collapsed heavily onto the sofa, clutching her stomach in panic.
Lana kicked her suitcase toward the door, pointing a shaking, furious finger at the hallway. "Get out! Now!"
"You'll pay for this!" Eleanor screeched, clutching her wet face as Wayne dragged her toward the door. "I'll ruin you! You'll be begging on the streets by tomorrow!"
"Get out!" Lana roared, slamming the heavy door shut behind them.
The frame rattled.
Lana leaned against the wood, sliding down until she hit the floor. Her chest heaved. Her neck and shoulder burned with angry red blisters, and her hand throbbed from the slap. But her mind was clearer than ever.
Her phone buzzed on the floor next to her.
It was from Greg, the Vice President of Delta Lab. [Orders executed, Miss Day. Meridian's supply chain is completely frozen. The contract termination notice is drafted. When should we release it?]
Lana stared at the screen. The pain in her shoulder faded into the background, replaced by a chilling, absolute resolve. Her fingers tapped the screen.
[Hold it. I have a few personal items to pick up at their office tomorrow morning. I want to look Wayne in the eye when I pull the plug. Wait for my signal.]
