The abortion was scheduled for the afternoon,two days from now.I returned to the villa to gather the things I would need for recovery since there would be no one to look after me after the procedure.I would be on my own.
But the moment I stepped through the front door,I froze.
My belongings were scattered across the living room floor like trash.Clothes,books,skincare products—things that had once been part of my daily life—were now trampled underfoot by unfamiliar men and women in staff uniforms,walking around them as if stepping over dirt.
A hot,nauseating wave of rage and humiliation surged through my chest.
I stormed toward the bedroom.
"Lennon,what the hell is going on?"I demanded."Why are my things thrown out like this?"
His voice drifted from inside,calm and detached.
"Winona is injured and she needs a peaceful place to rest.She happened to like your room,so I gave it to her.You should feel honored."
I let out a bitter laugh,hollow and sharp like shattered glass.
"Is that all this is?A generous favor?Or are you just easing her into my role as lady of the house?"
His expression flickered—just for a second—but I caught the guilt before it vanished.
"Meredith Evans,don’t twist things.There’s nothing going on between Winona and me.We do nothing wrong."
Before I could respond,a shrill scream tore through the room.It was Winona’s voice,crying out from my bedroom.
"Lennon!My stomach—ah—it hurts!It hurts so much!"
Lennon rushed toward her.I followed,silent,watching her writhe on my bed,clutching her stomach.
What now?
"Lennon…the soup your wife made for me...something’s not right.It hurts…"
She weakly pointed to the bowl at the head of the bed,her voice trembling.
Lennon’s face twisted into a mask of rage.Without a word,he scooped her into his arms and glared at me like I was filth.
"I’m taking Winona to the hospital.If anything happens to her,I swear,you’ll pay for it.I’ll deal with you when I get back."
And just like that,he was gone.
I stood alone in the wake of his fury.The air in the room had turned cold and thick.
None of the servants dared to look at me.They simply bowed their heads and kept still,as if waiting for something terrible to happen.
I wandered back into the living room and stood before the mess that used to be my life.
My clothes and jewelry were strewn across the floor.Photo albums—even our wedding pictures—had all been ripped apart.
I knelt on the floor and picked up a photograph with trembling hands.It was on our wedding day.He had once vowed to protect me for the rest of his life.
And now,without even blinking,he had cast me out for another woman.
***
A few hours later,Lennon came back.
His face was dark,fury burning in his eyes.Before he even said a word,he slapped me hard as soon as he entered the door.
Slap!
I staggered backward,my vision momentarily going white.Blood trickled from the corner of my mouth.
"Meredith,do you have any idea what you’ve done?"he roared,his voice sharper and colder than I had ever heard."Winona had a miscarriage!You killed her baby!"
"You heartless woman—you put something in the soup,didn’t you?Because you couldn’t stand to see her pregnant!"
I pressed a hand to my stinging cheek and slowly looked up at him.Then I laughed bitterly.
"So worked up,"I said bitterly."Because the baby in her belly was yours,right?"
His pupils shrank.He clearly was not expecting me to know.
"You...you knew?"
"I knew,"I replied coldly."I’ve known for a while.I know you’ve been sleeping with her behind my back.I know the baby was yours.And I know you’ve been dying to get rid of me so you could make space for her."
I paused,then added quietly,"So Lennon…let’s get a divorce."
His entire body stilled.His face turned pale,then darkened with rage.In the blink of an eye,he lunged forward and grabbed me by the throat,slamming me against the wall.
"Meredith Evans,what the hell did you just say?Divorce?I won’t allow it!"
His fingers tightened around my neck.My breath caught.Black spots danced before my eyes.And yet,I did not look away.
"Tell me,Lennon."When I spoke,my voice was barely a whisper."Did you ever love me?"
His grip loosened for a heartbeat.A flicker of panic passed through his eyes.But just as quickly,it was gone—buried beneath the seething rage.
"What does it matter now?You killed her baby!"
A broken laugh escaped my lips.
"Okay,"I said quietly."Thanks for finally giving me the closure I needed."
Thank you,Lennon,for shattering what little hope I had left,for making me realize there was nothing left to hold on to.
Soon,you would be free to stay with the woman you truly love,free from the woman you had never loved at all.
