Chapter 45 Take Me Instead
Lara's pov
We got to the coffee shop at exactly 1:30pm. Marcus drove us to the place, he packed the car and looked back at me.
The securities also followed us, they had already stepped inside before we got there. They dress casually just like regular customers. Two people were outside in different cars as well.
My heart was beating too fast,so I was afraid.
Damien was sitting in the passenger seat, he looked at me.
"Honestly, I don't think it's necessary. You don't have to.
I'm in this already, this is the only way I can end all these.
Okay then, I will follow you inside. I don't trust Lucas, he might want to act funny.
“If anything happens, just call me, " he said.
“You don't have to stress yourself. I'll be fine. I promise."
But I just said it, I didn't believe it.
I took a deep breath and got out of the car.
The coffee shop smelled like coffee and pastries. On norms, I would have loved it, but t today it just made me feel sick.
I looked around but Lucas wasn't here yet.
I went to the counter and ordered a coffee, so as just to keep myself busy.
“It's four dollars”, the coffee girl said with a smile on her face.
I paid for it and left the counter.I sat at a table near the window where Marcus and Damien could see me from the car.
I checked my phone it was 2:00 pm. I focused on the door, expecting Lucas to jump inside.
Some people entered, an old man, a woman with a baby, a young girl with headphones.
At 2:05pm, the door opened again.
And there he was.
Lucas.
He looked more thinner than the last time I saw him. His face was harder, prison had changed him.
But he dressed nicely actually, he wore a nice jeans and he had shaved is bushy hair.
I knew he was trying to look normal like someone who wasn't a criminal.
He looked around the coffee shop and saw me.
He smiled.
That smile that he used to lure me and make me feel special when we first got married, before he later turned into a bitch.
Now, I'm just sick of him.
He walked over to my table and sat down across from me.
"Hello, my beautiful wife."
I forced myself to stay calm and not to show how scared I was.
“Point of correction, I'm not your wife anymore.”
"According to the law, you are still my wife.”
That's exactly why I'm here. To fix your mistakes.
He leaned back in his chair, smiling.
“You look better than where you were with me”.He treats you well? The billionaire?"
“I don't know how is that your business”.
“You are my wife, so it's my business.”
I pulled out a divorce papers from my bag, I slid them across to table.
"Sign it. Let me leave."
"What if I don't sign it?”
Then we'll have to go to court. I can't do this anymore.
He leaned forward, he was no longer smiling.
"You see, I've been thinking a lot in prison. About us, about our marriage and everything."
“Which marriage? The marriage that you already destroyed or which one?”
“I know I was wrong that's why I'm here. I'm ready to make amendments.”
I stared at him"Are you insane? After everything you did to me?"
“I still love you”,he said.
“Love me? You don't love me, you were only particular about my father's property and then you've collected everything, so what do you need again?”
His voice got changed.
"I gave you everything. A home, a name and my family's reputation."
"You took everything from me! My father's company. My inheritance. My dignity. You threw me out like garbage!"
"You deserved it. You were cheating on me."
“Cheated on you?, you don't know what you are saying,” I never cheated on you. You were the one that even set me up with those fake photos.
People in the coffee shop started looking at us, my voice was now loud. He noticed that and now lowered his voice.
"Come back to me, Lara. We can start over and be a family."
"Never. I'd rather die than go back to you."
He felt pure hatred and then he said.
"That can be arranged."
"Are you threatening me now?"
“That's the facts. You're my wife and if I can't have you, nobody can as well”.
"You're insane."
He put his hands into his pocket. I was tensed and ready to scream.
But he didn't bring out a weapon instead he pulled out a photo of Ethan at the hospital, playing outside Damien's room
God,My blood turned to ice.
Beautiful kid,” I'm sure you wouldn't want anything to happen to him”.
"If you touch my son—"
"Our son," he interrupted. "According to the law, I'm still your husband. Which makes me his legal stepfather."
"You have no rights to him. None."
"We'll see what a judge says. I could file for custody. Visitation rights. Drag you through court for years."
He was smiling and enjoying that.
“You can't win”.
"Maybe not. But I could make your life hell trying."
I'd had enough.
I stood up.
"This meeting is over. You have two choices. Sign the papers or don't. Either way, I'm divorcing you. And you'll never see me or my son again."
Lucas stood up as well, both of us now facing each other.
"You've changed, Lara. You used to be so weak. You that you were so easy to control."
"You made me weak. And someone better than you make me strong again.”
"Damien." Lucas said the name like it was poison. "He won't last. Men like him never do."
Lucas's pov
This wasn't the way I planned it. She supposed to be scared and beg me so I could come back to me.
But she was now strong and I hated it. I needed to change tactics.
I held her hand."Lara, please. Just listen—"
She pulled me away. "Don’t touch me."
I grabbed her wrist, she tried to pull away, but I held her tight.
“You must follow me today”.
"Let go of me!"she said.
People were staring at us, but I didn't care.I started pulling her toward the door.
She was fighting me but I was stronger.
"Help!" she screamed. "Someone help me!"
Lara's pov
Suddenly I saw Marcus, he grabbed Lucas arm with his both hands.
“Leave her alone, Now”.
Lucas turned and saw Marcus, he saw the security guards moving closer.
He let go of my wrist.
"This isn't over," he said to me.
Then he reached into his jacket again.This time he pulled out a knife.
A very small but sharp knife but sharp.
Everyone in the coffee shop screamed.
Marcus pushed me behind him.
"Put the knife down, Lucas."
But he was adamant.
He was looking around wildly. The knife shaking in his hand.
The security guards had their hands near their weapons but they couldn't pull them out. Because people were many there and it could be very dangerous .
"Stay back!" Lucas yelled. "All of you stay back!"
He grabbed a woman who was standing near him. She was just a customer.
He put the knife to her throat.
She screamed.
"Lucas, don't do this," I said. My voice was shaking. "Let her go. She has nothing to do with this."
"All of you,give me your car keys!Now!”
He was trying to escape. Using this poor woman as a hostage.
The woman was crying. "Please. Please don't hurt me. I have kids."
"Shut up!" Lucas yelled at her.
Honestly, since I've known him, he had never been out of control like this.
Prison had turned him into another thing.
Then I heard a voice from the doorway.
"Lucas. Let her go and take me instead."
I turned.
It was Damien.
He was standing in the doorway with no wheelchair. He'd walked in on his own even though he could barely stand.
His legs were shaken, but he was still there.
"The saviour," Lucas said. "How touching. Coming to save your woman."
"I'm the one you want. Not some Lara woman who did nothing to you."
"You're right." Lucas's eyes became wild."You're exactly who I want."
Everyone was scared, wanted to run.
Damien was standing there, he barely able to stay on his feet.And I was in the middle, helpless..
"Let her go," Damien said again. "And I'll come with you. Willingly. No fight."
Lucas smiled.
“Are you sure?”
"I promise."
The woman was sobbing quietly. Shaking.
Lucas looked at Damien. Then at the woman. Then back at Damien.
He knew what exactly he wanted to do.