Chapter 215: Another consequence

Meanwhile earlier as Lucas left the mansion, the front door slammed so hard that the sound echoed through the entire mansion.

Derby flinched.

For several seconds, she remained frozen where she stood, staring at the closed door as if Lucas might suddenly walk back through it.

But he didn't.

The silence that followed felt suffocating.

Her chest tightened painfully.

"He really left..."

The realization hit her harder than she expected.

Lucas had never looked at her the way he did that night.

The disappointment, the anger, the betrayal were all there in his eyes. Worst of all, she couldn't even blame him. A sharp wave of guilt crashed over her.

Slowly, she turned toward Larissa.

She was still standing near the dining table with her arms crossed. The sight of her immediately reignited Derby's frustration.

"This is all your fault!" Derby snapped.

Larissa's eyes widened. "My fault?"

"Yes, it's your fault!" Derby shouted. "What kind of ridiculous advice was that? Drugging my husband? Seriously?"

Larissa scoffed. "Oh please."

"No, don't 'oh please' me!" Derby fired back. "Do you have any idea what just happened? Lucas thinks I'm some kind of criminal!"

Larissa's expression hardened. "And whose fault is that?"

Derby blinked. "What?"

"You heard me." Larissa stepped closer. "Don't stand there acting innocent. I suggested something stupid, yes. But you're the one who got careless."

Derby's face paled.

Larissa pointed toward the door Lucas had stormed through. "If you hadn't been acting suspicious, if you hadn't let him catch on, none of this would've happened."

Derby's jaw tightened. "I wasn't acting suspicious."

"Really?" Larissa laughed coldly. "Then explain how your husband suddenly started making all his own food."

Derby had no answer, because Larissa was right. Lucas had noticed something or maybe heard something, but enough to stop trusting her.

The thought hurt, far more than she wanted to admit.

"No," Derby whispered.

Larissa rolled her eyes. "No, what?"

"No. If you hadn't put those ideas into my head, none of this would've happened either."

For a moment, both women glared at each other.

The atmosphere between them grew heavier with every passing second.

Then Larissa spoke. "I still don't trust him."

Derby stared at her.

Larissa's voice lowered. "I don't care how angry he gets. Something isn't right."

"Aunt…"

"No." Larissa cut her off immediately.

"You need to find out the truth."

Derby let out a disbelieving laugh. "The truth?"

"Yes."

"The truth about what?"

Larissa's silence answered everything.

Derby shook her head. "No, enough"

"What do you mean no?"

"I mean no." Her voice cracked slightly. "I'm done."

Larissa frowned. "Done?"

"At this point, I'm not using any tricks."

Derby ran both hands through her hair in frustration. "What am I even saying?" she muttered bitterly. Her eyes became red.

"What if he never eats in this house again?"

Larissa said nothing.

"What if he never sleeps here again?"

Silence followed.

The questions only made Derby more emotional. "What if he never trusts me again?" Her voice finally broke.

“What makes you think he even trust you? What if he had gotten his memories and was pretending?” Larissa asked all of a sudden.

Derby’s heart skipped in fear. Her eyes widened at that. “What makes you even think that?”

The image of Lucas walking away replayed inside her mind. The way he had looked at her. The way he had spoken about divorce. The way he hadn't even turned back.

Tears burned behind her eyes. "He said he wants a divorce."

The words came out barely above a whisper. "And I don't want that."

For the first time that evening, Larissa's expression softened slightly. "There won't be a divorce."

Derby looked up. "There won't?"

Larissa shook her head confidently.

"Even his father won't support something like that."

A tiny spark of hope appeared inside Derby's chest. It was small, fragile, but enough to keep her from completely breaking down.

"You think so?"

"I know so."

Derby nodded slowly. Yet somehow the reassurance wasn't enough, because Lucas wasn't with his father right now. Lucas wasn't here, and that was the problem.

A while later, dinner ended in complete silence. Larissa eventually gathered her things and prepared to leave. Before stepping out, she paused. "Call me if he comes back."

Derby simply nodded.

Then she was alone and the mansion suddenly felt enormous, empty and cold.

Every room reminded her of Lucas. Every hallway seemed to carry his absence.

She checked her phone as if he would call her, but she knew better. She called him. It was just trying her luck, but it went straight to voicemail.

Hours passed. Still no Lucas. The hope Larissa had given her slowly began to fade.

The clock struck ten, then eleven, and then midnight. Yet the front door never opened.

Derby sat alone in the dark living room staring at her phone, waiting, listening, and even praying, yet nothing.

Finally, frustration exploded inside her.

"Goddamn it!" She jumped to her feet. Her voice echoed through the empty mansion. Anger, fear, guilt, and heartbreak. Everything mixed together until she could barely breathe.

Without thinking, she marched toward the bar. The crystal bottles reflected the dim lights overhead. Her hand immediately found a bottle of alcoholic wine.

She twisted it open. No glass. No hesitation. Just the bottle. The first swallow burned down her throat.

She welcomed it. The second went down easier. The third was even easier.

Soon she was drinking recklessly.

Trying to drown the horrible feeling growing inside her chest. Trying to silence the voice constantly asking:

What if Lucas doesn't come back?

For the first time since their marriage, that possibility felt terrifyingly real.

And with every gulp of wine, Derby realized something she had been refusing to admit. She wasn't afraid of losing the marriage. She was afraid of losing Lucas.

The wine had done its work. By the time the bottle was half empty, Derby could barely think straight.

Her emotions were a tangled mess of anger and desperation.

Lucas was gone. His phone was off. And for the first time, she genuinely feared he might never come back.

With unsteady steps, she pushed herself off the couch. The room spun immediately. She grabbed the edge of a chair for support.

"Lucas..." she whispered.

The empty mansion offered no answer.

A few moments later, Derby somehow found herself outside. The cool night air slapped against her flushed skin.

She wandered aimlessly across the driveway, barefoot and clutching the wine bottle loosely in one hand.

Her balance was getting worse by the second.

Near the security gate, Jerry was still chatting with the two security guards there. As they spotted her, Jerry shot to his feet.

Alarm immediately crossed his face. Maris had already told him how Lucas caught her. He walked towards her.

"Ma'am?"

Derby kept walking, or rather, staggering.

"Ma'am!" He hurried toward her just as her ankle twisted. Jerry caught her before she hit the ground.

"Careful."

Derby blinked slowly, “Lucas?”

Her unfocused eyes studied his face. Then suddenly they softened. She smiled, caressing his face.

"My Lucas"

Jerry sighed.

"No, ma'am."

"Lucas, I'm sorry" she repeated stubbornly.

He tightened his grip before she could fall again. "It's late. You need to get back inside."

Tears instantly filled her eyes. "I just want Lucas to fuck me."

The brokenness in her voice caught him off guard.

"Please..." she whispered. "I just want some fuck."