Chapter Thirty

Leilani POV

Leilani walked into Gustin's office with a quiet confidence, without waiting to be invited, her chin high, she wasn't here to beg of grovel especially not after the confrontation with Bellamy outside the door

She was standing across from him with her arms folded.

"I’m here. Now what?" she muttered and he gestured

" Sit " she looked to the chair then up at him

“I won’t stay long,” Leilani said, her voice steady but strained.

“But we need to talk.” he mumbled and she scoffed

“I’m listening.”

Gustin stood from behind his desk and walked toward her, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly as they met hers.

“I want you to quit working for Wolfe”

Leilani’s eyebrows shot up in disbelief.

“So you're seriously saying it .”

“I’m completely serious,” he said, his tone hard.

“I don’t trust Wolfe, and I won't allow–"

" You won’t allow?” Leilani interrupted, her voice rising as the anger she had been holding back started to spill over.

“You lost the right to allow anything in my life when you—when we ended.”

" And all this after asking me if I fucked him, because I'm not qualified enough that I would compromise myself just because of who he is?”

Leilani asked, her voice rising slightly.

“I’m not some pawn in your business war, Gustin. I took this job because it’s a good fit for me, not because I want to be involved in whatever petty rivalry you have with Sebastian.”

“It’s not petty. You know what kind of man he is.”

She shrugged her shoulders as she met his gaze once again.

“You don’t get to control my life anymore, Gustin,” she said quietly but firmly.

“I’m not leaving Sebastian Wolfe’s company. I’m not giving up my career just because it makes you uncomfortable.”

“I’m thinking about our children,” Gustin shot back.

“You think I want them around Wolfe?" And she laughed as she took a step closer, her eyes flashing with anger.

“Don’t you dare act like you’re the only one concerned about our kids. If you cared half as much as you claim, you would have called at least once after our meeting " she hissed

" I would never let them be harmed, and I won’t be manipulated by anyone—not by Sebastian and definitely not by you.”

“You’re trying to control something that has nothing to do with you. My job, my life—they’re not your concern anymore. Just because we have children together doesn’t mean you get to dictate what I do.”

“Leilani,” he said more softly, “I just want what’s best for them.”

“So do I,” she replied.

“But you need to understand something. I’m not going to quit my job because you don’t like who I work for. I’ve spent too long letting you dictate my life. That stops now.”

She turned to leave, but before she reached the door, she paused and looked back at him.

“You wanted to know if you deserve to be in their lives? You do. But you need to prove it, Gustin. Not by controlling me or my choices, but by being there for them.”

" I want you back" he whispered and her hands froze on the door knob, she swallowed deeply

" That's not going to happen" she muttered

" Why"

“Because not long ago you wanted Bellamy, didn’t you? You made your choice, too. So can’t stand here acting like you have any right to tell me that you want me back ”

At the mention of Bellamy, Gustin’s eyes flickered, and for a moment, there was a shadow of something—guilt, maybe, or regret. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared, and she didn't care enough to press for it

“Bellamy has nothing to do with this,” Gustin said, his voice lower now, but still firm.

Leilani crossed her arms over her chest, exasperated narrowing her eyes at him.

" What do you mean she has nothing to do with this. She’s the reason we’re not together anymore, Gustin. Or have you conveniently forgotten that?”

His lips pressed into a thin line, and Leilani could see the tension in his posture. She had hit a nerve, but she didn’t care. For years she had bottled up her anger, her hurt, and confusion, and now it was all spilling out in an uncontrollable massive mess

“You made your choice when you decided to cheat on me with her,” Leilani continued, her voice shaking slightly, though she kept her head held high.

“You made it clear that I wasn’t what you wanted, that I wasn't what you wanted! You married her!"

" So don’t come to me now, acting like you can dictate what I do with my life.”

“I didn’t cheat on you with Bellamy,” Gustin said, his voice low and measured, but there was a raw edge to it now.

“Whatever you think happened between us, you’re wrong.”

Leilani’s eyes widened, incredulous.

“You expect me to believe that? After everything, the nights you spent with her, the lies, ” he ran his hand through his hair

" It's not in the way you think" he muttered and she laughed

" You had sex with her Gustin, she had a child for you, he's only two year old maximum, meaning you kept seeing her even after I left . That qualifies as cheating to me "

His jaw clenched, and for a moment, it looked like he was struggling to find the right words. But then, to her surprise, he exhaled sharply and ran a hand through his hair again

“I’m not married to Bellamy,” Gustin said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Leilani froze, her breath catching in her throat,the words echoing in her mind, even though she couldn’t make sense of them at first.

“What?” she asked, her voice faint as confusion swirling in her mind.

“What are you talking about?”

" I'm not married to Bellamy, we were never married"