Chapter 284
Chapter 284
Lucy's POV
Two weeks had passed since that night at the apartment, when my world shattered again. The image of that blonde woman in our doorway, wearing just a towel, seared my memory.
She didn't even bother dressing before opening the door, standing there like she owned the place!
By the floor-to-ceiling window, my fingers traced the scar on my collarbone, feeling its uneven texture. Doctors said I was recovering well physically. But the gaping wound in my chest threatened to make me scream whenever I thought of Ethan.
How could he betray me? Right after I nearly died? After I uncovered the diary's truth? When I was ready to forgive him?
My phone buzzed, signaling my hospital follow-up. I exhaled. Life had to go on.
---
The antiseptic smell of the hospital was sharp, bringing back memories of the days after the accident. As I turned the corner, my heart skipped a beat.
Twenty feet away stood Ethan, his broad-shouldered silhouette unmistakable anywhere. Next to him was her—the blonde from the apartment, looking up at him with a smile.
Turn around, Lucy. Walk away now. Don't let them see you like this.
But my feet seemed rooted to the floor. The blonde woman looked up and noticed me. Her eyebrows raised first, then her lips curled into a smile I wanted to slap off her face—that mix of pity and triumph.
"Lucy!" Her voice was sickeningly sweet. "What a coincidence!"
Ethan froze, then slowly turned, his gray eyes briefly meeting mine before quickly looking away. Did he really hate seeing me that much? My heart ached with a tearing pain that made it hard to breathe.
"Indeed it is," I managed to keep my voice steady.
The blonde slithered over to me, extending her hand. "I'm Natalie Smith. We kind of met at the apartment? I later found out you're Ethan's wi—oh, I should say ex-wife, right?"
Bitch.
I mechanically shook her hand, noticing her nail polish was the exact dark red shade Ethan once said he liked on me. My stomach twisted into knots, but I kept my expression neutral.
"Actually, we're still legally married," I said coolly, "at least for now."
Ethan cleared his throat, that familiar gesture stabbing at me. He always did that when nervous. "Lucy, how are you feeling?" His voice sounded distant, formal, as if we were mere acquaintances.
"Much better," I said, deliberately looking straight into his eyes, forcing him to look at me. "Almost completely recovered. Not that you'd care."
His gaze flickered, lips pressing together. The reaction sent a stabbing pain through my chest.
The air between us solidified into ice. I searched his face for the man who had held me tight in Boston, who had whispered in my ear, who had protected my hometown. But that man was gone, replaced by a stranger wearing a mask.
"Well," Natalie suddenly broke the silence, her voice jarringly cheerful, "we should let you get to your appointment. So nice to officially meet you!"
They turned to leave, Ethan's back cold and distant, not even looking back once.
---
"Lucy, Ethan wants to proceed with the divorce," Mike's voice came through the phone that afternoon. I sat in the back of a taxi, staring at the city scenes passing by the window, blurring into patches of color.
"He's divorcing me. Is that right?" My voice sounded hollow even to my own ears.
"Yes." Mike sounded uncomfortable. "He's authorized me to handle everything."
I looked out at the passing city, trying hard to keep my voice from breaking. "Fine. But I need to see him first. There are things I need to say to his face."
"Lucy... Ethan says he doesn't want to meet. He says there's nothing to discuss, and he's authorized me to handle all divorce proceedings."
My heart sank further, then suddenly ignited with anger. "Well, you can tell him this: Divorce? Not a chance! And remind him we're STILL married, and if he dares bring that woman back to our home again, he'll regret it!"
I slammed the phone down, noticing a wet streak left by my trembling finger on the screen. I hadn't realized I was crying.
Bastard Ethan, you don't get to dump me that easily!
---
Ethan's POV
In the dim light of the wine cellar, alcohol made it easier, but not enough to numb the tearing pain I felt seeing Lucy. She looked so pale, so thin—my fault, all my fault. And her eyes—God, that look of betrayal.
That's right, hate me. Hate me and stay safe.
"What are you hiding down here for?" Mike's voice was like an unwelcome alarm. I looked up at him, my vision slightly blurred.
"Where else would I be?" I took another burning gulp of whiskey. "Did you deliver my message to Lucy?"
Mike frowned, disapproval in his eyes. "I did. You saw her? At the hospital?"
"Ran into her." I didn't want to talk about it. Seeing her this morning, I almost broke down, almost rushed to hold her, to tell her it was all lies, that Natalie meant nothing, that I was only pushing her away to protect her.
I have to push her away, break her heart so she'll hate me, so she'll stay away from me, so she'll be safe.
"She just ranted on the phone that she absolutely won't divorce you," Mike sat across from me, eyes sharp, "and warned you not to bring Natalie back to the apartment overnight. What the hell are you playing at?"
"She—" my voice caught, heart racing, "she said that?"
"You two are exhausting!" Mike stared directly into my eyes. "She knows about the diary now. Was she on her way to see you that night? Before the accident?"
I snapped my gaze to his, rage building. "You told her? About the diary? It was YOU? That's why she was rushing to find me, why she got into that accident! Do you have ANY idea—"
"Yes, it was me!" Mike didn't back down. "She had a right to the truth! She loves YOU, not Cole. It's always been you!"
My voice echoed in the small space, a trapped beast's roar: "Look what I've brought her! Three years ago, two years ago, now! Every time she gets close to me, she gets hurt! She almost DIED, Mike, because of me!"
"So your solution is divorce and deliberately letting her see you with Natalie?"
I laughed bitterly, fingers twisting around my glass until my knuckles turned white. "Natalie is just a prop. She means nothing. I just need Lucy to believe that I've... moved on."
"For what purpose?"
"So she can have a normal life," I said quietly, voice heavy with pain, "without me, without the dangers that surround me. I ruined her career, her body, her future. Now she's targeted by Helen, that psycho is still on the run, could come after her again at any moment..."
Mike's phone suddenly rang. He glanced at the screen, frowned, then handed me his phone: "Lucy texted saying she'll wait for you at Hampton Hills."
My heart felt like someone was squeezing it. "Don't tell her I'm coming. I've made my decision. She'll only be safe if I'm out of her life."
"She's stubborn," Mike sighed, "she's there alone right now."
"Alone?" A cold fear instantly replaced the warmth of alcohol. "Helen Wilson is still at large! She's specifically targeting Lucy! If Lucy's up there by herself..."
I practically jumped from my chair, not even caring about the glass I knocked over. Lucy might hate me to death, but if there was even a hint of danger to her, I'd rather die.
"Where are you going?"
I didn't answer, rushing for the door. Damn it! Lucy, you'd better be safe!