Chapter 73 Chapter 73
She cut herself; she sliced her hand, and the blood was dripping. “What the fuck, Tessa?” I said, moving faster, and she sliced her hand a second time, making me stop in my tracks.
“Don’t come near me,” she said. I didn't really think she would, and I moved towards her, and she sliced into her hand a third time.
“I’ll leave,” I said.
“Leave no. You’ll leave forever, for good, never show me your face, your name, or your fucking shadow. For the rest of my life,” she said, and my fucking heart hurt. I just stared at her. She was broken, and nothing I did would ever fix her. I hurt her too; I did the same thing they did. This wasn't anger; this was hate.
“Okay,” I said, my voice cracking.
“Carlo?”
The door opened and Carlo came in; when he saw her and the blood on the ground, he looked at me.
“Get my stuff, have the jet ready; we’re going back to Manhattan,” I said, walking out.
“Yes, boss,” he said, walking past her and grabbing the suitcases and walking out.
“Rob will deliver the divorce papers. I love you, but you hate me, and if leaving you alone means you get to live, I can live with that. “, Tessa,” I said. I walked past her and closed the door and just stood there. As I was about to walk away, I heard that first sob, and I froze. Everything in me screamed at me to turn around, but I didn't. I kept walking because I knew she didn't want that.
On the drive to the airport, I didn't say anything. I opened my laptop to keep myself busy, but my mind was on her. The second I got onto that jet, I knew I didn't have the patience or strength to let anyone else into my life. Never again. My heart was with her, and it would always be.
When we got back to the apartment, I made a few calls and got started on the divorce. “Rob, as soon as Jax is cleared, bring him back to Manhattan,” I said, opening one of the files that I had put on hold.
“Yes, Boss,” he said, “and, um,” I knew he wanted to ask about her.
“Leave her alone. Pull all the security details. She wants out. You’ll deliver the divorce papers personally and have her sign them,” I said, not looking up.
“Yes, Boss.”
After he left, I just sat there staring at the papers. She hurt herself just to get me to leave her alone. I was pissed at her for hurting herself, but she knew I wouldn't back off. I would wait; if I’m meant to have her, she’ll come back. Some way. Somehow, I didn't believe in fate, destiny, and that shit, but I had hope. I had hope that one day I would meet her again; if she was meant for me, then I would have her.
I heard yelling. My office door opened, and Avani was standing there along with my parents.
“YOU CAN’T MARRY THAT BITCH,” she yelled. I just stared at her.
“Zaiel, she hurt me. How could you marry her, of all people?” Hannah asked.
“Okay,” I said, and they stared at me, especially my mother.
“I’ll divorce her, but when I do. You need to accept what happens and what that means,” I said.
“Wh…what do you mean?” Hannah asked.
“If I divorce her, I will never remarry, not for anyone or anything, and that also means neither of you will ever get married.”
The color drained from Avani’s face. “Y...you...he...Mom, Dad, he can’t,” she said in a panic.
“We asked Tessa to marry him just so our family can save face. So we can save ourselves the fucking shame that you are bringing to this family with that bastard child,” my mother said, and if anything, her face got even whiter.
“Dad…” She mumbled.
“Fine, if you want him to divorce her, she was doing us a favor, doing him a favor, and she has no interest in our family and money. Fine, he will divorce her to please you, and when he does, you will be disowned from the Rhyland family,” my mother said, and she grabbed her hand.
“Mom, you… You can’t do that…” She said.
“Did you even think of the shame you would cause this family? Partying every night, sleeping with different men, and pregnant with someone's bastard child. Disgusting. This isn't the way you were raised.” My father said, and I saw Hanna’s eyes go wide.
“Dad, it’s my boyfriend’s.” She answered hurriedly.
“It does not matter,” my mother said, and she turned to look at me.
“Zaiel. Divorce or not, it is your choice, and then make it clear to the rest of the family you will never marry, and we will announce that Avani Rhyland is no longer a part of our family. You will be given five million, and your name will be removed from all registries and made public, my mother said.
She dropped to her knees and started crying. My parents just walked out with Hannah behind them. She turned and looked at me, the hatred evident in her eyes.
“WHY THE FUCK DO YOU HAVE TO RUIN MY LIFE?” she yelled.
“I didn't do anything. Forcing me to get married prompted them to look into what you've been doing. You ruined your own life. Now get the fuck out of my apartment. You are no sister of mine,” I said, standing up. I left her right there and walked out; she stormed out a few minutes later, slamming the front door. I ended up in the guest room for some reason; it smelled like her. I walked into the bathroom and found one of her shirts. I found one of her perfumes on the sink. Just as I walked out, Tanya walked in.
“Oh, Mr. Rhyland. “I’m just here to clean up,” she said.
“No. “Don’t clean this room until I tell you,” I said. She nodded and walked out. I sat on the bed and just stayed there. I fucking missed her, but this was what she wanted, and I would give her what she wanted. I always would, and I would keep waiting for her.
Tessa
I cried for my life, my fate, every time they raped me, every time they hit me, for my father, for the life I could have had, and for the love I could have had. This was the only way. Hurting myself was the only way to make him leave me.
I walked out of that hotel. Determined to get my life back. I went straight to the apartment, using all the side streets I could find, and I dumped my phone in a dumpster. I left the hotel using the service entrance. I made my way to the apartment complex, keeping my head down, trying to blend in. When I got there, I opened the door and went in. I made sure the door was locked. The first thing I did was clean and disinfect my cuts and bandage my hands.