Chapter 3 Leave No Trace Behind
It took Lenora two hours to burn all the photos. When she slipped back into bed, her bare feet brushed against Zavier’s.
Even asleep, he instinctively pulled her feet to his belly to warm her.
Instincts didn’t lie, but his heart wasn’t hers anymore.
She had thrown away the ashes, but the balcony still carried the scent of
smoke.
Zavier had a sharp nose and caught it instantly.
“Lenora, did you burn something?”
She gave a short, nasal “uh–huh,” completely composed.
“I missed the baby last night and burned the clothes we saved for it.”
His hand paused before taking another bite. His gaze flickered to Lenora, filled with sorrow.
She had once carried his child.
But years of being Melany’s personal blood source had left her body frail. That pregnancy had been a miracle. Back then, their company was just starting, keeping them busy day and night.
The stress and exhaustion wore Lenora down, and the baby was gone.
Once the company was steady, Zavier insisted Lenora stay home to focus on her health. She never overworked herself again, but she never got
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pregnant again either.
“We’ll have another baby,” Zavier murmured, pulling her close. His voice trembled slightly as if he shared her grief.
Lenora didn’t answer, only shaking her head.
There wouldn’t be another child or a future for them.
Before leaving, Zavier kissed her like always. “I’m heading to work. Get
some rest.”
Just as he reached for the door, Lenora followed. “I’m bored at home. I’ll come with you.”
For a split second, Zavier looked flustered, but he masked it so quickly that Lenora almost thought she imagined it.
Then the car pulled up. The moment she spotted Melany in the backseat, she understood. Zavier looked away, feeling guilty.
“We’re signing the contract today. So I asked Asher to pick her up first. Nora, don’t get the wrong idea.”
Melany shot her a teasing look. “Yeah, Nora, it’s the contract. Family business matters, right? You’re not mad, are you?”
Lenora had thought she would be, but she felt nothing. Last night, as those photos burned, something inside her changed. Whatever love she had for Zavier felt like it had turned to ash too.
And that was a relief.
“It’s fine. Work comes first. Let’s go,” Lenora said lightly.
Zavier finally relaxed. Melany smiled, “Nora, I remember you get carsick.
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Sit in the front. Zavier can take the back with me.”
The backseat was tight for three, but coming from Melany, it felt more like a challenge than a suggestion. Zavier shot her a glare.
He had told her not to pull a stunt in front of Lenora.
Just as he was about to tell Melany to sit in the front, Lenora was already opening the passenger door. She acted like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Zavier had no choice but to sit in the backseat.
The drive to the company was barely thirty minutes. Through the rearview mirror, Lenora caught Zavier and Melany’s hands brushing together at least ten times.
She acted like she didn’t see, turning instead to the driver. “Asher, you’ve been working here for three years now, right? How’s it going?”
Asher kept his eyes on the road but smiled. “Pay’s good. Mr. Velez treats me well. Guess I couldn’t ask for a better job. I owe it to you, Mrs. Velez. If you hadn’t recommended me, I wouldn’t be here.”
Lenora’s lips curled into a sneer at his flattery
Asher had been her high school classmate. Coming from a poor family, he hadn’t gone to college. Three years ago, he came to her, desperate for a job. She helped him and gave him a place as Zavier’s driver, but he repaid her with betrayal.
There was no way he hadn’t noticed Zavier and Melany’s affair. He had seen it all but never said a word.
When they arrived at the company, Zavier slipped an arm around Lenora as they walked in, keeping a distance from Melany.
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“You two go ahead and sign the contract. I’ll look around,” Lenora said, waving them off.
Then she headed to the archives.
As one of the company’s founders, she had full access to everything. She moved through the system with ease and pulled up her file.
There were no updates since her miscarriage.
With a few clicks, every record of her was wiped from the Velez Group’s system.
After finding out about Zavier and Melany, she stayed to erase every last trace of herself from this place. Six months in and the work was almost done.
One more week, then she would leave this city for good.
Her family had set everything up–new identity and new legal records. When the time came, her past would just disappear.
But as she passed the conference room, voices inside made her pause- Zavier, Melany, and the business partners she had brought in.
Melany sat right on Zavier’s lap, not even trying to hide it.
“Zavier, let’s be real. Melany is a better choice. Lenora’s just an adopted daughter. She doesn’t bring much to the table,” one of the partners said.
“Exactly. You’re already working with Melany’s family. Just divorce Lenora and marry Melany. Wouldn’t that be better for business?” another remarked.
Lenora’s fingers slowly withdrew from the door handle. These men had once been her closest allies, but now they were pushing Zavier to replace
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her.
Men were never truly allies to women. Even though Lenora had known them longer than Zavier, they had more in common with him, and they backed him.
As she listened, a strange calm settled over her.
She accepted it, knowing it would only make leaving easier.
As Lenora turned to walk away, Zavier’s chuckle came. “Melany is fun, put Nora is wife material. Watch what you say. If Nora hears this, you’re done for,” he said, grabbing Melany’s face.
Melany looked sulky while the others laughed.
“Zavier, you’re really the ‘perfect‘ husband. You do whatever you want outside but always put your wife first.“
