Chapter 8
Lennox sat hunched on the police station bench, wrapped in a jacket some female cop had given her, still shaking like a leaf.
Across the room, the scumbags squatted in the corner getting their asses chewed out by officers.
When Hayes burst through the doors, he immediately clocked her condition:
Blood still seeping from her scraped palms, right ankle swollen like a balloon, dirt and grass stains all over her dress. He frowned and rushed over, crouching down.
“Len, what the hell happened? What kind of trouble did you get into now?”
When the station called, he’d barely listened to the details before racing over.
Lennox looked up at him with dead eyes.
If she hadn’t grabbed her phone during the struggle, if that patrol car hadn’t happened to drive by, she’d probably be roadkill by now.
And his first instinct was to assume she’d caused trouble.
She forced out a smile, tears streaming down her face.
Something twisted in Hayes‘ chest at that look. He was about to say something when an officer walked over, signaling they were free to go.
Lennox didn’t hesitate for a second–she stood up and headed for the exit. Hayes could only nod at the cop and hurry after her.
He reached out to steady her wrist, then saw the raw scrape there, dried blood stark against pale skin.
His breath caught. “Jesus, what happened to you?”
Lennox stayed silent, just kept walking.
Hayes felt irritation bubbling up. He couldn’t read whatever mood she was in, but this ice–cold treatment was getting under his skin.
“Whatever. Let me just get you home.”
His voice carried an edge of frustration.
The entire ride back, Lennox didn’t say a word.
Hayes thought she was being way too quiet. Usually when she got in trouble, she’d be all over him to clean up her mess.
Today she looked like someone had sucked the soul right out of her.
The car felt suffocating. By the time they reached her building, they still hadn’t exchanged a single word.
“Len.” Hayes called after her..
Lennox glanced back once, then disappeared inside. Minutes later, she came out carrying an armload of stuff.
All the gifts he’d given her over the years.
Right in front of him, she dumped everything into the dumpster and flicked on a lighter.
Flames licked at the wrapping paper with sharp crackling sounds. Hayes blinked, then stepped forward. “What are you doing?”
15:17
A Billion–Dollar Goodbye: Too Late for Second Chances. Mr. Ex
5.6%
Chapter 8
“Where were you yesterday when you didn’t show at the cemetery?”
Lennox stared him down, not missing a single micro–expression.
Hayes‘ eyes flickered. He sighed. “Work emergency came up last minute.”
“You’re pissed about that?”
Lennox went pale, the last spark in her eyes dying completely.
She didn’t look at him again, just watched the fire devour everything she’d once treasured until it all turned to ash.
“Feel better now?”
Hayes studied her face, testing the waters.
His phone rang before she could answer.
After a brief conversation, his expression shifted to obvious impatience. He hung up and turned back to Lennox:
“I’ll have someone send over replacements for all this stuff.”
“Don’t bother.” Lennox finally spoke, her voice raw. “I don’t need any of it.”
Something clenched in Hayes‘ chest, but he figured she was still throwing a tantrum.
He rubbed his temples. “Fine. Once we’re married, I’ll get you whatever you want.”
He glanced at his phone, already shifting toward the door:
“I’ve got to bounce. You know how it is–bride and groom aren’t supposed to see each other before the wedding. I won’t be around until then.”
“Len,” he looked back with barely concealed impatience, “you need to get over this attitude. I can’t keep bailing you out every single time.”
With that, he turned and walked away without looking back.
Lennox stood there watching his retreating figure, a bitter smile pulling at her lips.
“Goodbye, Hayes.”
Her voice was barely a whisper, dissolving into the air the moment it left her mouth.
Hayes seemed to pause at the exit-
t–or maybe she imagined it. Either way, he kept walking.
Lennox pulled out her phone. Her father’s message sat on the screen: “Ten million transferred. Leave before the wedding.”
IN
She packed her things, left the apartment keys with Suri to handle, picked up her documents from immigration, then headed straight to the airport.
FIL
At the terminal trash can, she snapped her SIM card in half and tossed it in, then walked toward her gate without looking back.
The plane taxied, lifted off, climbed through the clouds. Outside her window, the city shrank to a dot before disappearing completely.
Distance and time between them now.
No more ties binding them together.
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15:17
