Chapter 20
Hayes went deathly pale, collapsing helplessly to the floor, muttering over and over: “Len, you can’t just sentence me to death like this…”
The door chimes rang again. Lucas pushed through, carrying a bag of fresh–baked cookies.
“Len!”
He called out cheerfully, but his gaze crashed into Hayes‘ bloodshot eyes. He froze, then frowned. “Is he harassing you again?”
“Need me to escort him out?”
Lennox glanced at Hayes slumped on the floor, then at Lucas by the door, waving him over.
Lucas walked over uncertainly. Just as he stopped, Lennox stood up from her lounge chair, walked straight to him, then called out loudly: “Hayes!”
Hayes turned his head in a daze, eyes
hollow.
Lennox hooked her arm through Lucas‘, meeting Hayes‘ gaze as she spoke word by word: “You asked yesterday what he is to me. Now I’m telling you.”
“I have feelings for him, and I’m planning to start a new life.”
“I really don’t love you anymore, so stop coming to find me, okay?”
Hayes‘ breathing hitched, his gaze glued to their intertwined arms like he’d seen a ghost: “Len, you’re lying to me…”
He desperately resisted this reality.
How could two lifetimes of entanglement lose to some foreigner she’d known less than a month?
“You must be trying to force me to let go, that’s why you…”
The rest stuck in his throat as he watched Lennox rise on her tiptoes and press a light kiss to Lucas‘ cheek.
Lucas completely short–circuited, his face flushing bright red like someone had dumped paint on him.
He pointed at himself, then at Lennox, finally managing: “You… I…”
Lennox had no time for his panic, only staring at Hayes: “Believe it now?”
“You know my personality. Once I decide something, I never look back.”
“I can love hard, and I can let go completely. Hayes, from the moment you first hurt me for Raina’s sake, we were finished.”
Hayes watched Lennox standing calmly beside Lucas, saw their intimate linked arms, his eyes instantly flooding with crimson.
He couldn’t stay another second. He scrambled up from the floor and fled.
He couldn’t believe it, wouldn’t believe it–that he’d truly lost her completely.
The wind chimes fell silent with the closing door, quiet returning to the shop.
Lucas still stood there stunned. Lennox released his arm, apology in her voice: “Sorry, I used you without warning you
first.”
19
Lucas opened his mouth, flashing back to their first meeting.
The sunlight had been perfect that day. She’d sat at the work table kneading clay, her profile gilded golden like she’d stepped out of a painting.
15:21
A Billion–Dollar Goodbye: Too Late for Second Chances, Mr. Ex
15.2%
Chapter 20
At first, he admitted, he’d been drawn to her looks.
But gradually he’d discovered she wasn’t gentle water at all–she was fire with hidden edges.
Lounging lazily in her chair like a cat sunbathing, but when push came to shove, she could shut down even the most difficult customers.
She had her own sharp corners, never compromising herself. How could someone so vibrant not capture hearts?
“Was it just acting?”
His voice was so quiet the wind could have scattered it. Lennox didn’t catch what he said, instinctively asking: “What did you say?”
Lucas pressed his lips together, his eyes suddenly brightening as if he’d gathered all his life’s courage. Those emerald eyes held complete seriousness as he spoke word by word:
“Len, I don’t mind however you want to use me. But… I hope it’s not just being used.”
“That day you asked if I liked you, I didn’t get to answer.”
“No
