Chapter 5 The Old Me Is Gone

Once we got home, I didn't ask any more questions.

The two of them got out of the car and walked ahead of me.

"Kelsey, what do you want for dinner tonight? I learned a new recipe recently. How about I make it for you?"

Kelsey gave him a mild scolding. "Your hand hasn't healed yet. So, don't even think about going into the kitchen and getting it wet."

Then, she turned to me. "Landon, what do you want to eat?"

I hadn't expected her to ask me at all. Just when I thought there might still be a shred of humanity left in her, her next words quickly brought me back to reality.

"Landon, you can make dinner later. You're the best at cooking."

I smiled without saying a word, simply watching them go about their merry way.

Alas, that wasn't the end of it.

Cameron acted like he owned the place as soon as we set foot inside the premises. He fetched a pair of slippers for me and kept telling me what to do, as if he were coming home to his own house.

"Landon, put these on."

"Landon, you can put that there."

"Landon, the kitchen's over there. Make dinner, will you? I'll help you put…"

I couldn't help finding the whole thing ridiculous as I watched him putter about as though he was the man of the house.

"Move."

I brushed past them and headed straight for the bedroom.

There were several men's clothes in my closet that hadn't been there before.

I didn't need to guess who had put them there.

"Do you need help packing?" Cameron asked, appearing in the doorway.

I ignored him.

He walked right in anyway. "Landon, you don't have to stand on ceremony with me. After all, I live right next door. We'll be helping each other out plenty from now on."

So, he'd come to declare war on me.

I continued packing, keeping my silence. I had no interest in talking to him.

…

A few minutes later, I carried my suitcase downstairs.

Kelsey was clearly unhappy. "Landon, what are you trying to pull?"

"What am I doing?" I asked as I swept my gaze across the living room for anything I'd left behind.

"I've already decided to let it slide that you pretended to have amnesia. What's this supposed to mean? Are you trying to threaten me?" she snapped waspishly.

I spotted a framed photo of Kelsey and me together. "Think whatever you want. I'm leaving either way."

I tore the photo in half and tossed her half back into the frame.

Cameron came downstairs looking hurt. "Landon, are you leaving because of me? I'll move out if I'm bothering you two."

He started to leave, but Kelsey stopped him. "Don't overthink it. Go back to your room and get some rest. I'll call you when dinner's ready."

He took her hand and put on an apologetic expression. "This is all my fault. Please don't get mad at Landon because of me."

I watched their little performance in silence. Eventually, I had enough. So, I got up to leave.

Kelsey grabbed me and glared at me in disbelief. "Are you still not done throwing a tantrum?"

I shrugged off her hand. "I'll have my lawyer send you the divorce papers tomorrow."

I walked out of the door without sparing her another glance right after that.

I heard her voice floating from behind me. "So, Cameron was right. You were pretending to have amnesia just to deceive me."

I stopped in my tracks, feeling indignant on behalf of the man I'd once been. "You believe everything he says, but have you ever believed your own husband, even once?"

I sighed in derision and shook my head before calmly walking away.

Everyone believed that I would never leave Kelsey, that I would never abandon her to fend for herself. So, no one looked at me oddly when I showed up at the company as usual the next day. There was just a little more whispering than usual.

I'd forgotten everything related to Kelsey. So, I remembered that the company was mine, but not why I'd founded it.

I spent the entire morning reviewing the company's business and operations.

My secretary knocked and came in, placing a document on my desk. "Mr. Emerson, Mr. Sheffield's performance contract is about to expire. When would you like us to prepare the renewal?"

"Let everyone know we're not renewing Cameron's contract. He can leave when it expires."

I answered without looking up. My secretary looked startled, as if she couldn't believe I'd just said that.

"You're not renewing it?" she blurted.

"That's right. We're never renewing his contract. Also, find a new artist to work with."

I heard a small commotion coming from outside my office not long after she left.

The old me really had obeyed Kelsey without question. Too bad the old me was dead and gone. Even better, he was never coming back.