Chapter 6:A Grand Decision

Elara's POV 

Divorce me. My throat tightened and I gasped as I stumbled backwards. He wasn't just planning on torturing me, he was planning on taking the little the Vale family left for me as the actual biological child.

The only thing I ever got from my family. I bit on my lips as I fought back my tears.

How have I havehave be   en with such a man for years?

My control did nothing and tears rolled down my eyes as I broke into a silent sob. He wasn't just cheating, he was planning on leaving me, wrecked and destroyed.

“Ohhh,” Seraphina gushed from inside, “that's wonderful but what do you think,” I heard a grunt and I guess Seraphina moved away. “What if we make other plans, Lucien?”

“Anything,” my supposed husband drawled, “what are you suggesting, Sera. That woman stole 3 years of our supposed happiness, Sera. You have been too kind, I'm open to your options.”

“Elara that I'm aware of wouldn't let you go easily, she loves you, or perhaps your title, the image that comes with it. You know I shouldn't be saying this but…”

Silence reigned and I held my breath as I waited. Another word of destruction. To shatter every illusion that I've built. Another word for me to finally get the betrayal. Another word to destroy me.

“I think we should make her disappear.” The words hit like a blow.

Make me disappear. From where? From… the earth? trulyina reaevery word she said her words. She was back for her place, to take her claim and her plan was to make me… disappear.

I broke into another sob and ran my hand over my mouth to avoid being heard.

“What do you think?”

“Anything Seraphina,” Lucien added and I could swear my heart snapped, “do whatever you want.” 

He agreed. He didn't even think twice. He didn't even know the kind of disappearance she meant and he… he just agreed. Tears spilled out of my eyes as I rested on the wall, my tears falling freely.

3 years. 3 years of emotional torture after surviving in the adoption centre. What made me choose that? What made me stay? The hope or satisfaction of being finally chosen? The feeling of finally having a family?

And this is how I end up as— a betrayed loser.

I palmed my face as I cried and I sniffed and for a second… that was too loud.

“Did you hear that?” Seraphina barely asked her question when Lucien's phone rang and his voice boomed. “What? My secretary is here?”

My eyes widened and my limbs froze. He is aware I'm at the hotel and… footsteps neared and I gasped as I picked at my heels.

They couldn't see me. I couldn't let them see me. I couldn't let them know I heard them. I quickened my steps, my eyes darting around until I found a door. I dashed towards it, pushing it open immediately.

Shutting it, I rested on it and just as I raised my head, I paused in my steps as I found him… the same man from the other day. The one who had helped me while I crashed to the floor.

“I'm sorry,” I gasped and rushed to the blinds. Peeping, I saw Seraphina and Lucien.

“She's here Lucien, I promise,” Seraphina stated, “I heard clicking of shoes. She's the one, Lucien.”

“Let's check.”

No. No. My lips trembled. I couldn't let them know I heard their plans. They … they would find ways to make me keep shut. They could hurt me, they were monsters. I couldn't let them find me.

“You—” the man in the room stepped forward and I rushed to him.

“Help me… please,” I looked to the window and saw the duo had reached the door, “they can't find me. I can't let them see me here.”

“What… what,” the man grabbed my arm, “what do you mean?”

“Let me hide here, please,” Without waiting for approval, I dashed to the bathroom and shut the door. Inside the bathroom, I heard a knock on the door.

“What do you want?” The stranger queried Lucien immediately.

“I'm Lucien Ashford, CEO of…”

“What do you want?”

“Did a woman just come in here? Can we see her? She looks like someone we have been looking for?” Seraphina chipped in and I peeped from the bathroom and watched the stranger almost shut the door.

“No. You were mistaken.”

“No!” Seraphina declined, “You know… that woman stole something of mine, so I… I hope you can assist us.”

“I see,” the stranger drawled and turned to me and our eyes met. We locked eyes for a second before he looked away. 

“I'm sorry the woman who entered is my girlfriend. I assume you were mistaken.”

“You —”

“Please leave or I will get the authorities and file for harassment.” The stranger finalised and I watched Seraphina grit before she rolled her eyes. Taking Lucien's hands, they both walked away.

When the door finally shut, I rushed out of hiding. 

“Thank you,” tears accompanied my words. “Thank you for helping me,” My knee almost gave way and I grabbed the sofa for support.

“Are you okay?” The man rushed towards me, “Do you need to go to the hospital again?”

“You remember.”

“You are too perfect to not be remembered. Now what do you need?”

“I need to leave,” I fought back my tears and blinked. I needed to make a decision before they outsmarted me. If Lucien already had plans to have the compensation the Vale left me, he must have started acting towards it.

I can't let them. I can't let them destroy me.

I needed to make a decision fast.

Even as my chest ached, I balanced on my feet and wiped my tears, “Thank you for helping me again,”

“Yes but someone wouldn't be there to help you every time,” the man blocked my way and shut his eyes, “what is happening to you, Elara?”

My mouth went agape. “You… know me.”

“No,” he shook his head and ruffled his hair, “no, those people mentioned it.”

“A lot,” I bit my lips and sniffed, “thank you for your help,” I brushed past him and headed to the door as a ground decision stood heavy in my throat.

I needed to leave Lucien first. But first, I could only leave without a tie to him. I would leave him without him having leverage against me.

I would cut off all ties with him by making one grand decision. My palm rose to my tummy and I gulped.

Sorry child, you have to go.