CHAPTER 5: The Day He Let Me Go

***SERENA***

“You know if he finds out, he'd kill you, right?” Elena's voice came out cold.

“Please… don't tell him anything,” I begged, clasping my hands together. “I'm sorry I let my curiosity get the best of me.”

“This isn't just curiosity,” she said. “To me, it seems like you're just begging to be killed.”

My chest tightened at her words, and no matter how much I tried to speak, nothing came out.

“Just… go before I change my mind.” She muttered, turning her head away from me.

“Please… are you going to keep this between us?”

“I said go!” The intensity in her voice threw me off balance, and my legs moved before my brain could even catch up.

In a swift motion, I hurried up the stairs and locked myself inside my room.

I lay in my bed, hands clasped over my thighs as my heart hammered loudly against my chest. My mind travelled through different scenarios of what would happen if Landon finds out that I broke his rule.

Then slowly, the world blurred at the edges, and sleep swallowed me whole.

***

“For how long are you going to keep sleeping?”

A deep baritone voice jolted me awake from my sleep. Opening my eyes, I was met with a pair of grey eyes—Landon’s. Seeing his face looming over me almost made my heart jump out of my chest.

“What the heck are you trying to do?” I said, squirming backwards.

He scoffed and his brows furrowed slightly. “You're my wife now, remember?”

From his voice, I could tell that Elena hadn't said a thing to him yet.

His eyes lingered on me for a moment, then he muttered— “there's something about you I just can't seem to figure out yet.”

Then, his face darkened.

“Meet me outside now.” His words felt absolute, and my body jolted upright immediately.

He left without saying another word. And my chest tightened, the air becoming difficult to breathe.

What if Elena already told him?

What exactly will he do to me?

Several thoughts filled my mind as I walked through the hallway until I was finally in the dining room. He looked at me in one bland accepting look, then returned his gaze on his food.

Elena stood behind him with her hands clasped together. My gaze lingered on her before I finally slipped into the seat opposite Landon.

“You know I can smell your fear, right?” Landon muttered, without even raising his head.

“Wha… what do you mean?”

“You know what I mean,” he said, dropping the fork in his hand. “I should let you know… I hate liars.”

My chest tightened, and I lifted my gaze towards Elena—she simply evaded.

“I think any normal person would be afraid in this situation,” I said finally, staring straight at him. “You took me forcefully based on something I'm not responsible for and made me sign a stupid contract with you…”

“Seriously?” He cut in before I could finish. “Go to your room.”

I pushed the chair to the back as I stood up. One quick look at Elena.

I was almost out of his sight when I turned to take another look, his eyes were locked on me, a small smile curling at the corner of his lips.

I turned away quickly and walked down the hallway, refusing to look back again.

That smile stayed in my head long after the door to my room closed.

***

I stayed cooped up in my room, eyes fixed on the ceiling as I thought about how much my life had spiraled in the past two days, then a knock came at the door.

“Come in,” I answered weakly, tugging my duvet closer to myself.

The door creaked open slowly. And to my surprise, it wasn't who I was expecting. Landon came in with a void expression on his face.

A small smile spread across his lips as soon as the door closed behind him. “Were you expecting someone else?”

I sat up, keeping my shaky hands under the duvet. “Didn't think you'd knock.”

He smiled again, then he took his seat beside me. “I'm sorry about earlier… you shouldn't have to leave the dining room because we had an argument.”

I exhaled slowly, thinking about what his play really is. How'd he go from being so impenetrable minutes ago to being so cool now?

I shrugged slightly. “Apologies accepted.”

Suddenly, his expression darkened and the air around him grew stale.

“When you came into this house, I gave you some rules, didn't I?”

My heart almost jumped out of my chest as he asked that question.

“Did Elena…”

He didn't let me finish. “Did Elena tell me?” He completed my question for me, shaking his head. “She didn't have to. I have cameras installed everywhere in the house.”

I swallowed hard, thinking about how much trouble I'm in.

Then he said simply—

“Just don't let that ever happen again. I really don't know why I'm being so lenient with you, but I really don't like my privacy being intruded.”

I answered in a shuddered breath. “Okay.”

“Good,” he muttered, then he crashed into my bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling. “Your bed feels nice. I'll be staying here for a while, do you mind?”

I swallowed, staring at his face. “No.”

“Good,” he said, exhaling sharply. “You should lay down too.”

I did as he said, and I turned towards him. Despite how hard he seemed on the outside, I could see clearly how tired and exhausted he was.

I was going to keep it to myself, but my lips moved before I could stop them. “You don't sleep much, do you?”

He responded weakly, eyes still fixed on the ceiling. “Yeah…”

“Why?” I asked, pushing my luck.

He turned towards me, his grey eyes glittering softly. “I don't know… I just find myself awake most nights.”

“I guess it's not all perfect for you either.”

“Yeah.”

Silence stretched between us for a moment. When I turned towards him again to ask when he would be leaving, my breath caught.

He was sleeping soundly like a baby with no worries.

A small smile etched on my lips as I watched him, and I found my hand patting him on his shoulder.

***THREE YEARS LATER***

By the time I realized how much of my life had slipped away inside those walls, It had been three years already, and I was still his contract wife—nothing much had changed, except for the few times I got to see Landon's soft side. We had sex on scheduled days, yet for 3 years, I had not been able to conceive a child.

There was nothing said about me after repaying his debt or whatnot, yet my hopes were still on a thin thread.

Maybe this was the day everything between Landon and me would completely change.

A wide grin spread across my face as I pressed the pregnancy report on my chest, hoping that today would change things for the better between us.

When I got to the house, he was sitting on his favorite sofa, smoking a cigar and there was a file in front of him.

"Landon, I have—"

"Sit." He ordered and my mood fell as I stared at him before doing as he had instructed.

"Your presence has been really comforting, and since you can't give me an heir, I have decided to let you go.”

The smile on my face faded instantly.

“There's always been someone else. The reason why I haven't married up till now.”

I scoffed sadly.

He didn't even look at me. “She's coming back into the city, so I'd need you to sign this."

"You're letting me go?"

I whispered and he nodded softly.

"Isn't that what you've always wanted?

A small tear dropped from my eye. “Really? This is what you think I want?”

“It doesn't matter, Serena…” he said, sliding a brown envelope towards me. “There's enough in there to help you start a new life.”

A sad smile spread across my lips. “Fuck you.”

His brows pulled together. “What did you say?”

“I said… Fuck you!”

He raised his head up and exhaled sharply before returning his gaze to me. “I know you're hurt right now, but you shouldn't be here by the time I return."

He muttered in a low tone, as he walked out nonchalantly.