This Time, She Walked Away First

Lena Clermont fell hard for her dad's friend, Andrew Rohan—twelve years older.The first time she saw him, he was all sharp suits and broad shoulders, effortlessly standing out. He smiled, patted her head, and handed her a princess dress.Fast forward to twenty. He got drugged at a banquet. She wore that same dress, offering herself as the cure.By morning, they were a wreck—clothes askew, air thick with implication.Nicole Jenner, Andrew's childhood sweetheart, stood frozen in the doorway before bolting, tears blinding her. She never saw the truck.She died on impact.Andrew changed after that.Buried Nicole with eerie calm. Married Lena with the same detachment. Took her to bed every night—cold, empty. And every time she got pregnant, he made sure it didn't last. Dragged her to the clinic over and over until the eighteenth time nearly killed her.Lying on the operating table, weak and drained, she heard the doctor call him.His voice was ice. "Is she dead? Let me know when s

Lena frowned. "I'm not."Andrew stepped in, eyes locked on her. "Still denying it? You leave early, come back late, won't even say hi. If that's not avoiding me, what is? Because I'm with Nicole now?"Lena shook her head fast. "No! Uncle Andrew, I'm genuinely happy for you. You found the one you love, and as someone who grew up around you, I really do wish you both happiness. Don't worry—I know you'll never like me, so I won't like you anymore either."She said it so matter-of-factly, like it was just a simple truth.Andrew's expression darkened.Lena not liking him? Yeah, right."You confessed, I rejected you. You clung to me, I rejected you. And now what? Changing tactics?" His eyes didn't miss the slight flicker in hers, and his suspicion only grew.He stepped closer, gaze dropping to the box in her arms. "You don't like me anymore? Then why write me all these love letters? Why sketch me over and over? You chased me for years, and now you expect me to believe you just stopped

The slap sent Lena crashing to the ground.Her face throbbed instantly, blood pooling at the corner of her mouth. A sharp ringing drowned out everything—no voices, no gasps, just a hollow silence.Her fingers brushed the burning imprint on her cheek, and tears spilled before she could stop them.Andrew had never hit her before.But before the shock could settle, he was already gone, storming out the front door.Lena sucked in a shaky breath and scrambled to her feet, chasing after him.She wasn't running for him. She was running because she knew what might happen next.Boom!Thunder cracked, shaking the ground as rain poured down in thick, blinding sheets.Through the storm, Andrew stood firm, arms locked around Nicole's trembling frame.Nicole thrashed, her voice breaking. "Today was supposed to be perfect, and she ruined it. How do you expect me to stay after that?"She still won't let go of you. I don't want to fight over a man with some younger girl. Maybe I should just—

The Rohan estate stayed lit all night.Lena sat frozen on the couch, nails digging so deep into her palms they drew blood. She didn't feel a thing. Just stared at the clock as it crawled from midnight to seven a.m.The second it chimed, hurried footsteps echoed outside.Andrew stormed in, eyes blazing with pure rage. A chill ran down Lena's spine.He took a whip from a servant and stepped toward her, slow and deliberate."Lena Clermont, do you realize Nicole and the baby almost died?"Baby?Nicole was pregnant?Shock crashed over her—but then, clarity.Right. In her past life, she'd been the one pregnant at this exact moment.But this time, she'd been the one to shove Nicole into Andrew's arms.So of course, now it was Nicole carrying his child.No time to dwell on it.Andrew stood there, ready to use his so-called "disciplinary punishment" just to vent Nicole's anger. Lena's eyes burned red as she fought to explain."I didn't touch the dress. I never tried to hurt her. F

The thought barely surfaced before Andrew shut it down.Impossible.Lena had been obsessed with him. The idea of her moving on? Unthinkable.She was playing hard to get. Had to be.A cold glint flashed in his eyes. Whatever tricks she pulled, he wouldn't fall for them. Nicole was—and always would be—the only woman he loved.Shoving aside all distractions, he turned to Nicole. With steady conviction, he spoke each word clearly."Nicole Jenner, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, I promise to stand by you. To love you, to be faithful to you, and to spend the rest of my life with you."Nicole's eyes welled up. Overcome with emotion, she kissed him, deep and devoted.The wedding went off without a hitch.No dramatic interruptions.No last-minute disasters.Nicole stayed perfectly fine the whole time.Andrew even earned praise from friends—apparently, he'd never looked more focused or in love.But only he knew the truth.He hadn't been focused at all.All day, an