Chapter 4

Elena's POV

“Marcus, what more do you want from me? Haven't you done enough already?” I yelled as I burst into his hospital room, only to be faced with a Startled Marcus Ashford.

He stared at me as if he couldn't quite believe I was real, as if I was some hallucination brought on by whatever had caused him to collapse in the first place.

And for a very long moment, neither of us spoke because I was struck as well.

“Elena..” his lips parted in awe and I watched him try to sit upright from the bed and the lined up drip.

I hated to admit that my name sounded different coming from him after all these years.

"No." I bluntly rejected. "No, you don't get to say my name like that."

His expression only stiffened, earning a bitter and broken laugh from me. “Do you have any idea what you've done? Do you have any idea what your stupidity has caused my carefully planned life?

Still, he remained silent as I expressed my rage, and somehow that only made me angrier. “You felt the need to just waltz into the cameras and drag me into your life again? For your selfish reasons?”

I pointed toward the door, breathing heavily. “There are reporters downstairs hunting me, my apartment is surrounded and I lost my job today! All because of that one man that feels like he is bigger because he's the mayor!” I spat out, swallowing my urge to burst into tears in front of him.

I honestly couldn't do this anymore.

Yeah, I thought I had everything under control, I thought my life was finally getting better but right now, my son in that hospital bed with a diagnosis I know nothing about and then a scandal that would hunt me for as long as I could think of.

I couldn't do this anymore.

Five freaking years of surviving and rebuilding my life– gone in less than twenty-four hours, all because of what? Mayor Marcus Ashford!

That beast!

Marcus looked genuinely stunned as though he had suddenly gotten amnesia. “What?”

I laughed out loud, crazily. “Oh? Now you're trying to play the victim? Acting as though you didn't know?”

His brows creased. "I swear to you, Elena, I didn't–"

"Don't." My voice cut through, "Don't swear anything to me."

I could feel tears threatening to form, but I refused to let them fall. "You don't get to play the concerned ex-husband now."

What the fuck does he even take me for? Laying down there looking as though he was going through shit while in reality, as the infamous Mayor, this must have been played out perfectly just for their upcoming events, to seek pity vote from citizens.

“Look at me, Ashford. I have known you for as long as I can remember and what you won't do on me? To play and seek pity vote through me. You never called,” I spat and his eyes lowered. “You never came looking, never asked if I was alive– and now suddenly you're standing in front of cameras talking about regrets?”

His gaze lifted back to mine, and I hated that it felt as though I saw something real in those eyes.

As though this was no facade...but no! I wasn't going to fall inside the cage, because if I did, I might remember the man I once loved..and I hated that man almost as much as I missed him.

"You have no idea what happened after I left," I whispered.

He swallowed a large lump, clearing his throat. “No...and that's the problem.”

I folded my arms tightly across my chest and watched him try to want to relate. “You don't know any fucking thing.

His eyes swept over me, as though memorizing every detail on me. On my hair, eyes, curves– and suddenly I became painfully aware that he was looking at me the way he used to.

“What?” I snapped.

And his next words left me deadpanned.

“I forgot how beautiful you are.” He said in a soft tone. I don't know, but this should have felt better even though my heart pounded at that revelation– however, fury only exploded through me.

"Don't even try to.” I warned and his eyes widened a little bit like he didn't expect that reaction.

"I mean it." I pointed at him. "Do not do that."

"Elena–"

"No." My voice shook, as well as my head. “You don't get to flirt your way out of this.”

A flash of something almost resembling amusement appeared in his eyes, and it quickly vanished. "I wasn't flirting."

"Then stop looking at me like that."

Fuck! Why was I sounding this soft? I should be fucking mean! More meaner!

Finally, I turned away, ready to leave because I couldn't do this anymore. Couldn't stand here and relive everything, couldn't look at him and remember who we used to be, couldn't risk him seeing the pieces of me that still hurt because I still wanted to cry my eyes out and pet myself that this was going to pass anyway.

“I should never have come here.”

“Wait–” I stopped in my tracks as his voice followed immediately, however, I ignored him and reached for the door.

“Elena.” This time he called with pure urgency and I heard rough movements behind me. I turned my eyes immediately to see Marcus already on his feet, despite the monitors attached to him.

"You shouldn't be walking around alone."

I blinked at his words. “What?"

"The reporters." His expression hardened as he explained. "They won't leave you alone."

"Whose fault is that?"

He looked at me remorsely. “ I know, I know this is because of me and I am sorry.”

For the first time since entering the room, he looked ashamed.

I stared at him, unsure what to do with that.

An apology from Marcus Ashford? That was the least I could believe.

He exhaled slowly. "Let me help."

I let out a disbelieving laugh. "You've helped enough."

His eyes briefly closed and the more he gave that expression? The more it baffles me even more that he has actually been softer.

“Just one kind ride.”