Chapter four

Renna's POV.

There’s a strange kind of peace that comes after chaos... the kind that settles in your bones when you’ve survived something, even if you're still bruised.

Yes, I've survived Hayes and peace was what I felt lying in the hospital bed, a wave of peace so new I barely recognized it.

My eyes wandered across the room again, as they had a dozen times today. The private suite didn’t even feel like a hospital ward. It was all shiny with a portable TV, a cozy armchair in the corner by the window, and every other fancy furniture that stood out.

Landon had arranged everything. Of course he had.

The upgraded suite, and every other special treatment, he'd done every little thing, as if he had known me longer than I could remember.

I shifted slightly in the bed and winced at the sharp tug in my side. Doctor Adolphus had said that I was beginning to respond to treatment and I was extremely relieved.

A week or two of bed rest. I didn’t mind anymore. For the first time in years, I had permission to rest. No guilt, no barking voices, no cold shoulders waiting at home.

No Hayes.

I let that realization wash over me again.

No Hayes.

No yelling everywhere, including public places. No waiting for the door to slam with a fast beating heart filled with fear. No wondering what mood he’d come home in on.

I hadn’t realized how tense my body had been until it wasn’t anymore.

A sudden knock broke through my chain of thoughts. I looked toward the door, expecting a nurse or maybe Landon returning with yet another one of his absurd protein smoothies.

But the moment the door opened, I felt the atmosphere spin around.

And there he was.

Hayes.

He walked in like he possessed all the power in the world.

And of course, right behind him, was Nadia. His side piece, and later project. if only she knew it was only a matter of time before he moved on to the next fancy girl.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I gritted.

Hayes smirked as he walked in, hands in his pockets. “Nice to see you too, Renna.”

Nadia scanned the room with the wide eyes of someone who had never been somewhere so expensive without paying for it. “Damn,” she muttered. “I didn’t know hospitals came with champagne service.”

"I thought your man had access to all the money in the world, shouldn't you be used to high class settings by now?" I flashed her a quick smirk, turning to face Hayes.

"Answer the question. What are you doing here?”

He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Doctor Adolphus called, apparently, I’m still listed as your emergency contact.”

My heart sank slightly. Right. I haven't told her about the divorce yet.

“Well, you won't be anymore. I’ll fix that. Now leave.”

Hayes chuckled, stepping closer. “We just came to drop something off. Don’t worry, we won’t stay, why should we, anyway?”

Nadia stepped forward, pulling a folded piece of paper from her oversized designer handbag. With a dramatic flick of her wrist, she tossed it onto the blanket near my legs.

“What is this?” I asked, not making any attempt to touch it.

“The divorce papers,” she chirped in. "You haven't made a move about it ever since, makes me wonder if you truly want to get the divorce done."

I flashed her a wide smile. "I'd rather choke on my breath." I spat, and with a steady hand, I picked up the pen from my tray table, clicked it, and signed the page at the bottom where my name was required.

Then I raised it in the air, holding it between two fingers like something disposable.

"There you go, enjoy, you deserve each other.”

Nadia snatched the papers roughly from me, it was obvious she was burning with fury. She's never seen me this hostile.

Hayes faced me with a deep frown. "Stop trying to act smug, you lived under me for years."

"And I left you like I hadn't known you for years." I raised my eyes to match his gaze.

He stepped closer, and I didn’t flinch.

I was over that phase where I adored and feared him, he took advantage of that as much as I let him and now, it's over.

“You think you’ve upgraded? Because you found some random guy dumb as you?"

"Dumb, really?” I chuckled. “Because so far, he’s treated me better in one week than you did in three years.”

Nadia huffed, crossing her arms. “Please. He’s only with you because he hasn't seen a better option, pathetic."

I was about to reply her when the door creaked open and Landon stepped, I couldn't hold back my smile as I saw the smug smirk on his face.

Landon has a degree in pettiness, especially when it involves Hayes, I just knew the game has changed and all I needed to do was sit back and watch.

“Am I interrupting the comedy show?” his voice dripped with mockery.

He walked in carrying a shopping bag in one hand and a smoothie in the other.

He crossed the room in a few long strides and leaned down to press a soft kiss against my cheek. “Looking this beautiful in a hospital gown is insane,” he murmured.

I guess it's time to switch into the act.

“I know right?” I faked blushed.

He smiled and handed me the smoothie. “I brought the pineapple ginger one. The one that burns a little, but you pretend it doesn’t.”

I grinned and took a sip. “Still pretending.”

we both bursted into laughter; then, finally, he turned to Hayes and Nadia.

“Oh,” he blinked as if surprised. "Didn't realize we had company, almost didn't notice."

For the second time, Landon is insanely petty.

Hayes straightened, the smugness draining from his face, replaced by shock, even though he tried so hard to hide it. "It's you," he chuckled nervously. "Do you ever get tired of playing backup all over my life?"

Landon didn’t blink. “Funny, you say backup like I didn't manage your life together with mine so well that no one in the country barely knows you exist anymore.”

Nadia rolled her eyes. “Please. Don't be embarrassingly proud."

Landon cocked his head towards her. “What’s embarrassing is that outfit, the next time you try to steal someone's husband, go for one that's capable of buying you a better outfit."

I couldn't hold back my laughter. Landon didn’t usually go for the throat.

Hayes stepped forward. “You’ve always wanted her, that is what all your anger towards me is about, isn't it?" he gritted.

Something inside me went still.

I casted Landon a quick glance.

he's always wanted me?

Was that true?

"You know what you did Hayes, and pretending you don't, will only make things worse,"

That sounded a lot complicated than it looked, something has happened between these two and while Landon seemed pained, Hayes on the other hand seemed to be in denial.

The air in the room was getting extremely thick, I could feel my blood boil and sweat trickling over my forehead, despite being under the cold temperature of the room.

"You have the divorce papers with you Hayes, I have signed it, it's all done, you need to leave." I blurted, shifting my gaze towards them.

I really don't know how much of their presence I can take.

"You heard my lady, it's time to leave, your presence is toxic and it isn't healthy for her, you've done enough damage already, don't you think?" Landon quickly chirped in.

They glanced at each other, then back at us. "We should go babe, they aren't worth our sweat anyway." Nadia cooed.

"Yeah, enjoy my leftover." Hayes added, turning around and they started heading out.

Well, that hurt a little.

"You should be more concerned about what next I'm coming for." Landon called after him. I tried to hold back my laughter seeing the tension that squeezed into Hayes, you could literally tell, even with his back turned.

"I'm sorry you have to see that." I squeezed back into my shell, dragging my gaze to the floor.

Landon and I were making progress, but I wasn't entirely comfortable with him yet.

I found it quite ridiculous that someone of his status would want to even share the same breath someone like me.

"Don't be, it was fun." He chuckled.

Silence stretched between us.

Suddenly, he grabbed an envelope from the side of his pocket and stretched it out towards me. "Since we're signing papers today, here."

"What is this?" I asked as I took the envelope from him.

"The marriage papers," he shrugged. "And there's a little something in there for you too."

I casted him a quick glance then slowly began to unfold the envelope.

I pulled out the papers, dropping them on my thighs and proceeded for the second item inside.

My heart literally stopped beating for a second as my gaze landed on the black credit card on my palm.

It has my name inscribed boldly on the top.

If I'm not mistaken, this an unlimited card.

A freaking black card.

Fucking hell.

"Landon.."

"Whatever my lady desires to get, she gets." He winked.