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. Chapter 1 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 she is." That was the moment she finally got it. He hated her. Hated that she'd been his so-called cure. Hated that Nicole was gone because of it. As her heart monitor flatlined, regret swallowed her whole. Then—she woke up. Back in the same hotel room. Back on the night Andrew had been drugged. Lena's breath hitched. Andrew lay on the bed, shirt half-unbuttoned, his usual cold expression softened by fevered exhaustion. This was it. The moment that had wrecked everything. The moment she'd thrown herself at him, blind to the fallout. But now she knew the truth. Andrew and Nicole had always loved each other. They just never said it—until she came along and tore them apart. Maybe fate pitied her. Maybe it was handing her a do-over. This time, there was only one goal—make sure Andrew and Nicole ended up together. She grabbed her phone and dialed. Ten minutes later, Nicole burst in, breathless. Lena took her hand. "He loves you. You love him. But neither of you ever said it. He's drugged right now—this is your chance." Nicole hesitated, eyeing her like she'd lost it. "You've chased Andrew for years. And now, instead of taking advantage of this, you're handing him to me?" Lena let out a dry laugh. Yeah, no wonder Nicole was suspicious of her. The whole city knew how obsessed she'd been. She used to think love was about persistence. That if she just held on long enough, she could close the distance between them. But love didn't work that way. Shaking her head, she whispered, "I don't love him anymore. And I never will again." A low, strained groan came from the room. Time was running out. "If you don't go in now," Lena said, "you'll regret it." Nicole wavered, then bit her lip. "Then why are you still here? Want to listen in?" Lena flinched but stepped aside. The second Nicole reached out and touched Andrew's face, Lena shut the door. Soft gasps, broken murmurs, the rustle of sheets—muffled but unmistakable. Each sound slammed into her like a blow, shattering the last remnants of her past self. She sank to the floor, hollowed out. Tears slipped down her cheeks, but strangely, relief settled in her bones. At last, she was free. Lena wiped her tears and stumbled back to her room. Next door, Andrew and Nicole lost themselves in each other, no hesitation, no restraint. Lena didn't sleep a wink. At dawn, her phone rang. Her dad, Benjamin. "Lena, do you want to come live with me?" Years ago, when Clermont Group expanded overseas, Benjamin had moved abroad alone. Worried he wouldn't have time for Lena, he left her in Andrew's care. That arrangement lasted for years. Later, she fell for Andrew. So even when the company stabilized and Benjamin begged her to join him, she refused. But now, Andrew and Nicole were finally together. It was time to move on. She took a deep breath. "Dad, I'm ready to leave Altesia." Silence. Then, Benjamin's voice—unusually excited. "Lena, you finally came to your senses! I told you—Andrew was never right for you. You were too stubborn, and nothing good could've come from it! "There's nothing wrong with falling in love, but you need to pick the right person. I've already found you a fiancé—he's your age. "Once you get to Engloria, spend some time with him. Just give it a shot. It won't hurt." Lena's already swollen eyes burned again. In her past life, he'd tried to talk sense into her, but she wouldn't listen. And she wasted everything because of it. She clenched her palm, forcing a smile. "Dad, I'll do as you say. I'll handle my immigration paperwork today." Chapter 2 After hanging up, Lena wiped her tears, grabbed her documents, and headed for the door. The second she opened it, she nearly crashed into Andrew. Faint red kiss marks trailed down his neck, stark against his skin. Even though she'd braced herself for what went down between him and Nicole, her gaze instinctively flicked away. Andrew caught the reaction. Paired with her red-rimmed eyes, it wasn't hard to figure out what she was thinking. His tone was firm. "Lena, whether you like it or not, Nicole and I are together now. I'm marrying her. "Since you're staying here, show her some respect and drop those ridiculous things you used to say." Lena's voice was steady. "Got it, Uncle Andrew." He froze. It had been years since she called him that. When she first moved into his place, it was always "Uncle Andrew" in that sweet, little voice. But the second she caught feelings? She dropped the title, refusing to use it again. His frown deepened, about to say something— "Andrew, I brought my luggage! Which room should I take?" Andrew snapped out of it, turning to pull Nicole into his arms. "You like sunlight. Lena's room faces south and gets the best light. I'll have her move to the guest room—you can stay there." A flicker of triumph flashed in Nicole's eyes, though her voice dripped with fake modesty. "Oh, I don't want to impose. Compared to Lena, I'm the newcomer. Maybe I should take the guest room instead?" She started down the stairs, but the next second— A startled yelp. Andrew had swept her back into his arms. "You're going to be my wife—the lady of this house. How could you stay in the guest room?" "But Lena's been in that room for so long. Moving all of a sudden... won't that be hard on her?" Andrew glanced at Lena by the doorway. "She'll have to get used to it. She needs to accept that I'm getting married, that this house has a mistress now, and that she's nothing more than an outsider." Lena's lashes trembled. A self-mocking smile tugged at her lips. An outsider. He wasn't wrong. That's exactly what she was. She exhaled softly. "I'll pack up now." It didn't matter. Soon, she'd be gone—back to her father, never stepping foot here again. This house belonged to Andrew and Nicole. *** Lena buried herself in embassy paperwork, leaving early, coming back late—anything to dodge Andrew. Didn't matter. She still saw it. His over-the-top devotion to Nicole. If Nicole had no appetite, he flew in world-class chefs. If she felt sick, he ditched billion-dollar deals to stay by her side. If she so much as glanced at a piece of jewelry, it was in her hands within minutes—hand-delivered by him. Lena just watched. No drama. No tears. While waiting for her immigration papers, she started packing. Clothes first. Then, every pathetic love letter she'd ever written him. Sketches, too. All of it went into a box. She planned to throw it all away. Box in hand, she headed for the door—only to collide straight into Andrew. He was carrying desserts. Probably for Nicole. She ignored him, kept walking. Pain shot through her wrist. He had grabbed her. "You've been avoiding me?" Chapter 3 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? Lena, don't you think that's laughable?" She met his gaze, silent. She knew how crazy it sounded. She'd cried wolf too many times. Who would believe her now? But that didn't make it any less true. "I did love you," Lena said, voice steady. "For a long time. But you'll never love me back. So I've really given up." Then, without hesitation, she flipped the box over, dumping everything onto the floor. One by one, she picked up the letters, the sketches—ripping them apart right in front of him. Shreds of her past feelings fluttered around them, weightless, meaningless. Andrew didn't look relieved. If anything, his expression darkened. For a second, she wondered if she was imagining it. But before the thought could settle, his voice cut through the air, cold and sharp. "Keep up the act. But remember this—no matter what tricks you play, the only girl I'll ever love is Nicole." *** After that day, Lena and Andrew didn't exchange a single word. She was done. He thought she was playing hard to get. So he ignored her. The tension dragged on until the Rohan family's private banquet. These events used to revolve around Lena—Andrew's parents adored her, doting on her every chance they got. They'd fuss over her until Andrew inevitably swooped in and pulled her away. Now? It was all about Nicole. She was the future lady of the Rohan family. Lena? Just an outsider. That morning alone proved how much they valued Nicole. The moment she arrived, Andrew's mother, Coreene, slipped the Rohan family's heirloom bracelet onto her wrist. Lena had never even laid eyes on that bracelet in her past life. At dinner, the family openly discussed the wedding date. By the end of the banquet, it was set. As Lena was about to leave with Andrew, Coreene suddenly stopped her. "I need a word with you. In private." Inside the study, Coreene skipped the pleasantries. "Lena, it's time for you to leave Andrew." Her tone was sharp, leaving no room for debate. "He's with Nicole now. Staying here will only embarrass you—and cause trouble for him. What's the point?" Not a hint of warmth. A bitter taste settled in Lena's mouth. Coreene used to adore her—until the day she confessed to Andrew. From then on, she was reckless, shameless... a nuisance. Lena's fingers curled into her palm. "Don't worry, I'm leaving." She pulled out her immigration papers and handed them over. "I already told my father I'm moving abroad. He even arranged a fiancé for me. From now on, I'll stay far away from Uncle Andrew—I won't bother him again." Coreene studied the documents before her expression finally eased. "You'd better keep your word." Once Coreene left, Lena exhaled slowly, finally relaxing. She tucked the documents back into her bag and turned to leave—only to find Andrew standing in the doorway. Their eyes met. His voice was cold. "Who are you planning to stay far away from?" Lena's mind blanked. She had no idea how much he'd heard, but instinct screamed that he couldn't know she was leaving. Shaking her head, she muttered, "No one. You misheard." She turned to walk past him, but before she could take a step, his voice brushed against her ear. "I know you don't want to leave Altesia. You don't have to move out after I marry Nicole. Your father and I are old friends—I can take care of you for the rest of your life." Lena's eyes widened. Behind him, Nicole, who had just walked in, froze. Silence. Thick. Heavy. Then Nicole's resentful glare snapped Lena back to reality. Without another word, Lena turned and walked away. Chapter 4 Lena didn't take Andrew's words that day seriously. She just waited for her immigration papers to go through so she could leave. But Nicole wouldn't let her go so easily. That day, Nicole insisted on taking her shopping. But not long after they got in the car, Lena blacked out. When she came to, she was tied up on a cliffside overlooking the ocean. A few feet away, Nicole was bound the same way. Lena struggled, trying to ask why, but the tape over her mouth turned her words into muffled whimpers. Nicole sneered. "Lena, I didn't want to do this. But after what Andrew said that day, I had to be sure. So I set up a little test—let's see who he chooses." Cold dread seeped into Lena's bones. Did this even need testing? The answer was obvious. Soon, Andrew arrived, tossing two briefcases full of cash forward. His eyes burned with fury. "I brought the money. Let them go." But the kidnappers, acting under Nicole's orders, didn't budge. One of them smirked. "Mr. Rohan, I didn't do this for the money." Andrew's jaw tightened. "Then what do you want?" The man placed a hand on both women's shoulders, grinning. "I heard one of them is your friend's daughter, and the other is your fiancée. You can only save one. The other..." He chuckled. "Becomes shark food." With that, he loosened the ropes just enough for them to teeter dangerously on the edge. Nicole went pale, her voice shaking. "Andrew, save me! I don't want to die!" Andrew's chest tightened. "Don't touch Nicole!" There it was. The answer. Satisfied, the kidnappers grinned. Even Nicole, who'd been faking terror, finally relaxed. She turned to Andrew, eyes full of fake gratitude. But Andrew wasn't looking at her anymore. His gaze had shifted to Lena. He expected her to break down, to beg. But she just stayed there—eerily calm. For some reason, that unsettled him more than anything. Before he could speak, a sudden weight pressed against him—Nicole had been untied and flung herself into his arms. Instinctively, he caught her. "Nicole..." Then his eyes widened. At that exact moment, Lena's ropes were cut too—sending her plunging straight into the sea. A loud splash. The waves swallowed her whole, dragging her down. She kicked, fought to surface, but exhaustion clung to her like chains, pulling her deeper. Her eyelids grew heavy... until darkness took over. *** When Lena woke up in the hospital, the first thing she saw was Andrew sitting beside her bed. Bloodshot eyes. Unshaven stubble. He'd been there for days. But she didn't need him anymore. Their eyes met, heavy with unspoken words. Lena was the first to break the silence. "Uncle Andrew, you don't need to stay here. Go check on Nicole—she needs you more." Perhaps sensing her words might seem too cold, she added, "I can take care of myself." Andrew froze, staring at her with an unreadable expression. After a long pause, he finally stood and walked away. Lena's discharge day just had to be Nicole's birthday. Since it was their first one as a couple, Andrew went all out. A hundred thousand roses from Flandora flooded the venue. Expensive gifts were piled in the corners like afterthoughts. From the entrance to the ballroom, every display screamed them—photos of their picture-perfect romance. Fireworks lit up the sky as the party hit its peak. Andrew twirled Nicole across the dance floor in a flawless waltz, the massive screen behind them looping their sweetest moments. Guests watched in awe, practically swooning at the fairytale. And then— The screen cut to black. A second later, handwritten love letters and sketches flickered into view. One after another. Lena's letters. Lena's sketches. Her feelings for Andrew, spilled out for everyone to see. Silence hit first. Then chaos. Lena went rigid, blood draining from her face. She'd destroyed all of those. So why—how—were they here? Her body screamed at her to move, to do something, but she stood frozen as whispers stabbed through the air. "Mr. Rohan's about to get married, and she's still clinging to him? Shameless." "On Nicole's birthday? She's practically declaring war." "Even after they're married, she'll always be lurking in the background. Poor Ms. Jenner." The murmurs swelled, finally reaching the couple on the dance floor. Nicole's face went ghost-white. She trembled, eyes darting straight to Lena—the obvious culprit. Tears brimmed before she yanked up her gown and bolted. "Nicole!" Andrew's chest tightened. Instinct said run after her. But then his gaze landed on Lena—motionless, stunned. He stopped cold. And without a second thought, his hand snapped up. Slap! The sound cut through the ballroom. Silence. Andrew's voice was razor-sharp. "Lena Clermont, I was wondering why you've been so well-behaved. Turns out you were just WAITING for this moment." Chapter 5 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—give you back to her." Andrew only held her tighter. "No, Nicole. I could never love her. You know how long I've loved you. If you push me away now... do you want to rip my heart out?" His voice dropped, his head lowering toward hers. And then— Headlights. Blinding. Rushing straight for them. Lena skidded to a stop, breath catching— And then everything went red. *** The emergency room pulsed with red light. Doctors rushed back and forth, scrambling to stabilize Andrew, wires and monitors beeping in a frantic rhythm. But he didn't care. "Save Nicole first," he rasped. "Mr. Rohan, you're the one—" "Forget me... Save her." His voice shook, barely above a whisper. Left with no choice, they wheeled Nicole into surgery. Minutes later, a doctor burst out, panic-stricken. "She's hemorrhaging! Does anyone have Type A blood?" Andrew shoved past the nurses, ripping off his IV. "I do. Take mine!" "But sir, your condition—" "Shut up and do it! Now!" Bag after bag filled the tray. His face went ghostly white. Andrew didn't collapse until the doctors confirmed Nicole was safe. The second the words left their mouths, his body gave out, and they wheeled him into emergency care. Lena couldn't watch anymore. She turned and walked away. He loved Nicole—more than his own life. If she had realized that in her past life, would things have ended differently? Would she have been spared all that pain? She had changed so much this time, yet Nicole still ended up in that car accident. And it all traced back to those letters and drawings. But how? She had destroyed them. The only person who could have kept them, only to expose them at the worst possible moment... was Nicole. But why? She already had Andrew. Lena didn't understand. And she wasn't sure she wanted to. *** For three days, Lena drifted in a daze. Then Andrew was discharged. And the first thing he did? Have his bodyguards throw her into the cold storage room. The second she hit the frozen floor, the chill sank deep into her bones. Surrounded by nothing but icy white, she let out a bitter laugh. She couldn't even remember the last time she'd felt this kind of cold. Ever since she'd fallen into that frozen lake as a kid, her body had never fully recovered—always weak, always sensitive to the cold. That's why the mansion was kept warm year-round. And now, Andrew was using it against her. A punishment—for not giving up on him. For hurting Nicole. Lena curled into herself, trying to hold onto whatever warmth she had left. It was useless. Her body shook, muffled whimpers escaping her lips. Outside, a maid hesitated before whispering, "Ms. Clermont, why don't you just apologize? If you keep this up... your body won't be able to take it." Lena's eyes burned red. In her past life, she had been wrong. She'd deserved it. But this time? She hadn't done anything. What was she supposed to apologize for? And even if she did, Andrew wouldn't care. His heart was Nicole's. It always had been. The freezing air clawed at her from all sides. Frost formed on her lashes. Her heartbeat slowed. Her thoughts blurred. Then everything went dark. Chapter 6 Lena woke up in bed, her body aching. Andrew stood beside her, cold and unreadable. "You really outdid yourself this time," he said, voice like ice. "I should've left you in there for three days, but Nicole—being so generous—begged me to let you out. "I know you still can't let go, but listen up, Lena. I will never love a girl twelve years younger than me. You and I? Not happening." The door slammed behind him before she could even open her mouth. Lena leaned against the headboard, eyes shut, exhaling slow. 'Andrew... I really don't love you anymore.' *** The Rohan estate buzzed with wedding prep. Nicole flitted around, barking orders, all smiles as she looped her arm through Lena's—like their messy history had magically disappeared. "The venue's set, decorations are perfect. Only thing missing? A bridesmaid. Lena, you'd be PERFECT! Who knows? Maybe you'll hit it off with a groomsman and finally get a boyfriend." Her voice dripped with fake sweetness. Lena wasn't great at pretending. She pulled her arm free, ready to shut it down, when a cold voice cut through the air. "She can't be a bridesmaid." Both girls turned. Andrew stood behind them. Nicole blinked. "Why not?" He didn't answer. Just looked at Lena. She'd been different lately. No desperate clinging, no pathetic attempts to get his attention. But the idea of her finding a boyfriend? That irritated him. Not that he knew why. His jaw tensed, mind scrambling for an excuse, but Lena spoke first. "I'm not even in your age group. It wouldn't be appropriate." Not the real reason—she'd be gone before the wedding even happened—but it worked. Andrew gave a small nod. Nicole sighed. End of discussion. Just as Lena exhaled, ready to escape, Nicole spoke up again. "If Lena can't be my bridesmaid, then as a sign of your blessing, why don't you give me the wedding dress you designed? I've always loved it." Lena froze, instinctively glancing at Andrew. That dress—she'd designed it at eighteen. It had even won an award. Countless heiresses had begged to buy it, but she refused every single one. Because it was meant for her. She'd dreamed of wearing it on her wedding day. To Andrew. And he knew that. But instead of shutting Nicole down, he hesitated—then spoke. "Lena, if you sell me the gown, I'll agree to whatever condition you name." A smirk ghosted across her lips. "No need. Nicole's right—I should give you both my blessing. Consider it my wedding gift." She made a quick call. Minutes later, boutique staff arrived, carefully handing the gown to Nicole. Beaming, Nicole snatched it up and bolted for the fitting room, too thrilled to keep tormenting Lena. Lena watched her go, her face unreadable, then turned back toward her room. No anger. No sadness. Just nothing. Andrew, however, stood frozen, staring after her, lost in thought. *** Late that night, Lena packed her suitcase alone. Almost everything was set—the paperwork, the plans. Soon, she'd be gone. Just as she stashed her luggage and was about to crash, the door slammed open. Andrew stormed in, grabbed her wrist, and snapped, "What did you do to the wedding dress? Nicole put it on, and now she's covered in rashes. Itching like crazy. Were you trying to kill her?" Under the dim yellow light, his eyes burned, sharp enough to cut. Lena yanked back. "I didn't touch it! I wouldn't—I couldn't! Why would I hurt her?" His face went cold. Then—shove. She hit the bed, his glare like ice. "I don't care what excuse you have. You still won't let me go, fine. But going after Nicole?" His voice dropped, lethal. "You'd better pray she's fine, or else—" Before he could finish, a maid rushed in. "Mr. Rohan! Ms. Jenner just fainted!" Andrew stiffened. "Watch Lena. Don't let her escape." Then he was gone. Chapter 7 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. From the kidnapping to the letters at the banquet, and now this—don't you think it's all TOO much of a coincidence? If I was really framing her, would I succeed EVERY time?" She thought Andrew, always cautious, would at least start connecting the dots. But he was too far gone, his voice ice-cold. "So what, you're saying Nicole set you up? I love her. I'm marrying her. Why would she even bother?" That was exactly what Lena couldn't understand. "I don't kn—" A sharp cry tore from her lips. The whip had already struck. "Lena, you're truly beyond saving." Her face drained of color. A bitter smile tugged at her lips. Of course. Nicole was the one he'd always protect. So why had she even dared to hope he'd believe her? She wanted to run, but the bodyguards were faster. They shoved her to the ground. Another lash cut through the air. Andrew's voice was ice. "Do you admit your guilt?" Pain ripped through her, but she clenched her hands tight, refusing to make a sound. Andrew's expression darkened at her defiance. The whip cracked down again, this time across her back. "I'll ask one more time—do you admit it?" Lena lay there, lips sealed. She hadn't done anything wrong. Why should she confess? Andrew's patience snapped. The whip lashed her over and over. Skin split. Blood seeped through her clothes. Still, she didn't break. In the end, it was Jeffrey, the butler, who stepped in, grabbing Andrew's wrist. "Sir, if this continues, she won't survive..." Only then did Andrew stop. He tossed the whip aside, his face cold. "Lena Clermont, don't let there be a next time." Her head slumped forward. Unconscious. *** For days, Andrew didn't come home. Meanwhile, Lena was stuck in bed, too wrecked by pain to move. It took days before she could finally stand again. The moment she was back on her feet, her phone rang—immigration office. Her permanent residency was approved. That was it. No more reason to stay. She packed up the last of her stuff, suitcase in hand, ready to go. But the second she stepped outside, she crashed straight into Andrew. Before she could react, his voice cut like ice. "Lena, how old are you? Still pulling this runaway act?" His expression darkened. "I've told you over and over—quit your obsession with me. But you don't listen, and you keep hurting Nicole. Am I wrong for punishing you?" Lena was too drained to care. How many times had she said it? She didn't love him anymore. Why wouldn't he believe her? Andrew sighed, rubbing his temple, clearly annoyed. "Fine. Go clear your head. Nicole's pregnancy is unstable, and I'm busy with the wedding. If you stay, who knows what you'll try to pull." Then, without waiting for a response, he grabbed her suitcase. "I'll take you to the airport myself." Lena didn't argue. Didn't explain. She just followed. The car tore down the road in silence. Neither of them spoke. At the airport, Lena reached for her luggage, ready to go. That's when Andrew finally asked, "Where's your ticket to?" Before she could answer, his voice iced over again. "Stay close. Don't go too far. Once Nicole and I are married, I'll come get you." Lena didn't argue. Didn't react. Just nodded. "I understand." She grabbed her suitcase and walked inside. Only when Andrew's car vanished into traffic did she pull out her phone and quietly block his number. Come get her back? No need, Andrew. She was never coming back.