LAKE
It breaks me.
She broke me to pieces. The way she looked at me, crying before me, and those eyes clouded with so much pain, I lost it. I blinked away the tears in my eyes but eventually fell.
How did we get to this point? I had no idea.
Our elevator ride to the penthouse seemed to become more unnerving as if we were going to a war with no return and no chances of winning, but I took that leap.
“Can I get you something to drink?”
“No.” One word was all it took.
I couldn’t take it anymore. “I lied.”
She settled on the couch, and I sat across her. “Which one?”
“I didn’t file a divorce.”
Her eyes shifted to me. “Why did you lie to me?”
I let go of a hard breath. “I haven’t been with anyone nor looked at any women-” I raised my hand. “Okay. I looked at women. It would be another lie if I said I didn’t. I looked at Mom, but you know what I mean. The last woman I had was you in our bed thirty-one days ago.”
She wallowed hard.
“I didn’t break my promises nor my vows.”
“Why did you lie then?”
“I missed you, and I couldn’t talk to you. I knew you were okay, but at the same time, you did not even reach out.”
“If you just used the key, asshole.” She cried again. “You’re such a dick. I’ve waited for you to find me. I knew and trusted you to figure out who did that to me, and I’ve waited because I couldn’t risk your life and Nana, asshole! You made me wait there for nothing!”
“Baby.” When I reached out, she swatted my hand.
“Go away!”
“Why didn’t you just call me?”
“They could have killed Nana. They could have ruined your life! Don’t you get that?”
I looked down, surrendering to my defeat and failure to be that man- that man should protect his wife, should be there for her- that man should take all that pain away from her. I was a disappointment, a work of failure.
“Then I risked everything to come here for you, and then you just shoved right into my face how less of a value I was to you. That I meant nothing to you, and our marriage is just a piece of paper.”
“I just learned that night that my father is sick. I was confused.”
“Isn’t that the same man who bullied you and bullied me? Isn’t that the same man who tried to poison my grandmother and asked someone to blow up Nana? That’s the very same man who made me steal money from you and forced me to walk away from you, or he would hurt the people I care about? Does that still affect you? What about me, Lake? Do I mean nothing to you? If you really missed me, you wouldn’t find me. Instead, you just said some awful things to me that night because you found out your narcissistic father was sick. You broke my heart. But family is family, right? Blood is blood.”
“You’re my family, Maverick.”
“That’s rich coming from you. I could have been there for you and told you he would be okay. We can find the best doctor in the world.”
I chuckled sadly as I wiped my tears. “That’s what exactly Cooper said to me today. He said you’re the kindest and most selfless person he’s ever met. After what my father had done to you, to me, to our marriage, you can still think of something good. I’m so sorry, Maverick.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry, too.” She rose to her feet and walked away.
I was relieved that she wasn’t walking towards the door, but upstairs.
“Maverick?” I called her as I followed her upstairs.
“I’m tired. I want to be alone right now.”
“Baby, please?”
“I said I’m tired!” She snapped and faced me. “You want divorce? Go ahead. Do whatever you want in your life. I don’t care.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“I mean it, Lake. Since I came into your life, my nana was kidnapped, and I was about to get a bullet hole in my head. I was humiliated in front of the whole world. We almost died in Italy. My nana was threatened again by your lunatic father. Are all this worth fighting for? Is all this and money worth staying if I can’t live my life peacefully? Hell no. I’d rather have my life back than work as a bartender. At least I can still smile, and my grandmother is safe.”
“What about me? Are you not going to hear what I’m about to say?”
“No. I’ve given you chances to lay down your daddy issues, and I’ve sacrificed my life for you, but you chose to hurt me instead of being happy that I’m back. Go to hell, Lake. Leave me alone.” She went to her room and slammed the door in my face.
“Fuck. Fuck.” I scratched my head in anger and annoyance.
“OB! Huxley, get in here!”
They came running upstairs.
“Fine out, and what bank did she open that safe deposit box? Now!” It seemed it was too important to her. “I didn’t give a damn if it was midnight or morning. I need to get into that bank and take what she has in that safe.”
“We can just ask her.”
“Good luck with that.” I glared at Owen as I went downstairs.
Five minutes later, Owen came. “You should call the bank manager and tell him to open the bank. You’re the boss, the rich, and tell him it’s a matter of life and death.”
In about an hour, we arrived at the bank after I promised the manager that I would open an account and deposit fifty million dollars, so he agreed.
“It’s number 382.”
“Thank you, and I’m sorry for the trouble.”
“No worries. I’ll get your account ready tomorrow morning.” He grinned at me before he left.
I wanted to roll my eyes, but I chose to unlock the deposit box. I set the box on the table.
Maverick kept her wedding and engagement rings. Her phone was also here with the cards, diamond bracelet, and her passbook with paper. My guess is a letter for me.
Hey babe,
I hope you can read this before it’s too late, but there’s no other way to protect you and Nana. I would rather watch you alive from far away with a broken heart than not see you at all.
I love you so much. I know it’s too late to tell you how I feel, and I should have said it sooner, but know that you are the love of my life, Lake. And know that I’m going away for I don’t know how long with a shattered heart. When things are over, please come and find me. You know I love beaches.
Love always,
Maverick
I would have said what a cliche if I had watched a movie in which a tear fell down the letter, and it had just happened to me, making me smile. I wiped my eyes and took all her things with me.
Now, I would start the begging and groveling.
When I came back to the penthouse, the light in the kitchen was on, and she was eating ice cream from the tub.
“Where the hell did you go?” So she knew I left.
“Careful with that. You’re gonna upset your stomach.”
“Why do you care?”
I smiled while she was glaring. “I love you, too.” The more she glared at me, the more I smiled. “I will do everything for you, even if I had to grovel for a day. Just give me another chance.”
“You mean fifth or ten chances? Go away, Lake. I don’t love you anymore.” She shoved a spoonful of ice cream.
“You looked devastated when I told you I had a woman waiting in my bed, and you’re a terrible liar, baby. You’re mad, furious even, but I know you still love me. And I love you more than the life itself.”
“Screw you.”
“Yes, I know I’m screwed. I’d fucked up our relationship because I thought you knew everything was settled, and you haven’t come back. But I don’t give a shit how screwed I am as long as I have you here with me. Maybe I still have fifty or sixty years to spend asking for that forgiveness and unfucking it. And I’m sorry if I let you down a thousand times.”
When her chin trembled, and tears began falling again, I rounded the counter to squeeze her into a hug. “I’m so sorry, baby. I don’t even know where to start or how to forgive myself for hurting you.”
“Go fuck yourself.”
I chuckled. “Noted.”
“I really hate you right now.”
“It’s fine by me.”