The Billionaire's Ex-Wife Returns!
Chapter 8: He Has Come

Chapter 8: He Has Come

"Now tell me what the hell is going on?" Vanessa demanded as soon as she opened the door. "Why is everyone talking about you and Miss Leblanc?"

Lucy stood outside and forced a smile on her lips. "Can I at least come inside?"

Vanessa glanced down at the suitcase and bag Lucy carried around her. She took them from her and led Lucy inside. She knew the situation was not good, but not this bad where her best friend had to pack up all her things in the middle of the night.

She was lounging on her couch, watching her favorite prime-time shows with some snacks and beer in hand, when suddenly the TV screen switched up, displaying breaking news about Lucy. After spilling her drink onto her ten-thousand-dollar couch, Vanessa called Lucy as soon as she grabbed her phone.

Who would’ve thought she would hear Lucy crying the moment their call connected?

Lucy followed Vanessa inside her home.

It was an apartment in an exclusive and secluded apartment complex. Vanessa never told her what she does, but Lucy guessed her job pays a lot since apartments like this in this part of the city were ten times more expensive.

By the time Lucy found a spot on the couch, Vanessa reappeared with a glass of water and a towel.

"That bastard better prepare a long explanation," Vanessa spits, handing the glass to Lucy. "I don’t care if he’s your husband, but it just doesn’t make sense that he let you out of his house at this hour and with what’s going on."

"There’s no need for him to explain," Lucy muttered. She brought her legs to her chest and dropped her chin on her knees. "We’re already divorced."

Vanessa cursed, dropping to her knees, and stared at her. "When did this happen? Oh god, Lucy, what has he done to you?"

Lucy blinked, curious how she came to that conclusion. Was it so obvious in her face how hurt and broken she was?

If it was, she better do a good job hiding it next time.

"Don’t do that," Vanessa grabbed her, squeezing her hand. "Lucy, please don’t make that face."

"What face?"

"The kind of look you make when you shut the world around you. As if," Vanessa swallowed, her eyes darting to their linked hands. "As if you went back to the time your mother died."

She mumbled these words.

Lucy looked up at her and tilted her head, confused.

She didn’t know what Vanessa was talking about. When her mother died, she grieved. But doesn’t everybody grieve when someone they love and treasure dies?

Lucy wanted to know what she looked like right now. Maybe if she could find a mirror, she’d figure out what Vanessa meant.

But she didn’t dare do it.

Lucy doesn’t know if she would be able to do it.

Facing herself in the mirror might just...break her.

"I don’t know what to do, Vanessa," she whispered, her voice cracking.

Vanessa raised her body with her knees still on the ground, pulling Lucy into a tight hug. She felt Lucy needed it. Only a woman could understand another woman’s suffering.

The two of them met back in their freshman years in college. Lucy was every bit sweet and kind, a rare character anyone would see in this world where in every corner you’d meet another Ursula ready to snatch your man.

She had a lot to ask Lucy. But it could wait.

Right now, Lucy needed her.

"It’s okay," she patted her back. "He isn’t worth your tears, sweetie. Even without him, you can live your life. I’ll always be there beside you and support you."

Her words were meant to comfort Lucy. She knows this. But instead, she couldn’t help but cry even more furiously.

Before leaving the Westwood mansion, Lucy hesitated. She wanted to wait for Landon and ask him what he meant by the divorce agreement. Naturally, she knew the obvious answer he would tell her. But Lucy couldn’t let go of the tiniest hope that he would deny it.

She loved him. Her heart screams for him. It will never be easy or quick for that to change.

She wanted to fight for her love. She was never the one to back down.

She didn’t even want to divorce him.

But she was dying.

How can a dying person hold on to someone who would forget them easily?

And so, she did the most reasonable she could do for the man she loved.

It was to divorce him and let him become happy.

"Lucy, you’re still young. There’s a bright future ahead of you." Vanessa wanted to tell her that there were other men in the world, but she couldn’t do it. Not when Lucy had just lost the man she loved.

But Vanessa didn’t know that wasn’t the only reason Lucy was crying.

Taking deep breaths, slowly, in and out until her racing heart calmed down, Lucy opened her bag and rummaged through it before pulling out a folded piece of paper.

She gave it to Vanessa, who looked at her with a quizzical look.

"Is this a love letter for me?" Vanessa joked, trying to lighten the mood.

By the time she held the paper, slowly unfolding it in front of Lucy, her gaze riveted on the writings in it.

"What is this?" Vanessa entreated. "Did you get this mixed up with someone else because this... says stage-two ovarian cancer?"

Lucy shook her head. "It’s me, Vanessa."

"No. It’s not you." Vanessa dropped on her butt, gripping the paper with her. "The hospital must have mixed your name with someone else. How could you have cancer when you’re so young?"

"We should go there now and complain." Vanessa stood up, but her knees buckled, and she fell again to the floor. Tears prickled the back of her eyes as she said, "Lucy, why aren’t you saying anything? Tell me this is a mistake. Lucy!"

"Vanessa, please." Lucy buried her face in her palms. She couldn’t bear to look at her best friend. "I’m tired."

Silence filled the living room as the two took in the reality of their world.

Twenty minutes later, Vanessa suddenly got up and careened to the door. When Lucy asked where she was going, she replied, "I’ll kill that bastard."

"No!" Lucy shot up from the couch and ran to chase after her.

"Let go of me, Lucy!"

"Don’t do this, Vanessa."

"Why shouldn’t I? If you’re going to die, that asshole should go first!"

Lucy held onto Vanessa tightly. Vanessa’s support overjoyed her, but Landon was not someone her best friend could easily confront.

Besides, the cancer in her body was not because of Landon. Given her family history with this disease, it was inevitable. She was still destined to die even if she didn’t meet Landon.

Vanessa should also know this. But she couldn’t help but blame Landon for everything.

Lucy felt her best friend relaxing under her touch, and just as she was about to pull her back inside, she heard a small thump.

It sounded like it came from the door.

Turning to the door just a few feet away, Lucy asked, "Were you expecting someone?"

Vanessa shook her head. "No."

Just when Lucy thought it would pass, the doorbell rang.

They turned their heads to the intercom, and Lucy’s heart dropped to her stomach.

The square screen on the wall beside the door showed a face that would be forever burned in Lucy’s eyes.

Outside the door was none other than Landon Westwood.