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“So, you just happened to be at the same masquerade party as me?” I frown, my voice rising. “My wife’s sis— You don’t even go by Layla!”
Layla moves closer, looking tiny in her hospital gown. “It’s still my name, Tristan. I’m still me, and I’m so so—”
“I don’t know you, and I don't trust you.” I cut her off. “I can’t stand you.” Her face flinches with pain, and I look for more words to hurt her as much as I’m hurting. “I don’t know if it was planned the day Ellen called you a nobody at the ranch, but she’s right. You're a nobody.”
Layla steps back, her eyes moistening and her shoulders slumping.
“You put my family at risk, but I don’t expect you to understand family since yours don’t give a shit about you.” I step closer, towering over her, hitting her with words like slaps across the face. “You’ll end up alone and miserable, Layla, because you’re a terrible person who doesn’t deserve love.”
She stares at me, blinking to keep the tears back. Her shoulders stiffen, and her posture straightens. She studies my face like she’s committing it to memory, and I do the same because I know what I will say next.
“I never want to see you again.” I spit the words at her. “Never.”
Her face twitches for a moment, but she holds the tears back. We lock eyes without speaking as my words hang with finality in the air. Her hands settle on her stomach again. I want to ask her if she’s okay and why she’s in a hospital gown, but why should I do that?
I don’t care about her, not anymore. So, why am I so hurt?
“I understand,” Layla says quietly. “I just want you to know I never betrayed you, Tristan. Yeah, I came to you with a plan in my head, but I never did anything to jeopardize your position with the board or Ruby. I swear on Deanna.”
“Don’t say her name,” I seethe. “She’s worth more than you’ll ever be. That's why your family sent you to me like a whore.”
Layla steps back, stunned. Her face slacks and her mouth falls open. Then, she straightens up and turns around. I watch her walk down the hall till she disappears into one of the rooms. I stand there, pain being my only company. I ruffle my hair, then cover my mouth with both hands as I breathe deeply to try to steady myself.
Suddenly, the walls of the hallway seem to close around me. The air feels fetid in my nostrils, and my head hurts from the whirlwind drama of the evening. I need to get Ruby and get the hell out of here.
I stride into the room and catch Ruby eating a bar of Snickers. She attempts to hide it from me, but chocolate stains her lips, teeth, and hospital gown. I ignore it, my head spinning.
“We have to go, sweetheart.” I try to raise her off the bed, but she shrugs me off.
“Where’s Layla?” Ruby asks, looking towards the door. “She’s in the car?”
“Layla isn’t going to be around anymore,” I say the words that hurt me just as it hurt Ruby.
I move to remove her from the bed again, but she scrambles to be left alone. “I want Layla.”
“She’s gone, Ruby,” I reply, my voice thick with emotion. “She’s not coming back. Now, be a doll, and let’s get you home. We’ll have some—”
“I want Layla,” Ruby repeats, her tiny voice crying and echoing in the small room. “I want—”
At the moment, my anger and hurt give way to a wave of despair; the knowledge of being blind to what was in front of me crashes over me like a tidal wave. “Stop crying, Ruby!” I snap, my voice sharp with frustration. “Shut up and get up! I won’t tell you twice!”
Tears stream down Ruby’s face as she gets off the bed and leaves the room. I pick up her bag in the corner, making a mental note to send the hospital a check. Guilt chokes me as I follow behind her. I catch up with her and lift her into my arms, but she won’t look at me. Ruby sobs quietly as I walk out of the hallway.
The night is cold, so I wrap my arm around her as I carry her to the car. Ruby doesn’t stop sobbing when we turn onto the road.
“Ruby,” I whisper, looking at her crying face in the rear mirror. “I’m sorry, baby.” I swallow, my guilt still choking me.
The words offer little solace as we drive home in silence. As we pull into the mansion's driveway, an emptiness washes over me, Layla’s betrayal gnawing at the edges of my consciousness. It’s all I can think about.
Why?
But I know why. Her sister, her business, her parents, it all makes sense. But I still can’t believe it. Ruby had cried herself to sleep in the backseat. I step out of the car and carry her gently, not to wake her. The last thing I need is her asking for Layla in the middle of the night.
Luke is gone, and his car is no longer in my compound. I step inside the house and turn on the lights with a wandering hand against the wall. Ruby breathes softly in my ears, her heart pounding against mine as I carry her up the stairs to her room.
I kiss her when I tuck her into bed, then head to my study.
The scattered books from earlier are still on the floor. I stand at the doorway, staring at the desk. Images of Layla flash in my mind as I fail to fight them away. The bottle of whiskey taunting me from its perch on the table. I know there’s only one thing left to do.
