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“Hey, Roy,” Regal greeted while Steven wrapped his arm around her waist.
“Royalty,” he spoke.
Looking from one to the other, Lei gave herself time to process what she was feeling. It wasn’t love or hate—it was indifference. All this time she feared exploding or shrinking if she ever crossed paths with these people again, but they meant so little to her now that she looked at them as if they were strangers.
“Wow,” Lei whispered as tears filled her eyes. “Hey. Um…” Her head shook absently as she gave Jennifer her attention. “Thank you for this. It was exactly what I needed.”
Lei turned abruptly to leave, and Jennifer followed close behind.
“Wait, that’s it? You’re leaving already?”
“Yeah. I came, I saw, and I felt… nothing at all.” Lei’s chuckle was light as she grabbed Londen’s hand. “I feared seeing y’all would fill me with all these negative emotions, but I didn’t feel a damn thing looking at them, and I truly thank God for that.”
Stunned, Jennifer stood there with her mouth partially opened as they walked away.
“Royalty!” Regal yelled, jogging toward them. “Um… I just… wanted to say sorry again. There was no room for talking when you found out, and that’s on me. I never should have done something so horrible to you. Trust me, I’ve paid for it.” She looked back toward the house. “That man has taken me through it every year that we’ve been together, and I know that’s my karma for what I did to you.”
At the sound of Regal’s confession, Lei’s heart grew heavy. It felt like she had a lump in her throat, trapping words her heart needed to say even though her mind didn’t want her to.
“Regardless, you don’t deserve to be mistreated for ten years, Regal. If he’s not doing right by you and your daughter, leave him.”
Regal chuckled as her eyes watered. She looked into the distance as she said, “It’s not that simple, but thank you.”
Lei stared at her for a few seconds before taking Regal’s hand into hers and squeezing it. Regal finally looked into her eyes as her tears began to fall. It was then that Lei noticed the purple bruise under her eye that her makeup was trying to cover up.
Lei’s nostrils flared and lips curled as she gritted her teeth.
“Did he… Is he putting his fucking hands on you?” Lei seethed, looking toward the door as if she could see him.
“When he’s not cheating… yes.”
“Regal,” Lei called, pulling her into her arms. “Girl, we don’t have to be close for me to want better for you. You need to leave him. If not for yourself, for your daughter. Is this the normal you want her to grow up seeing? Do you want her attracted to boys like Steven who are going to treat her the exact same way?”
“I don’t know what else to do!” Regal whisper-screamed. “He’s all we have, Lei. I didn’t finish my last year of college because I was pregnant with Royalty. I haven’t worked in the past ten years. He makes all the money and… I’m just… stuck.”
Londen’s breath came out low and hard as he stepped toward them. “Do you want me to handle that, Baby? Because youknowI fucking will.”
Lei’s eyes squeezed shut as she considered Londen’s request. “Not while their daughter is in there.”
“What is he talking about, Royalty?”
“It’s Lei,” she corrected. “And does Steven have life insurance?”
Her mouth dropped, and eyes protruded in surprise. “Yes, but… you can’t…” She looked at Londen. “He can’t kill him. That’s Roy’s father.”
“Girl, fuck that. If that man is putting his hands on you, he deserves to die. Take that life insurance and start fresh with your daughter. When you’re ready for that, Jennifer knows how to get in touch with me.”
Lei gave Regal another brief hug before walking away. While she still had no desire to be in their lives, she wouldn’t ignore what was going on with Regal. There was a great chance Regal would never reach out for help, and if that was the choice she made, Lei was more than okay with that. If she did call, though, Lei would allow Londen to do whatever the hell it was he wanted to do to Steven.
Londen waited until they were in the car to ask, “Are you really good?”
Sniffling, Lei nodded as she wiped her tears. “I am, and these are happy tears. It feels so freeing, no longer allowing fear and pain to hold me back. And knowing the bullet I dodged with Steven…” She chuckled as her tears fell more frequently. “This gave me the confidence I need to start a new life here with you.”
“I’m glad because I wasn’t going to do this without you.”
“Thankfully, you won’t have to.”
Lei’s head tilted back, and she closed her eyes as a smile rested on her face. It felt like she could finally close that chapter of her life, for good, and Lei was so… so happy about that.
