Chapter 20
Micah refused to believe a word Laris said. After all, how could he not love Lena? He’d married her, planned a family with her, tended to her every need – how could that not be love?
Lena’s decision to end the pregnancy and divorce him was all Laris’s fault. He pinned every ounce of blame on her. If it weren’t for Laris, he and Lena would still be together, married and happy.
As Laris lay slumped unconscious on the couch, a dark thought gripped Micah.
If she were gone, Lena might come back to him. In his unraveling madness, he was certain she would.
So, he locked Laris away, tormenting her and snapping photos of her suffering. As he held the images in his hands, he believed they’d be enough to earn Lena’s forgiveness.
After following Lena’s routine for days, he finally caught her alone and muttered, “Lena, Lena.”
Lena was on the phone with Caleb when she saw Micah approaching. With her heart pounding, she ran, frantically sending her location to Caleb.
“Micah, what do you want?” she demanded, out of breath. Spotting a stick on the ground, she snatched it up and clutched it tightly.
Micah held out the photos. “Lena, look. I’m done with Laris. Come back to me, please.”
But Lena didn’t glance at the pictures and instead pointed the stick at him as he closed in. “Whatever’s between you and Laris is your problem. I’m divorced divorced from you. I’m with Caleb now.”
Micah wasn’t listening to her. He lunged, yanking the stick from her grip and flinging it aside.
“Micah, I’m warning you,” she said, her voice steady despite her fear. “We’re divorced. Come any closer, and I’ll call the police.”
But Micah, eyes wild with desperation, ignored her and forced her back against the wall. As he reached for her, Caleb appeared just in time and grabbed
his collar.
Upon seeing Lena trembling, he kicked Micah hard in the gut.
Micah crashed into the wall, gasping. Caleb then rushed toward him, fists hammering down, each punch drawing blood from Micah’s split lip as he crumpled to the ground.
Terrified that Caleb might kill him, Lena rushed forward and grabbed his arm. “Caleb, I’m scared.”
Her words stopped him. He then pulled her into his arms and held her close.
Micah, barely conscious on the ground, fought to his feet. He was desperate to interrupt them. “Caleb, Lena’s mine! I got rid of Laris. She’ll forgive me. You’re nothing! I’m the one who loves her most. We were married, and she carried my child for me!”
Caleb started toward Micah again, but Lena held him back. “Ignore him. I don’t love him anymore.”
Upon noticing her fear, Caleb didn’t pursue Micah further. He simply called the police and handed him over to them.
“You okay?” he finally asked Lena, concern etched on his face.
“I’m fine, just shaken,” Lena softly said.
Caleb gripped her hand, his voice firm with resolve as he said, “From now on, I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
