Chapter 18
After that day, Micah had tried to see Lena twice more, but Caleb chased him off both times.
Lena thought he’d finally given up and was starting to relax when an unknown number texted her, saying, “Lena, let’s meet.”
She didn’t recognize the number or know how they got it. Without hesitation, she deleted the message. But the next day, the same text came through again.
“Who is this?” Lena warily replied.
“Laris.”
Lena frowned and blocked the number. She was done with Micah and Laris–she’d left that life behind. Why wouldn’t they let her move on?
One day after class when Caleb was stuck in a lecture, Laris stepped into Lena’s path. “Lena, we need to talk.”
“There’s nothing to talk about,” Lena said, trying to step around her.
But Laris tightly grabbed her wrist.
Lena tried to pull free, but Laris held firm. “There’s a coffee shop nearby. Let’s go,” she insisted.
Lena had no interest in dealing with her, but after getting cornered like this, she wasn’t about to back down. After all, she’d done nothing wrong and had no reason to fear Laris. At the coffee shop, she even ordered a drink for her.
Laris stared at the cup, a bitter smirk on her lips. When she stayed silent, Lena spoke first. “What’s wrong? Not happy with Micah?”
Her words struck a nerve, and Laris’s face darkened in an instant. “Was it you? Did you do something to make him act this way?”
Lena sipped her coffee, her gaze sharp yet amused. “Sounds like things aren’t going so great with you two.”
Laris’s composure shattered. She grabbed her coffee, ready to hurl it at Lena’s face.
But Lena was faster. She pinned Laris’s wrist to the table with one hand and splashed her own coffee across Laris‘ face with the other.
Before Laris could react, Lena seized her cup and drenched her again.
“Lena!” Laris gasped, stunned as coffee dripped from her hair. She couldn’t believe the woman she’d once thought of as timid would do this.
“This was what you wanted, wasn’t it?” Lena coldly said. “I lost my child, divorced Micah, and I even left the country to get away from you two. And you’re still not satisfied?
“You got Micah, but it’s not what you pictured, so now you’re here bothering me? Honestly, Laris, it’s pathetic.“/
Coffee dripped from Laris‘ hair, soaking her clothes. “This is all your fault!” she spat. “If it weren’t for you, Micah wouldn’t be treating me this way!”
Lena scoffed. “Two cups of coffee, and you’re still not awake?”
Laris lunged, but someone grabbed her arm from behind. “Is class over?” Lena asked, smiling at Caleb, who’d appeared just in time.
Laris yanked her wrist free, glaring at him.
“Laris, talk to Micah if you’ve g
