Chapter Four

"You think I'd let you get me pregnant?" I spat, the words laced with sarcasm. His eyes, cold and hard, locked on me.

"Why? We're still married—"

"Not anymore!" I cut him off, my voice sharp, and turned away.

He reached out, his hand catching my arm as I reached the store door. I yanked it free, fury coursing through me.

"This is the last time we'll meet," I said, my voice shaking with barely contained emotion. I left him standing there and climbed into my car, my heart pounding like a drum solo. What a coincidence, what a freaking nightmare.

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to calm the storm inside. Taking a deep breath, I started the engine and drove back to our house. The moment I walked through the door, I retreated to my room, desperate for solitude. I collapsed onto the bed and let the tears flow, letting them wash away the pain and anger.

"Are you okay, honey?" Mom's voice came from outside the door. I quickly stifled my sobs, wiping away the tears.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I said, forcing my voice to remain steady.

"I made dinner, do you want to join us?" she asked. I took another deep breath, forcing myself to face the mirror. I looked like a wreck, my face pale and drained.

"I'll eat later," I mumbled, and went to wash my face.

Hours later, my stomach finally growled. I went to the kitchen, searching for something to eat, when my phone rang. It was Trisha.

"What are you doing, honey?" she asked, the sound of music and chatter in the background.

"Are you at a party?" I asked, my voice sounding distant even to my own ears.

She hesitated for a moment before answering. "Yeah! Wanna come hang out?"

I glanced at the time. The clock ticked past midnight, and I knew Trisha was already well into her usual "party mode." I shook my head, a mixture of exasperation and concern washing over me.

"Send me the location," I said, ending the call.

A quick shower and a touch of makeup later, I was out the door. The garage door was still open when I got the location, so I sped off, my anxiety growing with each passing minute. The party was in full swing when I arrived, a familiar sea of faces greeting me.

"Hey, where's Trisha?" I asked a woman I recognized from past gatherings, who was sitting alone on the couch. She looked at me, her eyes taking a moment to register my presence.

"Oh, she's in the pool. Tyra, right?" she confirmed, and I nodded. "Thanks!" I said with a smile, turning to leave.

I searched for the pool, the music and laughter around me a blur. Then, I heard someone shout Trisha's name. I rushed to the back door and saw her lying on the ground. My heart sank. I ran to her side, checking her pulse.

"What happened?" I asked the woman who was trying to help her.

"She passed out," she replied, and I nodded. "Can you help me carry her?" She readily agreed, and together we got Trisha into my car. As I slammed the door shut, I thanked the woman profusely.

"She had a lot of tequila," she explained. Trisha was out cold in the backseat. "She can't handle her liquor," I muttered, shaking my head. "Thanks again," I said, offering a tired smile.

As she walked away, I climbed into my car, searching for Jared's number. Just then, Trisha's phone rang. I got her phone and saw Jared was calling her. I answered the call.

"Jared," I said, my voice was tight. There was a moment of silence before he responded.

"Tyra?"

"I'm with Trisha. She's pretty drunk," I said.

“Oh! I’m sorry for the inconvenience. I will get here. Where should we meet?" He answered right away.

I glanced at my phone. "Tell me where you are, and I'll drive her there."

There was another pause on his line. "Are you sure?" he asked, but his voice was full of hesitation.

"Of course," I replied firmly and ended the call.

I stared at the address Jared had sent, and took a deep breath. This would be my first time back in that neighborhood since leaving a month ago. I started the engine, my heart started pounding with every turn of the wheel. The familiar streets felt surreal to me, each corner a reminder of a life I had left behind.

I pulled up in front of a sprawling house, and there was Jared waiting outside. A man was beside him, and I recognized him instantly – Laxus. Jared came towards my car, and I stepped out to greet him.

"I'm sorry, Tyra," he said, his voice filled with regret. I just smiled at him, a hollow gesture.

"It's fine. She called me, so I came," I said, opening the back door. Trisha was still asleep. Jared lifted her gently, and I closed the door behind him. I just watched them leave.

As I reached for my car door, Laxus cleared his throat. "We meet again, Mrs. Villafurte," he said, a smirk playing on his lips. I met his gaze, my eyes burning with anger. He pushed the door open wider as I tried to close it. I glared at him, my fury simmering.

"Why don't you visit your old house?" he asked, his voice laced with a mocking tone. I rolled my eyes.

"I don't have time to play games with you, Mr. Villafuerte," I snapped, pushing his hand away.

I heard him chuckle as I slammed the door shut. I started the engine and pulled away, leaving them behind. I could see Laxus watching me go, his gaze lingering as I drove away. I knew he was trying to pull me back, to reel me in. But I wouldn't give him the satisfaction. He'd sent me divorce papers, a formal declaration of our separation, but his actions screamed a different story. What a jerk, Laxus.

The early morning light filtered through the windows when I finally arrived home, exhausted. I reached for the door handle, but another door slammed shut behind me.

"Back from a night out?" My dad's voice was warm, laced with concern. I smiled, trying to mask the turmoil inside.

"Yep, had a blast! Sorry for being so late," I said, hoping my forced cheerfulness wouldn't betray my true feelings.

"No need to apologize. You're doing great. Don't shut yourself away. I'm going for a run, you should get some rest," he said, his words a gentle reminder that I wasn't alone.

"Thanks, Dad," I mumbled, retreating to my room.

I took a deep breath, letting the weight of the day settle on me. I shrugged off my jacket and collapsed onto the bed, feeling utterly drained, despite not having danced the night away.

The sun was high in the sky when I finally woke up. I went to the bathroom, the steam from the shower a welcome respite. As I dried my hair, my eyes fell on the brown envelope on my side table.

I finished brushing my hair, then picked up the envelope and opened it. I reread the papers, my gaze lingering on the signature line at the bottom. I grabbed a pen and signed my name, the act a strange mix of finality and relief.

"I should give this back to him," I muttered to myself, opening a drawer. My wedding ring lay nestled inside, a silent reminder of a love that had faded. I placed it in the envelope, a small act of closure.

"Never thought I'd be divorced," I whispered, clearing my throat to stifle a sob.

I stepped out of my room and found Tyler on the phone.

"You free today?" he asked, his voice a bit too cheerful.

"Yeah, why?" I asked, stopping in the hallway.

"Get dressed, we're going somewhere," he said, his tone brooking no argument. I rolled my eyes.

"I don't have the energy—"

"You want to leave, right? Just do what I say, and we can get out of this country peacefully," he cut me off, his words a stark reminder of the situation.

"Fine," I sighed, turning back to my room. I had no fight left in me.

I opted for a simple outfit, unsure of where Tyler was taking me. He was already waiting in the living room when I emerged, his face a mask of impassiveness.

"Where are we going?" I asked, but he remained silent. We reached the garage, and he held the door open for me.

As he drove, I tried to piece together our destination, but my mind was a blank slate. He pulled up in front of a restaurant, and I assumed we were meeting someone. "Why are we here?" I asked again, my voice laced with frustration. He simply stared at me.

"Come on, tell me!" I insisted, trying to pry the information from him.

"We're going to meet Laxus," he finally said. I nearly choked on my own saliva.

"What? Are you serious?" I exclaimed, turning to leave. He grabbed my arm, stopping me in my tracks.

"I'm sorry," he said, pulling me towards the restaurant.

The restaurant was empty, and I immediately spotted Laxus sitting at a table. He was alone, but the moment he heard us, he turned, his eyes widening in amusement.

"So happy to see you again!" he said, rising to his feet.

"What the heck are you doing here?" I demanded, my voice sharp. He just smirked.

"Just let him talk, Tyra," Tyler said, his voice a low rumble. My gaze snapped to him, disbelief washing over me. My own brother was betraying me?

"I already cleared everything. I don't want to talk to him," I said, backing away. Tyler stepped in front of me, blocking my escape.

I bolted out of the restaurant, a wave of panic washing over me. A cab pulled up just as I reached the sidewalk. I flung open the door and slid inside, slamming it shut before Tyler could catch up. "Dang it," I muttered under my breath. I'd planned this escape so carefully.

I gave the driver my destination and slumped back in the seat, letting the city lights blur past. The cab pulled up in front of a well-known club, and I paid the driver. I needed a drink, a distraction from the chaos of the evening. I called Trisha, hoping she'd be my escape.

"Yes, honey?" she answered, her voice warm and familiar.

"Can I stay at your condo tonight?" I asked, my voice a little shaky. There was a moment of silence before she replied.

"Of course, you can come anytime you want," she said. A wave of relief washed over me.

"Thanks! I'll just grab a drink first," I said, ending the call.

I didn't want to talk to anyone, not yet. A bucket of beer arrived, and I started drinking, my thoughts swirling. "Tyler needs a good beatdown," I muttered, downing the last bottle.

By the time I left the club, I was tipsy. I hailed a cab, but before it could pull up, a black SUV stopped in front of me. I tried to walk away, but the car followed, blocking my path.

"Hey! What's wrong with you?" I yelled, my voice laced with annoyance. The SUV moved again, stopping right in front of me. Laxus stepped out.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice tight. He walked towards me, his eyes holding a strange intensity. He leaned in, whispering into my ear.

"Driving you home," he said, and then everything went black.

I woke up in my own room, disoriented and confused. "How did I get here?" I wondered, looking around. My gaze landed on the man sleeping on the couch.

"Laxus?" I called out, my voice a whisper. He opened his eyes, his gaze meeting mine.

"Are you sober now?" he asked, rising to his feet.

"Why are you here?" I asked, holding up a hand to stop him from approaching.

"I helped you. Don't you remember?" he said, his voice laced with a hint of amusement. I tried to piece together the events of the night, but my memory was hazy.

"How did you know I was at the club?" I asked, my voice a mixture of confusion and suspicion. He smirked.

"I saw the divorce papers. You already signed them. I'll just grab them and leave," he said, walking towards my side table.

I watched him leave, my mind racing. Maybe this was for the best.