Leilani stares at the guard in disbelief. She assumed Jackson was behind the attack, but it makes sense that it was Jessica. Leilani suddenly remembers Jessica’s warning to stay away from Andrew. I guess I should have taken her seriously, she thinks. After all, she bribed a police officer to beat me at the police station. She clearly doesn’t mind a little violence.
Andrew’s face darkens with rage, and he says, “Take this man away and bring me, my sister.”
Waylen nods, and his men drag the bodyguard from the room. Andrew turns his head toward Leilani. Even the slight movement makes him wince with pain. The nurse tries to help him lie back down, but he pushes her away.
He turns to Leilani and says, “Honey, please come help me.”
Leilani crosses the room quickly and helps him sit up from the sofa. Blood still drips down his back, staining the delicate silk of the cushions. As soon as he’s sitting, she lets go of his arm and steps away out of his reach.
“Honey, I’m a bit thirsty, do you think you can bring me some water?” he asks.
Leilani fills a crystal glass with some bottled water and offers it to him. He stares at her as if he’s waiting for something, and she sighs.
“Do you need me to help you drink it?” She asks.
“That would be best,” Andrew says. “Even the smallest movement hurts me.”
Leilani sits on the sofa next to him, careful to avoid sitting in his blood. She places one hand on the soft hair at the back of his head and raises the glass to his lips with another. She tilts the glass, and he takes a small sip.
“Your lips are dry and cracked,” she says, playing the role of concerned fiance. “Please drink more.”
Andrew’s eyes gleam, and he smiles as he sips water. She knows he’s trying to make Waylen jealous, and she hates herself for playing along, but she knows she doesn’t have a choice. After all, Andrew just saved her life. Waylen’s mouth twists into an ironic smile, but his eyes are dark and sad.
“Well, Andrew, I have to say your bravery is commendable,” Waylen says. “You risked your life to save Leilani, and now you’re suffering for it. “
Andrew pushes Leilani’s hand away and says, “Well, it’s my job to protect her. If I have to die or suffer, it’s worth it. She’s the light of my life.”
“Oh?” Waylen asks. “Tell me, is it really worth dying for a woman like her?”
Leilani grips the crystal glass tighter in her hands, but she wants to hurl it across the room at Waylen. How dare he come here to insult me? She thinks. I don’t expect him to like Andrew, but this is beyond petty. Andrew is in here suffering from a terrible injury, and Waylen has come just to mock him.
“Some people might not be smart enough to see it, but she’s absolutely worth dying for,” Andrew says, looking calmly up at Waylen.
“Oh, really?” Waylen asks, reaching into his pocket. “Well, I have something here that might interest you. Give it a listen before you risk your life for her again.”
He pulls out the recording pen and twirls it between his long fingers. With two strides, he crosses the room and drops the pen onto the coffee table. It lands next to the tray of bloody glass shards, and Leilani wonders which will hurt Andrew more—his wounds or the recording. Leilani drops the crystal glass, and it falls onto the plush carpet with a dull thud.
“I don’t know what that is, but I can tell you I’m not interested in it,” Andrew says, narrowing his eyes.
Waylen shakes his head and says, “I never thought you were a foolish man Andrew, but maybe you prefer ignorance to the truth. I’m warning you, and you should give it a listen. If you’re not on your guard, she’ll humiliate you behind your back.”
“My relationship with Leilani is none of your business,” Andrew says, his voice low and warning.
“I have to say I didn’t expect you to be so, open-minded,” Waylen says. “Choosing a divorced woman who’s pregnant with another man’s baby—it’s a bit strange.”
“Clearly, you know nothing about love,” Andrew says, taking her hand in his. “She may have a past, but I love her desperately, anyway.”
Waylen stares at the two of them in stunned silence, and Andrew lays back down on his stomach. He waves for the nurse to come over and continue taking the glass out of his back. He grips Leilani’s hand, squeezing hers whenever the pain becomes unbearable. His grip hurts, but she refuses to complain.
“Is the pain terrible?” she asks quietly.
“No,” he whispers through gritted teeth. “Having you here makes it all better.”
Leilani turns to look at Waylen. Their eyes meet, and he raises his eyebrows questioningly. She bites her lip and narrows her eyes.
“If you came here to deliver the pen, you’ve accomplished your purpose,” she says. “As you can see, Andrew is seriously injured, and we’re not interested in entertaining you or playing your little games. If you don’t mind, we’d like some privacy now.”
Waylen slightly winces as she uses the word “we,” but he doesn’t make any move to leave. Instead, he sits down on a high-backed chair and crosses his left leg over his right.
“I was going to leave, but I think I’d rather stay,” he says. “I want to make sure that Andrew will be alright.”
Leilani rolls her eyes. She knows he just wants to play the pen and let Andrew know she cheated on him. Her stomach twists anxiously, but she stands and grabs the pen.
“Fine, I’ll play it,” she says.
“No, throw it away,” Andrew says. “I don’t want to hear it.”
“What?” Leilani asks. “Why?”
“I don’t want to do anything that makes you unhappy,” Andrew says, squeezing her hand gently. “If you don’t want to play it, just throw it away.”
Leilani’s face burns with shame. Andrew’s unexpected gentleness makes her feel even worse about cheating on him. She clutches the pen and prepares to push the button.
“It’s going to make you really angry,” she says. “That’s why Waylen wants you to hear it. Honestly, I think you should listen to—you deserve to know the truth.”
“Why should I listen to something that makes me unhappy?” Andrew asks.
The nurse finishes treating his back, and she begins to wrap his wounds with clean, soft cotton. Before she can finish, Andrew jumps to his feet and snatches the pen from Leilani’s hands. He walks across the room and throws it out the window. His face is pale with pain, but he moves quickly.
Andrew slams the window shut, and Leilani sighs with relief. She’s glad that she won’t cause Andrew unnecessary pain, but she’s even happier that Waylen’s cruel plan has failed. She glances at Waylen and sees that he’s scowling at the window.
“Since you were so thoughtful in bringing me a gift, I’d like to give you something in return,” Andrew says.
He snaps his fingers, and a bodyguard rushes over. He whispers instructions to the guard, and the guard runs into the bedroom. He comes back carrying a creamy white envelope. He passes it to Andrew, who gives it to Waylen with a small, ironic bow.
Waylen tears the envelope open and pulls out a matching piece of paper. From across the coffee table, Leilani can see white, sparkling flowers and delicate black calligraphy. Waylen’s handshakes as he reads the writing.
“I really hope you’ll take some time out of your busy schedule,” Andrew says. “We’d love to see you at our wedding next month.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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