Don’t be so cruel, please

It was the next day Leah came to the Gulf mansion, causing a scene as she demanded to see me. The distance from the gate to the mansion was a little far, so I was oblivious to what was happening until Elizabeth came running to me. 

"There's a woman at the gate. She says her name is Leah Callisto. She's fighting with security to let her in. She keeps calling your name."

I wanted to ignore it. I had blacklisted her for my peace of mind and going outside now would make those efforts go to waste.

What exactly did she have to say to me? Why was she going so far to cause me pain?

I hadn't done anything to her. Even though I hated her, I had not done anything to her. 

If I was being completely honest with myself, seeing dad in what I've come to accept as his final days on earth made me reevaluate my revenge. I had been reflecting for months now. 

I'd been thinking about letting it all go. Which was easier said than done, but I'd considered it. Yet Leah, demonic Leah, she was making it so much harder than it already was.

I took my AirPods out from my ears where they'd been since Elizabeth told me what was happening, my effort to distract myself failing. With slow, heavy steps, I walked out of my room, through the living room, and outside. The commotion Leah was causing was louder than I'd expected.

What the hell was she doing? Her wedding was less than a month away. Why was she embarrassing herself like this?

I quickly called for them to let her in. 

Leah's pace was quick even though she was wearing heels. When she was within arm's reach, she stopped, and the next thing I knew her hand was raised, and a stinging pain registered on my face.

The rage I felt must have dictated my movement because the slap I gave Leah registered in my brain barely a second after I had hit her.

She glared at me, her hand still on her cheek, her face frozen in shock. I met her gaze, mirroring the fury in her eyes.

"You have some nerve coming into my house and raising your hand to me."

"What are you going to do, huh? What the hell do you think you can do. Who the fuck do you think you are?" She yelled hysterically, shaking her head so violently that her hair became a mess. "Why? What did they ever do to you? You want to get back at me, fine. Come at me. But leave his legacy alone. He's dying for crying out loud. Isn't that enough?" Tears streamed down her face as she spoke.

My anger slowly began to dissipate. 

"What are you talking about?"

"How long will you continue to pretend like you don't know while staying by his side? Huh? You act like you're the only victim in this fucked up situation. Like I'm the evil one. Finally, we get to see your true colors."

My patience was running thin. "What exactly are you accusing me of, this time?"

"Enough with the pretense. You've won, okay. Your darling husband has succeeded in taking the company my mum and dad broke their backs to build…" Leah's voice trailed off.

I froze, shocked. I was too stunned to speak. I couldn't even bring myself to say the words I was thinking. The fog that had built as a result of Leah's revelation was too thick in my throat.

It couldn't be. Christian wouldn't do something so cruel to a man who was dying. 

He had a heart. Kind of.

That company was dad's life. He had told me how, when his father left it to him, it was in shambles. Debts everywhere, not to mention how outdated it was for an advertising agency. He had taken over at only twenty-five and worked like a dog to turn it into the million dollar company it was today.

One time, just days before my eighteenth birthday, he told me that it was his legacy. That one day, he would leave it to me. He had made me promise to take care of it. 

I knew how important the company was to him. And Christian should know too. He'd seen everything growing up. Our grandparents had been friends, and his grandfather had helped my dad a lot after his father passed. 

So why would he do something so cruel?

He's the monster you've always known him to be. Why does it still surprise you?

"… you can stop pretending. I just came here to tell you never to show yourself to my father again. If you have any conscience left, you will stay away..."

She wiped her eyes, and without letting me say anything, she turned and walked away. My vision blurred as I watched her leave.

My tears fell before I even made it back to my room. I grabbed my phone and placed a call. He didn't pick up.

I was too impatient and angry to wait around for him to call back, so I grabbed a coat and flung it over the flimsy top and denim shorts I was wearing. Christian had gotten me a driver, another considerate thing he'd done that had made me forget how ruthless he could be.

My driver was already waiting inside the black Lexus RX 700H. I jumped in, ignoring the cold I'd been feeling since the first time I stepped outside.

He drove in silence. I'd expected that he'd call Christian to let him know I was coming. Maybe he already did, I didn't care enough to ask.

I was angry. And I was hurt.

I tried to understand him. Why had he done this? Was it for me? 

We had an agreement. Taking revenge on my family was my burden. Not his. He had overstepped. If he wanted to help me so badly, he should have at least discussed it with me first. This was beyond wrong.

The car came to a stop. Without a word to my driver, I jumped out of the car and walked into the massive building that was Christian's company. 

I had never been here before. Which was why when I asked to see Christin Gulf at the front desk, they tried to send me away. 

"Do you have an appointment?"

"I'm his wife, for God's sake. Call him and tell him Alora is here."

The two women who manned the front desk scanned my body, and then exchanged a look. I knew what they were thinking. They had silently called me crazy. Probably because of the way I was dressed. Or maybe because I'd called myself his wife.

"I'm sorry ma'am, but without an appointment, you can't see Mr. Gulf." The blonde one said, a disgusted look on her face.

I was furious and they only made my anger worse. I was about to yell at them when I saw Joshua running from the entrance towards us. 

The receptionists smiled at him when he stopped.

"This is the boss's wife. Alora Gulf." He said through gritted teeth.

I saw their smiles fall, and panic taking over their faces.

"So sorry ma—Mrs Gulf. We weren't expecting you…"

They were still apologizing as I started to walk away, heading towards the elevator. Joshua walked beside me.

"What floor is his office?"

"I'll take you there, ma'am. This way." He guided me to another elevator, separate from the two I had been standing in front of. 

We got into the elevator and after Joshua pressed a button, it began moving upward. My hands were folded over my chest, the silence in the elevator heavy. I thought of the things I would say to Christian.

It was like since we got married, all we did was fight and fight. And I would love to blame him for all of the times we fought, but I knew I wasn't innocent in any of them. 

The elevator finally stopped on what seemed to be the top floor, and I rushed out. Vera's face came into view immediately.

"Where is he?" I asked, my voice sharp.

"He's in a meeting. You can wait for him out here. I'll let him know you're here."

I'd exhausted my patience at the front desk on the first floor. Without another word, I walked past Vera and barged into Christian's office. Vera ran after me, but it was too late. I was already inside.

Christian's head turned to the door and our eyes met. His lips immediately curled into a smile, and I knew—he knew exactly why I was here.