MY EX LOST ME TO HIS BOSS

Chapter2

SHAWN’S POV

The car stopped at Diamond Crest Venue when a woman came running in my direction. Each step she took drew my attention in a way I didn’t expect.

Placing the magazine on the seat, I was about to step down from the car when I heard a voice call out through tears.

“Let’s go…”

Turning towards the intrusion, my eyes met the same woman who had caught my attention seconds ago.

Then she burst into tears.

I stared at her, surprised, and gestured for Andrew to get back inside the car.

He hesitated briefly but obeyed.

I signaled him, and the car began to move. My eyes stayed on her as she sat there, tears sliding down her cheeks.

I took out a handkerchief from my suit pocket, tapped her gently, and offered it to her.

She turned to look at me, wiping at her cheeks.

My gaze lingered and I swallowed hard.

Leah.

Those eyes… My grip on the book tightened. I handed her the handkerchief in silence.

My jaw tightened as I looked away. I returned to my book and stared at the same line for several seconds.

No matter how many times I looked down at the page, my eyes kept finding their way back to the woman sitting beside me.

A moment later, I heard soft movements beside me.

She tried giving me back my handkerchief, which I declined.

The tears were gone, and her breathing had steadied.

Andrew explained the situation to her briefly, and when we arrived at her destination, she got out.

My eyes followed her as she walked away.

Long after she left, I was still staring at the closed gate.

I closed the book. A few seconds later, I opened it again. Her tear-stained face was all I could see.

“Mr. Shawn, apparently the wedding is no longer happening. The bride is missing,” Andrew said, interrupting my thoughts.

“Why is that? Did you hear from Luke?” I asked.

“Not directly from him, sir. He informed your assistant. She passed the message to me.”

I leaned back slightly.

“Drive me back home,” I said, and gave one more look in her direction.

Then, after a pause, I added, “And look into the woman we gave a ride.”

The car pulled away.

“Turn the car around,” I said suddenly.

BROOKEs APARTMENT

LEAH'S POV

The air fell silent as I stared into nothing. My mind kept circling one thing—Luke.

The continuous knock on the door broke my thoughts, and I rose to see who it was. I checked the peephole before opening it. My eyes met a worried look. She took my hand, and we sat down on the couch.

“What's wrong, Anna? You're scaring me,” I said in what almost came as a whisper.

“Have you seen the news?” she asked, looking at the TV then back at me.

“What news?” I said as she took the remote beside me and tuned in to Redline News. I sat quietly at the edge of the couch.

Slowly, I stood up, but my legs gave in, and I dropped back on the couch.

“Reports confirm that Vaughn Group is currently facing severe financial collapse…”

My eyes fixed on the screen. I couldn't even feel Anna's touch, but I knew she was holding me.

“No…” I whispered.

The reporter kept speaking, but the words blurred together.

Bankruptcy.

Debt.

Investigation.

Collapse.

Each word hit harder. I turned on my phone, which I had switched off that day. Then the notification noise came in—lots of messages and missed calls. I even caught sight of a message from Dad:

“Leah, where are you…”

Then my phone rang. It was my aunt.

“Leah? Your father collapsed… he's in the hospital… come quickly…”

My phone slipped from my hand.