MY HOT RUTHLESS BOSS (SPG/R18+)

Chapter 6 Goodbye Leon

“I thought your work is until five in the afternoon only. It’s almost 9 in the evening. I even thought that you were not coming home anymore,” my Mom asked. I instantly made a fake smile. I don’t want her to worry about me.

“I had a lot of things to catch up with my work, Mom. And by the way, I will not be sleeping here until Monday because my boss has a business trip and I have to be there,” I answered and informed her, too, about what was going to happen. Leon said that I should spend tomorrow and the whole weekend with him.

“Alright. But have you eaten already? I can reheat the–”

“It’s alright, Mom! I already ate at work,” I cut her.

She nodded at me. “Then take your rest now. I need to sleep now, too. Good night!”

“Good night, Mom!”

I went straight to my room and took a very quick shower. I dried my hair and went to bed. I checked my phone and my forehead creased when I saw a message from Leon.

Leon:

Have a good sleep tonight. Tomorrow you will be really exhausted.

I gulped and got some goosebumps. I closed my eyes tightly, enduring the pain in my heart. If only Leon knew how miserable my life was after I broke up with him three years ago.

“Felixia, you really have to marry Gregor. We don’t have any other way to solve our problem. The debts are piling up and your Dad might end up in jail soon,” my Mom pleaded.

I nodded, defeatedly. My heart was breaking into a million pieces while looking at my Dad, unconscious and a machine was attached to his body.

The next day, Gregor visited my father in the hospital with his parents. Gregor didn’t like a lavish wedding, so they decided to do it the simplest way possible.

“It’s settled then. We will hold the wedding when your father recovers from here,” Gregor’s father said. I looked away. I do not want to meet anyone’s eyes – especially Gregor. I knew he would only give me his triumphant smile.

My father spent almost two weeks in the hospital. The whole week, he stayed in the ICU, and he was very happy to learn that I had already agreed with the marriage proposal they wanted.

“Thank you, Felixia. You will be the queen of the Heldran Group of Companies. You will live a luxurious life with Gregor,” Dad said. He was still very weak, but he looked really happy.

“Dad, don’t concern yourself about that. Just prioritize your recovery,” I replied, not looking directly at him.

“I was just very happy that finally you’ve realized the importance of this marriage to us. I will definitely get back to my feet and take back what was taken from me,” he said, almost to himself. I wanted to ask what the meaning of his words was, but the nurse arrived to administer his medication.

One week later, I received news from Kim, saying that Leon had withdrawn from the university.

“Why? What about his scholarship? He couldn’t possibly throw that away?” I asked. I couldn’t contain my shock at the news.

“Well, no one knows where he is now. Why don’t you visit him in their house? Put some sense in his head. Maybe… maybe he was still in a lot of pain because of what happened between you and him,” she advised. I gulped and took a deep breath.

“Alright. Leon is very smart, and he deserves his scholarship. I don’t want him to be ruined just because of me,” I agreed.

“By the way, Felixia, when will be your wedding day?” she asked, changing the subject.

“A month from now, Kim. My parents are even busier with the preparation, while all I want is to just disappear from all of these!” I closed my eyes and bit my lower lip. The surging pain in my heart is attacking me like a flood.

“I am not going to attend your wedding. I don’t want to see you getting married to that asshole!” he blurted out with conviction. That is why, even if I was a bit emotional already, I laughed a little.

“Don’t worry, I won’t send you any invitation. I will just let them invite whoever they want. I will never invite anyone from my circle,” I said. She also laughed at how I responded.

After that, I took all the courage to go to Leon’s house. Leon was already an orphan, and it was only his Aunt Martha who was taking care of him.

I paused at the front door, taking a deep breath before knocking. The sound seemed to echo louder than it should, each rap of my knuckles a punctuation mark in the heavy silence of the evening. I stepped back, folding my arms across my chest as if to shield myself from whatever was to come.

After a moment, the door creaked open. Aunt Martha stood there, her kind eyes widening in surprise as she recognized me.

"Felixia?" she asked, her voice a mix of astonishment and concern. "What brings you here, dear?"

I managed a small, strained smile. "Hi, Aunt Martha. I... I needed to talk to Leon."

Her expression softened, and she stepped aside, gesturing for me to enter. "Of course, come in, come in."

The familiar warmth of her home enveloped me as I crossed the threshold. The living room was just as I remembered it–cozy and inviting, with a small set of couches adorned with knitted cushions, and framed photographs of Leon and her adorning the walls. I could almost hear the echoes of past laughter, feel the ghost of Leon’s presence beside me.

Aunt Martha led me to the kitchen, where the scent of freshly baked cookies filled the air. She motioned for me to sit at the small, round table by the window. I sank into a chair, my gaze drifting to the garden outside.

"Would you like some tea?" she asked, already reaching for the kettle.

"Yes, please," I replied, clearing my throat.

As she busied herself with the tea, I took a moment to gather my thoughts. How could I even begin to explain why I was here? How could I articulate the knot of regret, guilt, and longing that had driven me to seek Leon out after what I had done?

When she placed a steaming cup of tea in front of me and settled into the chair opposite, I took a deep breath. "Aunt Martha, I... I need to talk to Leon. Is he here now?"

Her eyes, so sweet and understanding, clouded with sorrow. She reached across the table, placing a gentle hand over mine. “Felixia? You’re late!”

My brows furrowed at what she said. “Late? Late for what, Aunt Martha?” I asked in confusion.

“Leon had already left two hours ago and–”

“Left? Where did he go? And, Aunt Martha, why did he drop his scholarship? He needed it to finish his studies!” I questioned.

Her face turned sullen, and a pang of guilt and pain hit my heart. “Felixia, after the breakup, he was devastated. I've never seen him so hurt, so broken. He was drinking day and night without eating. Even in his sleep he was calling your name, asking why… you… He couldn't bear to stay here, surrounded by memories of you.” She sighed and gripped my hand slightly tight as if to lend me strength. "So, he left. He packed up and left for good."

Her words were like a punch in the gut, knocking the wind out of me. I struggled to process the extent of what she was saying. Leon was gone. Gone because of me. The weight of my actions pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe.

"Where did he go?" I asked, my voice was already trembling.

Aunt Martha shook her head. "He didn't tell me. He just said he needed to start fresh, somewhere far away from here."

Tears started to sting up in my eyes, and I blinked back furiously. "I... I didn't mean to hurt him. I thought... I thought breaking up was the best thing for both of us. I didn't know it would drive him away."

She squeezed my hand, her eyes filled with empathy. "Felixia, what was your real reason for breaking up with him? I know you both love each other deeply, so why?” she asked, sadness is all over her face.

The tears I had been holding back finally spilled over, and I covered my face with my hands, my shoulders shaking with silent sobs. Aunt Martha wrapped her arms around me in a comforting embrace.

“I… it’s all my fault, Aunt. It’s all on me!” my sobs turned into a real and hard cry.

For a few moments, we stayed like that–me, crying on her shoulder, and her, offering silent support. When I finally pulled back, she handed me a tissue, and I wiped my eyes, feeling more and more hurt for Leon.

“Aunt Martha, I hope Leon will not waste his life because of me. He is a very, very smart man. He can be successful in life if he works harder,” I uttered, another set of tears streamed down my cheeks.

She sat straight, her expression thoughtful. "Leon loved you very much, Felixia. He still does, I'm sure of it. But I just couldn’t believe that love isn't enough to keep people together."

I nodded, her words resonating with a truth I had been avoiding. "I just... I wish I could tell him how sorry I am. That I didn't mean for things to end this way."

Aunt Martha sighed, looking out the window as if she could see the past playing out before her eyes. "Maybe one day, you'll get the chance. But for now, you have to let him find his own path, his own way of healing."

The thought of Leon out there, alone and hurting, was almost too much for me to bear. But I knew she was right. I had to respect his need for distance, his need to rebuild his life without the shadow of our past looming over him.

We sat in silence for a while, sipping our tea. The sun had dipped lower in the sky, casting a golden glow over the garden. It was a peaceful scene, a stark contrast to the turmoil within me.

"Aunt Martha," I said after a long pause, "do you think he’ll ever forgive me?"

She looked at me, her eyes soft but serious. "I believe he will, in time. But forgiveness isn't something you can rush. It has to come naturally, when the heart is ready."

I nodded, absorbing her wisdom. "I understand. And I will still understand if he doesn’t ever forgive me. Now, I am sincerely hoping that he can find a woman that she deserves."

As I prepared to leave, Aunt Martha walked me to the door. Before I stepped outside, she pulled me into another hug. "Take care of yourself, Felixia. And remember, you’re always welcome here."

"Thank you, Aunt Martha," I said, my voice choked with emotion. "For everything."

I walked back down the cobblestone path, my steps a little steadier, my heart was still paining. The garden seemed to shimmer in the fading light, a reminder that even in the darkest times, there is beauty and hope to be found. But for me, beginning today will all be darkness.

As I reached the gate, I turned back one last time. Aunt Martha stood in the doorway, watching me with a gentle smile. I waved, and she waved back, a silent promise of support and understanding.

I didn't know where Leon was, or if I would ever see him again. But I knew I had to keep moving forward, to find my own way of healing. And maybe, just maybe, our paths would cross again someday, when the wounds had healed, and the heart was ready to forgive.

With that thought in mind, I stepped out into the world, carrying the lessons of love and loss with me, hoping that the best future for Leon. As long as he is happy, I am ready for the worst nightmare of my life, and that is being married to Gregor Heldran – a monster!