Loved Him 15 Years, Then I Left

Chapter 3

Danica ordered the servants to transplant and move every single flower and plant she had planted with her own hands in the yard. Even the newly matured pear tree had to be ripped out by the roots and taken away.

Just as the workers were bustling around the yard getting everything packed up, Lucas' assistant came sprinting over, out of breath, with a message.

"Madam, the old lady is asking you to head back to the family main house right away! It's urgent!"

Danica's stomach dropped. The old lady never sent someone to summon her in such a rush unless something really serious had happened.

A faint knot of unease coiling in her chest, she drove straight to the Monroe family's old residence.

She had barely made it to the living room door when the old lady's furious voice rang out loud and clear through the door.

"You actually plan to marry Yanna into the family? Her family owed a mountain of debt years ago and their name was dragged through the mud. If you insist on doing this, how do you expect Danica to hold her head up around everyone?"

Right on the heels of that came Lucas' stubborn, unyielding voice, "Grandma, Yanna and I love each other. You forced me to marry Danica back then, and I did as you said. I've never shortchanged her all these years. Now I just want to give the girl I love a proper status. Even if it's only as a second wife, I want to keep her by my side."

After she heard every last word of the exchange from where she stood outside the door, Danica's hands clenched so tight her knuckles went white. She took a deep, steadying breath, then pushed the door open with a soft clack and walked in.

Inside the living room, the old lady's face was twisted with rage, and Lucas was kneeling on the floor, his gaze steady and unyielding, not an ounce of willingness to back down in his eyes.

Danica didn't even glance at him. She walked calmly up to the old lady and greeted her softly, "Grandma, I'm here."

The old lady's eyes filled with distress. She pulled Danica down to sit beside her, then turned and snapped at Lucas, "Wait outside for now!"

Lucas opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, then thought better of it. He gave Danica one long, searching look, then stood up in silence and left the living room.

The old lady squeezed Danica's hand tightly, her voice soft with sympathy. "You must have heard what was said just now. Don't you worry, I will never agree to let Yanna marry into the Monroe family."

Danica's eyes dimmed, as if she had finally settled on a decision she had been turning over for ages. She straightened abruptly, lowering her head in respect.

"Grandma, I'm begging you to give Lucas your blessing. Let Yanna marry into the family fair and square."

The old lady's face went slack with shock. "You silly girl, I know you've loved him for fifteen whole years. How could you ever bear to hand your husband over to another woman like that?"

The rims of Danica's eyes flushed red.

It was true she loved Lucas deeply, but she'd finally realized that instead of chasing someone who didn't love her back, she owed it to herself to prioritize her own well-being.

"Grandma, Lucas cares about Yanna just as much as I've always cared about him. Loving someone you can't have is a special kind of torture. Please, let him have what he's always wanted."

When she finished speaking, she gave another respectful nod, slow and deliberate, her expression completely earnest.

Outside the living room, Lucas was pacing back and forth, seething with restlessness and irritation.

Just then, Danica walked out. He was just about to march back inside to beg the old lady again when she spoke, her voice perfectly calm.

"I've talked it over with Grandma. She's going to agree to your marriage to Yanna."

Lucas froze completely, dumbfounded. "Why would you do that?"

Danica tugged up a faint, wispy smile. "I'm your wife. It's only right I look out for you in everything, after all."

Their eyes locked for a second.

Then Lucas stepped forward suddenly and pulled her into a tight, crushing hug. "Thank you."

She could hear the unbridled excitement and joy bleeding through every word he said. All that was left in her chest was a dazed, bitter ache.

That single "thank you" was probably all she got in return for fifteen years of unreserved devotion.

*****

Just a few days later, the old lady caved and gave her official blessing to the marriage. Lucas took charge of every single detail of the wedding personally, and he was eager to invite every friend and relative in the whole city to come celebrate with him.

A month later, the grand wedding kicked off right on schedule, with festive decorations strung up everywhere you looked.

Danica sat in the guest area, watching Lucas wear a brighter smile than she'd ever seen on his face, and tipped her head back to swallow a mouthful of bitter red wine. On their own wedding day, he'd never looked this genuinely happy, not even for a second.

As the guests started to filter out one by one, Lucas, reeking of booze, stumbled over to Danica.

"If it wasn't for you, I'd never get to marry Yanna fair and square in this lifetime. Thank you, really." He clamped down on her hand tight, repeating his gratitude over and over again.

Danica pulled out a tissue and gently wiped the smudge of wine from the corner of his mouth. "Go on now, don't keep the bride waiting too long."

Lucas stared at her for a moment, then ruffled her hair the same way he used to back when they were younger.

"Don't worry, I'll still always be here for you."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he turned on his heel and strode toward the bridal suite where Yanna was waiting.

Danica watched his retreating back quietly. There was no more ache in her chest, but she couldn't hold back the tears spilling down her cheeks anyway.

She wasn't crying because she was bitter about loving someone who never loved her back. She was crying for the girl she used to be, the girl who had nothing but him in her whole world, who clung on so hard and made herself so small.

'Lucas, you don't have to promise to stay with me anymore. That "forever" you just mentioned? It ends right here.'