Loved Him 15 Years, Then I Left

Chapter 4

For days on end, Lucas stuck to Yanna's side day and night. He barely even set foot in the main building where Danica lived.

Danica didn't bother them at all. She just told her maid Carol to pack up every single personal belonging she'd brought with her as dowry when she married into the family.

One bright, sunny day, Danica was walking alone in the back garden to clear her head, when she bumped right into Yanna head-on.

Yanna didn't make a show of avoiding her. She stepped forward on her own initiative and greeted her politely, "Mrs. Monroe."

Danica looked her over quietly, and couldn't help being struck by how beautiful she was.

Yanna had lived in the villa for five years, but the two of them had only run into each other once, briefly, before this.

Right now, her hair is styled the way married women wear it, and her features are delicate and soft.

She'd been sickly her whole life, which gave her a fragile, heart-wrenching beauty that made people want to take care of her.

No wonder Lucas had been hung up on her for so many years. She was so gentle, so pretty, anyone would be.

Danica reached out to give her arm a gentle, supportive pat. "Your health isn't great. Don't stand on ceremony with me."

Yanna thanked her, and a heavy look of guilt washed over her face. She spoke in a tiny, shaky voice, "I know you must be hurting so badly right now… but I can't stop loving him. I'm so sorry."

The second the words left her mouth, her eyes turned red, and tears came rolling down her cheeks.

Danica frowned slightly, then lifted her hand to wipe the tears away. "There's no right or wrong when it comes to loving someone. Besides, I was the one who asked the Monroe family to arrange your marriage to him in the first place."

She paused for a beat, forcing a soft, gentle smile onto her face. "You're a wonderful girl. You and Lucas are perfect for each other."

When Yanna heard that, her eyes went wide with shock. She'd never in a million years expected Danica to be this generous, willing to step aside and let her have her own husband, and talking about it like it was no big deal at all.

Out of the corner of her eye, Danica spotted Lucas standing a short distance away. The light in her eyes dimmed a little, and her voice came out slightly rough, "Go on. He's waiting for you."

Yanna hesitated for a beat, nodded at her, then turned and walked toward Lucas.

Danica saw it clear as day: Lucas didn't even glance at Yanna walking his way. His heavy, unblinking gaze was locked straight on her, swirling with unreadable, tangled emotions.

Her chest gave a sharp, tiny twist. She spun on her heel immediately and hurried out of the garden.

She'd already made up her mind to let go. One more glance would be completely unnecessary.

That very night, Danica was just getting ready to turn in when Lucas pushed the door open and walked in.

He settled down right next to her like he'd done it a hundred times before.

"Why'd you move all those flowers and the pear trees out of the yard? Tired of looking at them? I'll have people buy a whole batch of new varieties to plant tomorrow."

Danica shook her head softly, offering up a half-hearted excuse. "It's getting colder and colder. I was worried the plants wouldn't make it through the winter, so I just had them moved."

Lucas didn't press the issue. He just stared at her, unblinking.

He couldn't pinpoint when it started, but something about the woman in front of him felt different lately. He just couldn't put his finger on exactly what was off.

The night dragged on, growing darker by the minute. The two of them lay in the same bed, held each other close, but neither of them felt the slightest bit sleepy.

They were legally married, sure, but they barely ever shared any real intimacy. All these years, she'd never even managed to get pregnant.

Once, she'd grieved that fact in secret, bitter and full of regret. Now? She was quietly grateful for it. No kid tying her down meant she could walk away without a single loose end to worry about.

In the heavy silence, Danica spoke up, her voice soft. "I want to go back to my hometown in Sta. Catalina for a bit, to visit my parents' graves."

Her parents had died in an accident three years prior, and she'd only gone back to pay her respects twice since then.

Lucas agreed offhandedly. "Wait a little while longer until the weather warms up. I'll take you and Yanna down to Sta. Catalina together, so she can see the scenery there too."

The second those words hit her ears, a sharp, bitter ache flooded Danica's chest.

"I'll go alone. Her health is so fragile, a long trip would be too much for her..."

"Then I'll come with you." Lucas cut her off straight away, unconsciously tightening the arm wrapped around her waist.

For a split second, Danica could have sworn she caught a flicker of reluctance and tension coming off him.

She was still dazed when Lucas brushed his fingers gently through her long hair and spoke in a half-joking tone. "Danica, I'm a little worried. Once you go back, what if you love it too much to come home? If that happens, where am I supposed to find another wife as thoughtful and sensible as you?"

That offhand joke left a tangled mess of conflicting emotions swirling in Danica's chest.

They'd been sleeping in the same bed but living separate lives for seven whole years. This was the first time they had ever even gotten a glimpse of what was really going on in each other's heads.

Lucas was right. She had absolutely no intention of ever coming back to this villa once she left.

Danica said nothing in response, and didn't sleep a wink for the rest of the night.

Three days later.

Lucas was driving Danica to depart for Sta. Catalina. Before they left, he fussed over Yanna, rattling off a long list of care instructions again and again.

Standing outside the villa gate, Danica tilted her face up to the bright morning sun and drew in a deep breath of fresh, open air.

Turns out the world outside this gilded cage was so vibrant, so free.

She glanced over at the two teary people clinging to each other, pouring their hearts out about how much they'd miss each other, and curled her lips into a calm, relieved smile.

Their goodbye was full of soft, teary longing, but the goodbye she had planned for herself and Lucas was quiet, unannounced, and permanent, there would be no coming back.