She's Gone

"Mr. Westwood." Alaric approached him quickly.

Seeing his secretary, Landon frowned. He had already informed Alaric that he wouldn't be at the office, nor did he want to be disturbed that day.

Alaric had been working for him for the past five years, and the man was worth every penny Landon paid him. So, what caused his remarkable secretary to show up in front of him, appearing as if he had been roughed up by buffaloes?

"What is it, Alaric? And this better be worth something taking up my time on my day off." Landon glared at the other man.

Alaric wiped the back of his hand on his forehead, glistening with sweat.

"Mr. Westwood, we've got a problem."

"Off with it, then."

"The thing about your wife pushing Miss Leblanc has spread to the news and they're planning to pursue it in court. And not only that… there have been some words that your marriage with Mrs. Westwood isn't real."

"WHAT?" Landon pinned Alaric with a single glare. "When did this come out?"

"Just—just an hour ago."

"An hour." Landon tasted the word in his mouth. "You let the news simmer this topic for an hour? Why aren't you doing anything? Take them all down!"

"That—that's why I'm here." Alaric stammered. "I tried taking down the topics about your wife and Miss Leblanc and asked several news outlets to stop showing it. But-"

"But what?" Landon started to doubt his secretary's abilities. "But what, Alaric?!"

"Mr. Leblanc paid every news outlet and journalist to release it."

Landon inhaled sharply. There's no point or gaining anything from spreading such lies. Why would Yvonne's father do this?

No. Of course, they would. In their eyes, they've already convicted Lucy as a suspect.

Yvonne was a precious member of the Leblanc family. She was the treasure in her parent's eyes. They certainly wouldn't let something or someone that harmed her go easily.

Even the little things that displeased her would make the entire Leblanc family move just to get rid of it.

But Lucy is his wife. Didn't Mr. Leblanc even think of him when he did this?

Landon jerked his tie loose. He understood why Mr. Leblanc wanted to pursue this. But hasn't he thought of what he would think of him?

And the million-dollar question is… how did he learn about the truth behind his marriage with Lucy?

He nor Lucy would divulge the secret of their marriage to anyone. That was something they had agreed on two years ago. It was also written on their contract.

Since the marriage certificate was real, there was no need to tell anyone.

Unless, of course, they agreed beforehand.

But he and Lucy haven't discussed anything yet. They didn't even talk about divorce or anything after that, what they should've been doing ever since Yvonne returned. 

"I need to see Mr. Leblanc." Landon marched up to the door. He has to find out the answer to his question.

Mr. Leblanc was a ruthless man. He held a lot of power through his money and company. But he wasn't the only one who had money or power in their world. And Mr. Leblanc was trudging across the line that Landon didn't want anyone to step on.

And no one dared to do that after knowing what consequences there were when they did.

However, when he crossed the door and was on the first step of the stairs, Landon suddenly came to a halt.

He grabbed his phone and opened it.

No message. No call.

Nothing from Lucy.

He felt relieved. Maybe she had already gone to sleep and hadn't learned about this. He could still fix this. Yet, he still felt disappointed. 

She would usually call him or text him. A goodnight or I'm going to sleep. Take some rest and don't stay up too late would've made it through their messages. But tonight, there was none.

He continued to go down the stairs.

But he couldn't shake this odd sense of trepidation.

"Mr. Westwood?" Alaric stopped on top of the steps behind Landon. He worriedly glanced at his boss. "Is there something wrong?"

Suddenly, Landon's phone started to ring.

Landon pulled out his phone in a hurry. He had never scrambled to answer his phone this fast since he first received a call from his scholarship.

But to his disappointment, when he saw it, it was not who he was expecting to call him; it was just the head maid calling him.

He didn't bother answering.

Then came the second ring.

Still, the head maid called him.

Why was Mrs. Flynn calling so late in the evening? Landon clenched his teeth. He was sure that the head maid had his mother's phone number.

With a bit of frustration in his voice, Landon finally picked up the call.

"Mrs. Flynn, is there something you need with me?"

"Mr. Westwood, you need to come home now."

Landon was already pissed at what was happening that night. Now, his maid was trying to boss him around.

Exhaling louder, Landon sharply said, "Mrs. Flynn, have you gone senile? Who, between us, do you think is the boss and who is the employee?"

"I—I know, Mr. Westwood. I'm sorry. But I really need you to come here now. Your wife..."

Landon was about to continue telling her not to forget her position. But everything stopped. The noise inside the hospital. Everything was gone. Only the harsh beating of his heart rang loudly in his ears.

"Will you grieve if I die?"

Those words went around his head once again, throwing him off.

He felt like there was something that was pushing him to know what the meaning behind those words was. But he stopped.

Why? 

Landon didn't know why.

"My wife is what, Mrs. Flynn."

Landon tried to speak calmly, but it seemed it was not working as he sensed his secretary flinching behind him before taking a step back.

But he didn't have the time nor the care to bother with Alaric.

Mrs. Flynn finally confessed.

"Mrs. Westwood is gone."