Chapter 29: The Ex-Fiancé Returns
254 words
The silence after the police sirens faded was blissful. Elena sat in her office, finally exhaling, when the intercom buzzed.
"Ms. Vance? There's a... gentleman here to see you. He says he's family."
Elena frowned. She checked the security feed. Standing in the lobby, holding a bouquet of overpriced roses, was Richard. The man who had divorced her the moment her face was ruined. The man who had called her a monster.
She walked out to the lobby. Richard’s eyes lit up when he saw her. He scanned her body, her expensive suit, the absence of the heavy scarves. He smelled money.
"Elena," he breathed, stepping forward with that practiced charm. "My god, you look incredible. I was just... I was so confused back then. I made a mistake. I miss us."
He reached for her hand. The audacity was breathtaking. This was the narcissist hovering phase, trying to suck her back in now that she was a queen.
Elena didn't pull away. She just stared at the Roses. "You spent our savings on a sports car while my face was rotting."
"Baby, that was stress! I was grieving!" he pleaded.
Elena snapped her fingers. The two burly security guards who had watched Thorne leave stepped forward.
"I'm dealing with a toxic ex," she told them. "Remove the trash. And keep the flowers; they'll look nice in the waiting room."
Richard was still stammering about 'second chances' when the guards hoisted him by his arms, his feet dangling just like Thorne’s had.
End of Chapter 29
