I Woke Up From a Coma and Found Out My Fiancé Was Protecting My Killer Chapter 04
Landon rushed home right after me. I had just booked my flight for the next morning.
He walked up to me. The panic in his eyes was barely hidden. “Will you just let me explain?”
I glanced at him. “What exactly are you planning to explain?”
I actually wanted to hear what kind of bullshit he’d come up with.
Landon was silent for two seconds. Then he just pressed his lips together. “I’m already planning our makeup wedding. I’ll give you whatever you want to make it up to you. But—”
He paused. Then he half-knelt beside me and took my hand in his palm. “I want you to let Willa go.”
“She didn’t mean it. The whole month you were in that coma, she was a mess. Guilt was eating her alive.”
I stared down at our interlaced hands. His palm was warm. I felt nothing but bone-deep cold.
“What if I insist on pressing charges?”
Landon’s eyes went dark. He let go of my hand, stood up, and looked down at me. “You have no evidence.”
“I had the surveillance footage from that stretch of road wiped clean. Paige, you won’t win this. Don’t push me.”
“As long as I’m here, no one gets to hurt her.”
My whole body went rigid. Grief hit my chest like a weight I couldn’t shove off.
“I want to know one thing. When did you two get together?”
Landon was quiet for a moment. “After the first time you introduced me to her.”
Love at first sight? When that thought surfaced, I couldn’t summon anything beyond pity for myself. So five years ago. They had already been together behind my back.
Five years. I couldn’t even bear to imagine. All those moments where I thought I’d won both love and friendship—were they sneaking around through every single one?
Seeing I’d stopped pushing to press charges, Landon’s tone softened. “Look, you don’t have to worry. We’ve been together a long time. You matter to me. The wedding, the papers, the whole thing—that’s all yours.”
“Our wedding is in one week.”
Right. Those things were mine. But the love belonged to Willa. What made him think I still wanted any of it?
I didn’t mention leaving. I just hummed flatly. He exhaled hard, visibly relieved.
At the same time, Willa sent me a message. [Thank you for forgiving me. Paige, we’ll always be best friends.]
[As for Landon, I’ll take good care of him too, don’t worry. Just during the times you’re not around. I won’t fight you for him.]
My stomach heaved. I deleted it. Disgusting.
Landon brought me a photo album. Pages of wedding gowns. “Pick one.”
His finger landed on a gown with a delicate ‘W’ stitched into the lace. “I think this one’s great.”
A cold laugh. The letter W. Willa. Did he think I was idiot?
“Whatever.” I’d be gone tomorrow. I wouldn’t be attending any wedding.
He ruffled my hair and gave a satisfied smile. Just as he was about to speak, his phone rang.
Willa.
The second he answered, his face went ashen. His entire body locked up. “Don’t do anything stupid! I’m on my way!”
He hung up and seized my wrist. His grip crushed so hard my bones ached. “What did you say to her? She’s talking about jumping!”
My face gave nothing away. I ripped my arm out of his grip. My wrist was already red and swollen. Didn’t even look at it. “Don’t put your shit on me. Get the hell out.”
He choked. Gave me a deep, searching look. “Don’t provoke her again. I will marry you. I’m staying with her for the next few days. I’ll see you at the wedding.” He turned and bolted.
I let out a short laugh—barely one. Then I packed my things and headed to the airport.
But before I left—I sent everything I’d prepared to the wedding planner I’d paid fifteen grand. On the wedding day, there’d be a surprise waiting for him.
And as the sun rose and my plane broke through the clouds—Landon Cole and I were done. For this lifetime. No more ties.