Chapter 5

Senna POV

The next two weeks were eerily calm.

Payton didn't appear again.

Julian and I began preparing to move. Julian had applied for a transfer to support development in London for three years. The climate there was perfect for pregnancy and would allow me to completely escape the chaos here.

The night before the move, Julian went to the hospital to hand over his work.

I packed the last of our belongings alone at home.

When I opened a drawer, my movements froze.

Inside lay a fountain pen.

A limited edition Montblanc, with two letters engraved on the cap.

This was Payton's, left here.

In the past, when he was in a good mood, he would occasionally stay overnight at my small apartment.

He'd used this pen to sign billion-dollar contracts, then casually tossed it aside. I'd treasured it like a precious object.

What a pathetic creature I'd been.

I laughed self-mockingly, picked up the pen, and threw it into the trash along with all the photos I'd secretly taken of him over the years and the movie ticket stubs I'd saved.

The doorbell suddenly rang.

Thinking Julian had forgotten his keys, I wiped my hands and went to answer it.

"Why are you back so ear-"

I opened the door to a wall of alcohol fumes.

The man standing outside had his shirt collar wide open, his hair disheveled, his eyes full of bloodshot veins. His whole being radiated decadent madness.

Payton.

I instinctively tried to close the door.

A large hand slammed against the door panel.

"Senna."

He called my name, his voice hoarse and thick, with a pleading I'd never heard before.

"My stomach hurts."

I froze.

For seven years, whenever he complained of a stomachache, I'd drop whatever I was doing. I'd fetch his medicine and brew him honey lemon tea without a second thought.

Even in the middle of the night, even when I was running a high fever.

"Mr. Barrett has the wrong door." I said coldly.

"If you want tea, find Miss Shaw, or go to a hospital."

"I don't want hers!"

Payton acted like a petulant child, pushing the door open forcefully and squeezing inside.

He staggered to the sofa and collapsed heavily, then closed his eyes and whimpered, "I want yours. Only yours works."

Watching this once untouchable man now acting like a mangy dog on my sofa, I felt only absurdity.

"Payton, get up."

I walked over and tried to pull him. "This is my home. Please leave! I'm calling the police!"

But Payton grabbed my wrist and yanked hard.

I cried out and tumbled onto him.

He immediately wrapped his arms around my waist and buried his head in my neck, his burning breath spraying on my skin.

"Don't go... Senna, don't go..."

He was trembling.

"I know I was wrong."

Payton's voice was muffled, with a hint of tears.

"That paternity report is fake, isn't it? You're lying to me, right? There's no way you could marry someone else... no way you could stop loving me..."

"You love me. You love me so much..."

He became incoherent, but his grip grew tighter and tighter, as if trying to meld me into his bones.

"Let go! Payton, are you insane!"

I struggled desperately. My nails scratched his neck, drawing blood.

But he acted like he felt no pain. He suddenly flipped over, pinning me on the sofa, staring at me with unfocused yet obsessive eyes.

"Abort the child."

He reached out to stroke my face, his tone gentle in a bone-chilling way.

"Abort it, and we'll pretend nothing happened. I'll marry you, Senna. I'll make Vivian leave. I'll make you Mrs. Barrett, okay?"

"I was wrong before. I shouldn't have treated you as a replacement. I just realized now-I can't live without you..."

He moved to kiss me.

Disgusting.

Overwhelmingly disgusting.

I used all my strength and slapped him hard across the face.

The slap was crisp and loud, turning Payton's face to the side.

The air fell deathly silent.

"Payton, you truly disgust me."

I pointed at the door, trembling, tears streaming down uncontrollably-not from sadness, but from rage and humiliation.

"You think everyone covets that Mrs. Barrett position? Too late!!"

Payton slowly turned his head. With half his face red and swollen, his eyes gradually became sinister and crazed.

"Disgusting?"

He laughed coldly-the roar of a cornered beast.

"Senna, since you're so ungrateful, don't blame me for..."

Just then, the door was kicked open.

Before Payton could react, a white figure rushed over.

Julian's face was now covered with frost. He grabbed Payton by the collar and punched him hard in the corner of his mouth.

"Don't touch my wife!"