Letting go
Chapter 94 Letting goNôvelDrama.Org copyrighted © content.
SAINT HOSPITAL, LOS ANGELES.
Leo kicked angrily at the grass, he didn’t understand what ate Darby up to yell at him in such manner. He tried to think of any way in which he had gone wrong but he couldn’t come up with the slightest thought. Everything just feels out of place, his divorce with Chloe, his son being in the hospital and his very first fight with the woman he loves dearly. It felt like something loosened inside him and he yelled out in horror.
Everyone who passed by stopped to stare at him to be sure he didn’t run from the psychiatric ward. He wanted to call Aaron and rant to him badly, but he was away on another competition with his boys and is probably very busy with training.
Zac sat quietly on the bench behind Leo, after he looked like he has had enough Leo joined him on the bench. They both stayed quiet staring out into space and their minds preoccupied with so many things.
“It’s funny, huh.” Zac was the first to break the silence. “I had thought she was only angry at me and not you. It surprised me that she also asked you to leave the room.”
He let out a snort, “I must say I wasn’t expecting that at all. Why would she be so pissed at me when I didn’t have any control over the situation we have found ourselves.”
“Probably you could have handled it better. Why is she pissed at you?”
Leo raised a questioning brow. “The last time I checked we aren’t that close to the extent of sharing personal issues.”
“Well I need someone who might understand me better to talk to. And since I don’t have a male friend, I might as well tell you. She thinks I am a piece of trash because I denied fathering Chloe’s child and slept with her despite knowing she was engaged to you.”
“Feminist to the core, I see. Women supporting women, but she was right, after all you are indeed an asshole.”
“I will take the insult, doesn’t mean I am hundred percent certain that the child belongs to me. Call me anything you want, but I don’t want to end up hating on an innocent child because of the mistakes we the adults made.”
“You are really an asshole. How many times do I have to explain my situation with Chloe to you?”
Zac waved a dismissive hand. “I am still not going to give in. I’m a man of high principles. Can we get back to the topic at hand?”
Letting out a long breath from his mouth, Leo pulled at his hair. “She couldn’t believe that I never did love Chloe and I didn’t try to make it work because I was still hung up on her.”
“So she feels guilty for the situation Chloe is in.”
“Exactly, especially when she heard that we got divorced.”
“What?”
“Don’t try to look shocked man. Like I said, Chloe was the only one in the relationship. I was only trying to push through because of guilt. I guess the pregnancy opened our eyes to a lot of things. What I don’t seem to understand is Darby’s reaction towards all of this.”
“It’s because you don’t know much about her. According to her, she was the one who loved you from afar before that night you got together and conceived Sinclair. Darby has always been subjected to questioning herself and feeling unwanted. Because of that she sometimes doesn’t think she deserves something, especially when it has to do with someone else suffering in her place. She feels it’s unfair towards such person, by putting herself in their shoes. Whatever doesn’t sit right with her, she never does it to somebody else.”
Leo hummed bowing his head, “I didn’t stop to think that might be the case.”
“People like Darby are closed off in expressing themselves. She has always had to keep things to herself no matter how hard it is. She doesn’t like to burden anyone with whatever she is enduring. Darby knows how hard I have fallen for her, she could have taken advantage of me and pull me along to shield her loneliness, but she didn’t and stood her ground of not feeling the same for me. At a point, I wanted her to use me to get you jealous so bad but she didn’t. She just kept the feelings to herself coping through it all alone. If you really want anything to do with her, you would have to really prove that you are here to stay and nothing would deter you.” Zac sighed tiredly.
“Why are you telling me all this? I thought we were in a silent competition?” Leo inquired innocently.
Laughing at his sincerity, Zac scoffed. “I already lost in the silent competition long before you came. It was just really hard for my heart to take seeing you around the woman I have nurtured and cared about for the last five years. But then, Darby will always be my dear friend and I have to be there for her and that includes trashing whatever feeling that I might be holding onto. Also, I won’t be here any more. I need to be sure she is in the right hands.”
“What do you mean?”
“I never would have accepted Essence contract if Darby wasn’t here. I have been refusing for two years now, but when she chooses to relocate and I felt like it might be the end of me if I don’t stay close to her. I accepted the six months contract hoping things would work out between us, but then you waltzed in even before I got to settle here.”
“Am I suppose to apologize for that?”
“Like that would solve anything. Anyways my stay here in LA runs out in a week time. It’s time I return home and grow my brand. My clients are having nostalgia over my absence. I really can’t wait to get back home. I would definitely keep in touch with Darby and Sinclair, but I need you to not be an asshole and be worthy of her trust and affection.”
“Why do I feel like there is an underlying threat in your words?”
“Because I am really threatening you. Just please, Leo. Don’t play with her heart again. She doesn’t deserve such hurt. She couldn’t even live her life differently because she had to look after Sinclair and focus on her career. Don’t make me regret counting on you.”
“Are you really leaving Chloe to herself with a child?”
“I will talk to her and we would have an agreement. I never had eyes for Chloe or fantasize over her, what happened between us was just an intimacy born out of the frustration and loneliness we were feeling. I know I sound cold, but it’s just how I feel for real. I have a rough upbringing which makes it hard for me to put my trust in anyone.”
“But you trust Darby?”
“It’s a different case entirely.” Zac insisted.
Leo scoffed in irritation. “You are really something. But I can’t blame you since I am just another asshole like you are. I will take care of both women myself. You do whatever it is that pleases you.”
Standing up to his feet, he gave a quirky smile. “I was going to do whatever pleases me in the first place, with or without your permission. It was nice talking to you. I indeed feel very light. I’m sure Darby wouldn’t get over her feelings just yet, so I will take that as my cue to leave. Send my love to Sinclair. Tell him to get better soon.” He mused before walking away.
Leo had his mouth agape at the strange guy, he didn’t realize Zac was such strange person. It made him wonder how Darby ever got along with him. Shaking his head, he made his way back to the ward.