UNFORGETTABLE EX-WIFE: The Billionaire's Regret

"You conniving bitch, I've had enough of you! Your face makes me sick! Just fricking go to hell, Lana!"

The anger in his eyes, the disgust on his face...

These were everything Lana was used to,. but her heart still bled at those words.

23yr old , Lana Fernandez wanted nothing more than the love of her husband but this seems like a dream that can never be accomplished.

Her husband, Damien Romero only married her at the insistence of his grandmother because she saved his life but his heart will always belong to his ex-lover Rina... or so he thought.

Trapped in a loveless marriage to be an afterthought, to a woman she'd never measure up to, and mistreated by both her husband and his family, Lana seeks a divorce after the loss of her baby.

Determined to forget him completely, she returns to her life and suddenly, Damien sees she's not who he thinks she is.

The woman who was thought to be a gold digger and a low life was actually a Billionaire Heiress!

And as ugly truths rear up their ugly heads, Damien realises he wants her back and she's actually the key to his sanity.

But will Lana help him discover the peace he seeks? Or will she let him be devoured by the very pain he caused her?

A forced marriage

Chapter one

"We're here, Madam" The driver's clear voice, interrupted Lana's thoughts and her eyes snapped open.

She had been lost in thoughts and didn't realize they were already home.

"Oh thanks Diego" Lana said as she snapped out of her thoughts as the driver went round the side of the car to open the door for her.

She gave him a charming smile which slowly faded as she stared at the huge mansion which stood in front of her.

Placing her bag on her shoulder, she wearily walked into the house, the full skirts of her white dress, almost sweeping the floor.

Maids bowed and greeted her as they held the door open for her.

Lana failed to see the concerned looks they gave her and themselves. She wearily made her way up the grand stairs that led to her bedroom.

Her head was filled with various thoughts but the one that stood out the most were the words she heard about an hour ago.

At the doctor's office.

"Congratulations, Mrs Romero. You're pregnant!" The doctor had said heartily as Lana's eyes widened with a mixture of fear and joy.

"I...I'm pregnant?" She breathed softly, her hands immediately going to her stomach, caressing it carefully.

A life was was growing inside her.

There was a child inside her!

She was shocked and frozen with joy but at the same time sad.

Shocked because she could not believe the one time she and her husband, Damien made love, a child was actually conceived.

Sad, because she did not know how he was going to react to this news or even if it will change anything between them.

Damien had gotten married to her at the insistence of his grandmother, Laura, who had been under her care.

"You're marrying her, Damien! She's your life saver!" She had urged Damien soon after he recovered from the strange illness that nearly took his life.

Everyone thought he was going to die because he needed a special blood type in order for surgery to be performed on him and Laura could not find a donor. None of his family members agreed to donate.

They felt he was going to die anyways, so what was the use?

Lana had opted because she had that blood type and because she could not stand Laura been so sad everyday. Laura had felt like dying. She told Lana if her precious baby died , she would too.

Lana also did it because she was secretly in love with Damien and she would never allow him to die if she could help it.

There was no way this world would be the same if she could not behold his beautiful golden looks with his long blonde hair, steely grey eyes, chiseled face and smooth jawline.

Lana had just donated because she loved him. She never expected Laura to try to make them get married.

When Damien had agreed, Lana was shocked because she knew he had a girlfriend whom he loved very much, which made her feel like she'd never meet up to his standards and she'd never have his heart.

But he had chosen her?

Blinded by joy and love, she had agreed to the marriage and had her worst nightmare unleashed before her eyes.

Damien, her husband, despised her.

He only seemed to stare at her with pure anger, his lips never giving her the loving smile of a husband.

They had separate bedrooms, because Damien told her, there was no way he was waking up to her everyday, in his bed.

"I'm only married to you because of my grandmother. You have no idea how much I despise that. Do not expect anything else from me!" He had fired at her with his grey eyes, void of emotion and his voice cold, the day she asked him why he was in the guest bedroom

He never touched her.

Never.

In all their three years of marriage.

Until that night, two months ago, when he arrived home drunk. Lana was surprised because Damien rarely drinks and even if he did, there was no way he was getting wasted.

She had helped him to his bedroom and suddenly, she found herself pinned to the bed, and Damien towering over her.

His eyes were hazy and he looked at her like she was a meal to be devoured.

"Stop, you're drunk! Let me help you so you can settle down for the night" she tried to wriggle out of his grasp but it was firm and she gasped when he suddenly kissed her, pressing down against her body.

She could feel his hardness on her thighs, the warmth of it also.

His hands were hot, light and quick. Within minutes, Lana could feel his touch on her innermost core.

She gasped and wriggled in pleasure as he touched her and nibbled her ear at the same time, giving tantalizing bites on it as well as on her neck.

Lana felt like her whole body was on fire. The pleasure was so intense and when he slid into her, she cried out from the pain mixed with pleasure and grabbed his shoulders with both hands.

Damien didn't stop, his waist kept crashing down on hers and her moans reverbrated round the mansion.

"Rina!"

As Lana thrashed about on the bed, her body sated from the pleasure of the climax she had just experienced, her eyes flew open immediately and she went stiff as she realized the name he had called was not hers .

Rina.

That was the name of his ex-lover.

Her nemesis.

The woman she'd never measure up to. The pleasure forgotten, Lana's heart clenched as she looked at his sleeping form on the bed. Even unconsciously, Rina was the only one he could think about.

She had gotten out of his bed that night and made her way to her room, thinking he'd give her an explanation the next morning.

Although, no explanation was needed. She was his wife and it's normal for married couples to make love.

But the next morning, the maids informed her, he had left for a business trip.

And Damien had not been home since then. She hated the way the house was without him. Even though he always acted like she didn't exist, she still loved to see him walking around the house or get the maids to give her his lunch to bring to him, although he never appreciated it.

She sighed and realized that she had been standing on the stairway for a long time.

"What's wrong with me?" She groaned as she made to continue walking up the stairs but a noise above caught her ear.

She glanced up and listened intently. It was coming from Damien's room

Joy surged through her and she glanced back to look at the maids who had been standing, watching her lost in thoughts.

"The master is back?!" She asked, as a wide smile broke out on her face "Then why didn't you tell me?!"

"N..no madam wait!" The head maid called out but it was too late as Lana picked up her skirts and ran up the stairs to Damien's bedroom.

He never liked to be disturbed by anyone, especially by her but she felt that this occasion calls for it.

She was pregnant and it was only right for the father of her child to know.

She opened her bag and grabbed the pregnancy results. Clutching it with both hands, she reached for the door handle and pushed it open in one swift move

"Damien..." His name died on her lips as she beheld the scene in front of her.

A woman was sitting primly on his bed in nothing but lacy white underwear.

Lana froze and did a double take.

Rina.

"I said, Get Out!"

Chapter Two

Rina.

"Y..you?" Her hands shook with rage as she took a step closer to the bed "what's going on? What the hell are you doing in my husband's room?!"

Her fists clenched as she glared at Rina and remembered how Laura had admonished her to keep Rina away from her grandson.

And now, Damien had gone and brought her into their home.

She had failed Laura.

Rina stared at Lana mischievously, her rosy pink lips curving into a smirk.

Lana's palm itched to wipe that smirk off her face.

She looked around the room, taking in the sight, slowly.

The room was dimly lit from the chandelier above, which cast a faint glow around the room. Rina's hair looked disheveled and her complexion was flushed. There were clothes strewn about the floor of the room and a faint musty smell hung in the air.

As Lana tried to make her brain understand whatever it is that was going on, Damien walked out of the bathroom. His golden locks, was wet and stuck to his forehead.

He stopped when he saw Lana and his face darkened with a huge frown

"What the hell do you think you're doing in here?"

He growled and immediately Rina heard his voice, she ran to him and gave him a tight embrace, her entire body shaking, seemingly from fear.

"Dami, I'm scared!"

Lana felt like vomiting as she watched Damien's arms go round Rina in a tight embrace. He looked down into her face as he mumbled softly,

"It's okay, I'm here. Don't be scared" he kissed the top of her head and the smile disappeared from his face as he glanced up back at Lana.

He failed to see the sinister smile which Rina was giving Lana as she rubbed her cheeks against his hard chest.

"Damien" Lana closed her eyes, in an effort to remain calm but it was very hard "What's she doing here?."

"That's none of your fricking business! Get out of my room!" Damien still held on to Rina as though she was a little child, scared of the noise.

"I want her out of my house this instant!" Lana retaliated, her voice shaking with emotion as she took another step forward " I will not have your little mistress under my roof!."

Something flashed before her eyes and before she could realize it, Damien's hard palm had landed on her face.

Twang!

Lana reeled from the force of the slap and she landed on the floor, stunned.

She reached to touch her reddened cheeks with trembling hands, and her eyes stung with unshed tears as she looked up at Damien who was glaring at her on the floor.

His chest was heaving as he tried to calm down.

"Don't you dare call her that, you conniving bitch!" He pointed a finger at her and almost spat at her "I've had enough of you. Your face makes me sick. You disgust me, Lana, just fricking go to hell!."

Lana could see Rina standing behind him, her hands over her mouth seemingly in shock but her eyes were filled with glee.

She was definitely enjoying the show and the look on her face was enough for Lana. She shakily stood up, determined never to back down in front of them.

"Hell?! I'll make you see hell if you don't get that bitch out of my house!" She fired back, standing her ground although she was trembling all over from the emotions which were choking her

Damien smirked, and his beautiful eyes glittered with disdain.

"What are you going to do?" He walked back to Rina and gently led her to the bed. She continued hugging him, even though they were sitting.

"Run to my grandma? To deceive her all the more?! Too bad she's out of the country. At least she won't get to see your conniving and hateful face!"

"What are you talking about?" Lana was shaking with anger and she could not fathom what Damien was saying.

She also could not stand Lana caressing her husband's chest.

'I said, get this bitch out!"

At this, Damien stood up and walked to his desk and pressed a button. Soon, a guard appeared.

"Ma'am, please come with me" The guard's eyes were apologetic as he held on to Lana's arm trying to lead her out but she shrugged out of his grip.

"I said, get out!" She walked towards Rina and grabbed her arm, ready to throw her out.

Rina shrieked, calling out to Damien, and Damien immediately pushed Lana to the floor again, cradling Rina in his arms.

Lana fell to the floor, her abdomen suddenly on fire. She clutched her stomach and gasped loudly.

"Get her out of my house! I do not want to see her face!" Damien thundered at the guard who immediately sprang into action, and roughly dragged Lana outside.

Lana was limp with the pain and when the guard unceremoniously dumped her in front of the house, she called for her driver immediately.

"Diego...to the hospital, quick" Lana gasped as the driver immediately placed her in the car, before hurrying to start the engine.

She could not let anything happen to her baby.

Lana's whole body was engulfed with pain but it was not like the aching in her heart.

Her eyes stung with tears which spilled over and rolled down her cheeks

She wailed, unmindful of the driver who looked at her in distress.

"Ma'am, please stop crying, everything would be o...oh shit!"

Diego yelled suddenly as a huge dump truck came at the car from a side road.

He swerved sharply to avoid an impact and the car was thrown off the road and it careened straight into a tree by the side of the road.

And then, there was a deafening silence.

Before the car crashed into the tree, Lana was already unconscious, her head on the headrest in front of her.

Slowly, blood trickled down her legs, staining her white dress and the seat which she sat on.

Emotionally Void

Chapter Three

When Lana opened her eyes again, she was lying on her back on a hard surface.

She sat up quickly and fell back to the bed immediately as her head felt like it would split in half.

She gasped in pain and grabbed her head with both hands. She realized that it was wrapped round with bandage, and there was a needle on her hand connected to a bag above her.

She was at the hospital.

What happened?

She remembered the crash and her hands immediately went to her stomach

"My baby" she breathed frantically just as the curtains were pulled aside and a doctor appeared.

"I see you're awake, Miss" he smiled at her as he checked he vitals "And you're doing well, I can see."

"Doctor, my baby" Lana whispered softly "Is my baby fine?"

The doctor's smile faded slowly as he looked down at Lana. Slowly, he shook his head.

"I'm sorry" he breathed softly, staring deep into her eyes.

Lana's eyes burned with tears, but somehow they did not spill over.

"It's dead?" Her voice was void of emotion and the doctor was confused, wondering if the loss of her child had made her go insane.

Sometimes, incidents like this tend to make people go into shock and they behave abnormally.

"You have to calm down, Miss" He said "although, the injuries you sustained from the accident are not that severe, you need to make sure you don't stress yourself."

The injuries were not that severe?

Then, had she lost her child before the incident?

When?

Surely, it can't be when Damien pushed her, because she felt the pain from then.

But if it was so...

She turned away from the doctor, and her gaze went to the door. She saw Diego standing there, his arm in a sling.

"Ma'am, don't worry, I already called the boss. He's on his way" He shuffled painfully over to her, cheerfully saying in his hispanic accent.

He looked away from her, because he was afraid that she would probably see that he was lying.

He had actually called the boss to inform him of the accident but the boss had berated him for disturbing him.

"Just take her to the hospital. The doctors would take care of her. Do not call me over this matter again!"

Those had been the boss's words and Diego could not bring himself to repeat them for Lana.

Lana stared at him, her face hard.

She knew he was lying. Many times her driver had lied to her, in order to make Damien save face in front of her.

"Ma'am, the boss sent this flowers."

"Ma'am,the boss called and asked for you but you were out."

"Ma'am, the boss got you tickets for your favorite opera."

She always knew it was a lie because Damien could easily call her if he wanted to talk to her and she hated flowers.

She was allergic to them, dammit!

She sat up again, and this time her head throbbed slightly.

"I can get discharged now, right?" Lana stared straight ahead as she spoke, her voice void of emotion again.

Her lips was pale and she looked ghastly, with huge bags under her eyes and sharp cheekbones.

"No, you cannot" The doctor shrank back from the glare which Lana gave him as he said those words but he still remained calm "I might need to run some more tests on you. Please, hold on a bit while get some things ready."

As soon as he walked out, Lana slid out of the bed with difficulty

"Diego, get me my clothes" She removed the needle from her wrist, her face showing no pain.

It was as though she lost her emotions along with her child.

Diego was scared.

"Ma'am, please, you heard the doctor.. "

"Fine, I'll leave without you" She walked out of the room, taking long strides and ignoring the pain in her head.

"Ma'am wait" she could hear Diego calling out to her as he tried to catch up with her but she didn't stop until she was out of the hospital.

Diego caught up to her, breathing heavily.

"Please ma'am, don't hurt yourself. The boss would be angry if anything happened to you."

Lana laughed but the look she gave Diego was murderous.

"Really? He would?" Diego shrank back in horror from her murderous look.

My God, what had happened to her? Diego wondered in fear.

"Get a cab this instant and stop telling me shit!"

Diego nodded and sprang into action, stopping a taxi, waving wildly with his free arm.

Lana slid into the back of the cab and Diego sat in front.

"Take me to the Reign Estates" she ordered, looking out the window and Diego looked back at her in shock.

She was still going back to the mansion.

Diego was worried.

He did not want her to go back. He knew what was happening back at the mansion and if she went there, she'd only be more hurt.

"But ma'am, are you sure about this? Maybe we can go in and get the doctor..."

Lana glared at him and he immediately faced his front, but he still managed to say in a small voice,

"The boss is not home, if you're looking for him. He's at the Reign Gardens, for the business summit and banquet he's hosting, so let's just return quietly inside, ma'am, I beg of you."

"Take me to Reign Gardens!"

Diego's head whipped around again as he stared at Lana in shock.

She was going to the business summit like this?!

With her hospital dress and a bandage wrapped around her head?

However, the look in her eyes scared him and he dared not say another word.

The cab rolled to a stop in front of the Reign Gardens.

Lana could hear classical music, emanating from the garden as well dressed and sophisticated people milled about, discussing and laughing.

The place was filled and Lana had a hard time finding Damien, but everyone did step out of her way, once they saw her.

Maybe because of the cold look in her eyes or the ghastly way she looked.

She found Damien, in a discussion with some of his friends and his face was alight with joy.

Lana's fists clenched as her blood boiled.

He hurt her and made her lose her child, and here he was laughing as though nothing happened?!

He looked up and saw her and his expression immediately, turned to a scowl, as he gave her a dark look.

She equally stared at him with a strange look which puzzled him.

The next words which came out of her mouth stunned him.

"Damien Romero, you bastard, I want a Divorce!."

Puzzled

Chapter Four

Stunned, Damien stared at her.

Her head was wrapped completely in a bandage, her face was white and her lip pale, and there were cuts on it.

He was puzzled.

He thought she had been in a minor accident so why is she looking like she just survived world war 2?

When Diego had called him that she had been involved in an accident, he wanted to go to the hospital because if his grandma gets wind of Lana beibg hospitalized, all hell will let loose.

But Rina had held on to his cloth at that moment.

"Please Dami, don't go. I'm scared" she had said, softly and feverishly. Her eyes were closed but tears still dripped out of them to soak her pillows.

She was a very fragile person and had been seriously shaken when Lana had behaved like a rogue towards her.

His heart hardened and he decided to stay with her. After all, he was sure Lana was just involved in a minor accident.

"Just take her to the hospital! The doctors would take care of her" he had spoken harshly into the phone "Do not call me over this matter again."

As he said those words, he failed to see the slight smile which curved Rina's lips. For she was awake and only putting up an act.

He had taken care of her all day, however and forgotten about Lana but here she was in front of him, looking like death.

She looked awful but that did not dim the fire in her eyes.

She stared at him with hatred as he quietly excused himself from his group and walked towards her, cautiously.

What was that she said?

Divorce?

She can't be serious but somehow, Damien was sure she was serious.

Lana's formerly, calm and cowardly eyes were staring at him with so much hatred and fire, that he almost lost composure.

As he walked towards her, a voice called out.

"Lana, what are you doing here?" Lana turned to look at a middle aged woman who was dressed to the nines, in a beautiful red gown, with a full skirt that covered her feet.

It was Vera, Damien's Mom.

"They said you were at the hospital but you seem fine. You were never the most beautiful either, so it's okay" she walked up to her son, and stared at Lana as though she was something nasty.

Vera had never really liked Lana. They were all enraged when Laura had brought in a nobody to be a part of their family.

That's what they thought of her.

A nobody with no family or background. She was just a poor aide that took care of rich people and somehow deceived Laura into making Damien marry her.

Lana's face darkened immediately, when she saw that Vera was linking arms with Rina, who was looking like a flower petal at that moment, dressed in an exquisite white dress, with thin shoulder straps and a flared skirt which stopped just above her knees.

Lana was very conscious of the fact that she looked like a mess but she didn't care.

It's not like she'll ever be the centre of Damien's attention.

Rina's eyes glittered with malice and mockery as she glanced at Lana but she quickly masked it as she walked up to Damien and linked arms with him also.

"Dami!"

She laid her head on his shoulder and gave Lana a petulant look.

"Why are you out in the cold, Rina?" Damien quickly pulled off his suit jacket and draped it over Rina's shoulder.

"I just wanted to see you" She sniffled and cuddled up to him, still casting malicious glances at Lana but Lana looked like she didn't give a damn.

"But it's not safe. The doctor said you should be more careful."

"Oh come on dear, we are still in the estate" Vera piped in "There's nothing wrong in coming out to see your fiance. You both look good together. You ought to be with her instead of a gold digger who is also a nobody."

She said that last bit, looking pointedly at Lana. Vera had hated her mother inlaw when she brought in this poor aide to marry her precious son.

She was of a long line of aristocrats and she wished for Damien to marry into money and wealth just like their family.

Even though Rina's family was not as wealthy as theirs, she was still the one Damien preferred and Vera accepts her because she was an outstanding fashion designer and was valuable to their company, which was a fashion and entertainment company.

Lana, on the other hand, was nothing but a gold digging poor aide. Vera would not let this nasty thing destroy her son's happiness.

Damien was silent as he watched Lana with narrowed eyes. He saw that she had no reaction to what his mom said. From all indications, it seemed as though she was deaf from the way she was staring at them, indifferently.

He had expected her to turn into a blubbery mess at the mention of that word. After all, she brought this all on herself but the gaze she was giving them was just cold.

Wait, was she serious about the divorce?

She had got to be joking.

His fists clenched into balls at his side as he remembered what Rina had told him, when he eventually found her after three years.

He knew now why his grandmother had insisted on them getting married. It was not because she had saved his life.

Rather, it was because Lana manipulated his grandma into it. She was obsessed with him and used that to blackmail Rina, which led her to leaving the city.

Grandma even went as far as saying, he can only have his inheritance, if he married her and bore a child through her.

Which he knew would never happen, because he had never touched her and he would never touch her.

And now, here she was acting all righteous and seeking a divorce?

She had got to be joking.

"I've had enough of this shit" she finally spat out through gritted teeth.

"Go home, Lana" Vera said, her dark eyes looking at her with impatience and derision. There's no place for you here! You're embarrassing the family."

Lana scoffed, and this attitude made Vera frown.

They were treating her as though she wasn't there, as though she wasn't a human being with feelings, that bitch was caressing her husband up and down.

And her mother-in-law, rubbing it in her face that she'd never be Damien's lover.

She can't stand the sight, anymore.

She felt weaker as she beheld them, and she seemed more pale than ever "You think about what I said, Damien Romero."

With that, she turned on her heel to walk out on them but she had not taken a step when a huge pole which connected wires, on which beautiful lanterns were hung around the garden, fell with a loud creak.

Everyome screamed and shrieked as they watched the pole descend.

Lana gasped in horror, her eyes widening in fear as the pole decended but she was not quick enough to move out of the way.

She saw from the corner of her eyes as Damien launched himself at Rina, covering her with his entire body and her heart ached as she closed her eyes, waiting for the impact of the pole on her head.

It would be better to just die. She could not take it anymore. If she had known love would be this painful, she never would have ventured into it.

Suddenly, there was stunned silence.

Lana opened her eyes, after waiting for a few minutes and nothing happened.

Suddenly, she became acutely aware of a strong surface. She was being held against a strong body.

Stunned, she looked up into beautiful green eyes, covered with long lashes.

A beautiful man, with long black hair, sensual green eyes, and thin lips was holding her up by the waist, against himself.

Lana wondered if she was actually dead and this was an angel guiding her towards heaven but that was not the case.

Shortly before the impact, he had grabbed her quickly out of the way and almost gotten crushed by the pole.

Lana was shaking terribly, from the realization that she almost lost her life and the pain of seeing that her so-called husband had not even tried to save her.

Suddenly, her legs could no longer hold her up. She felt the floor give way beneath her and she fainted.

"She's Dead!"

Chapter Five

Damien paced up and down the hallway, outside the hospital room.

He could not understand why he was so agitated but there was something about seeing your wife, unconscious, in a dead faint and also in another man's arms.

It rattled him.

Her white face and limp body had scared him as he watched the man carry her in his arms, bridal style.

He stopped pacing and looked ahead, his brows coming together in a huge frown and a sour taste came into his mouth, as he stared at the man who had saved his wife.

Zaire Ludovic.

C.E.O of SERENE, A MultiBillion-dollar Fashion and Entertainment Company and one of the top rated fashion company in Emerald City.

He was Damien's biggest Rival.

The Romero family owned MAGIC, another top rated fashion and Entertainment company in the City. It had been in the family for years and was the source of all their wealth.

The MAGIC group had other subsidiaries in other industries - Retail, Education, Manufacturing, Sports etc but MAGIC Touch, which embodied their Fashion and Entertainment Industry was the epitome of the MAGIC Group.

The business summit at the Reign Gardens was open to all business icons and reputable people of the business world

Zaire was one of them.

Zaire was standing erect, neither looking sideways but facing the door of Lana's hospital room.

Damien watched him with narrowed eyes.

What the hell was he doing here?, he thought.

True, he had brought Lana to the hospital but his job was done.

He should leave, already.

Damien did not like the way Zaire was standing guard over his wife's hospital room.

Lana was his wife, not his, Dammit!

He started walking towards him, to tell him to get the hell away from his wife's hospital room door and out of their lives, when suddenly, the door to Lana's room opened up and he stopped in midstride as Lana walked out and walked towards them.

"Lana, are you okay?" He went towards her hurriedly, placing himself between her and Zaire.

Lana gave him a withering look.

"What's it to you? My wellbeing is none of your concern, last I remembered!" Her tone was scathing and her eyes cold as she stared up at him.

Damien was taken aback by her coldness and was even more shocked at his reaction to her coldness.

He felt nervous, as though something precious was about to slip from his fingers or had already slipped from his fingers.

"Let's go home" he started to say but Lana ignored him.

He saw the direction of her gaze and his eyes flashed with anger when he saw that she was watching Zaire.

The way her expression softened as she stared at Zaire, made his blood boil. Without thinking, he grabbed her arm, and pulled her to himself

"I said, Let's go home!" He hissed in her ears and Lana struggled in his grip.

"Let go of me, you jerk!" She struggled and suddenly, she was free.

Zaire reached out and pulled her to his side, breaking Damien's grip.

"She said, let go, Romero. Why are you manhandling a lady?" Zaire's voice boomed out and Lana who was by his side could feel the vibrations from his voice.

Seeing that she was not struggling in his grasp, almost made Damien go mad.

He saw red and almost exploded.

"That's my wife, Ludovic! Take your hands off her!"

"I don't care if she's your wife. She's a lady and she does not want to be with you at the moment!" Zaire smirked at him before turning to Lana and saying softly "Let me take you."

Damien could not believe his eyes, when Lana glared at him before nodding slightly. Zaire smiled and led her out of the hospital.

Damien swore as his fists clenched and his face reddened as he watched Zaire lead his wife, away from him.

"Damn you, Lana!"

***

As soon as Lana stepped into the house, Vera stood up from the sofa where she and Rina had been sitting, and walked towards her

"I thought you were going to be hospitalized for a long time but now I know you only pulled that stunt to embarrass my son!."

She wagged a finger in front of Lana as she spoke. Lana merely glanced at her and started making her way up the stairs to her bedroom.

"I'm talking to you!" Vera roughly pulled Lana back and glared at her "You lowlife! I allowed you to marry my son because of that old wretch and now you dare to disrespect me?!"

"Don't you dare call Laura that" Lana fired back and Vera was taken aback at her sudden fierceness "Although, she did that for a good cause, I was a fool for going along with it."

This was a new side to Lana that she had never seen before, and it shocked Vera. Normally, Lana stood like a coward when Vera berated her and had never raised her voice to her. Vera wondered if Lana had gone mad.

"Stop acting as though you didn't manipulated her into it" Vera threw back at her, her arms crossed "I know your type , you gold digging lowlife."

Lana smiled bitterly.

"Well then, I'm sure it will gladden your heart to know I'm correcting the mistake Laura made" she calmly said, her eyes glittering like ice "I'm getting a divorce!"

This revelation shocked both women and Rina actually stood up and walked towards Lana cautiously, a sly smile on her face.

'This was perfect' she thought 'Everything is going according to my plan.'

However, Vera had her eyes narrowed at her. She scoffed and eyed Lana with disdain.

"A divorce? really? So you can get half of my son's inheritance, right?!"

"I don't care about his inheritance!" Lana asserted "And I don't care if you believe me or not, I'm getting that divorce!"

"You're going nowhere!" A voice thundered from the entrance and they watched as Damien strode towards them.

His face was red and his grey eyes were flashing with anger as he remembered how Lana had left with Zaire at the hospital

"How dare you bring up divorce?! After you manipulated my grandmother into withholding my inheritance?!" Damien leaned down and spoke fiercely to Lana.

Lana stared him down, unwilling to back down.

"I have no idea what you're saying, and I don't care!" She yelled back at him, and he was shocked at the fire in her eyes "I won't stay under this roof with your little whore!"

"Well, you got yourself into it, you conniving bitch, so deal with it!" Vera fired as she went to stand beside her son. They all stood before Lana, glaring at her.

Lana was undaunted, however.

She was leaving this house even if it meant she was smuggled out. She thought of Laura and her heart clenched with sorrow but she could not take this anymore.

She would explain to Laura later.

"Excuse me, sir" A voice interrupted the tense moment and they watched as Damien's assistant, Liam, walked up to him.

"What is it?" Damien snarled, his angry eyes never leaving Lana's face but the next words that came out of his assistant's mouth, had them all staring at him in shock.

"Your grandmother, sir. She's dead!"

"I'm Coming Home!"

Chapter Six

"We gather here in loving memory of our beloved sister, Laura Penelope Romero..."

Lana sat very straightbacked, the pew hard beneath her as the priest went on.

The entire church was so silent that if a pin dropped, the sound would bounce off the walls.

Laura was dead.

Laura, the one person who had been in support of her marriage to Damien.

Laura, who had been like a mother to her this past three years.

Laura, the only reason she was still holding on.

Lana took a deep breath, as she fought back tears, which stung her eyes, and threatened to fall at any moment.

She was seated among the other callers, while Rina sat with her husband and his family, in the pew reserved for families.

Lana didn't mind. She had deliberately separated herself from them, and even though she was occasionally receiving dark stares from Damien, she would not budge.

Finally, everyone filed out of the church, and the coffin was placed in the freshly dug hole in the ground.

There were sniffles here and there, people pressing their handkerchiefs to their nose, as they wiped tears off their face and spoke about how Laura was such a good woman, and what a shame that she had gone so soon.

But the Romeros stood aside, without a single tear, looking very fashionable in their dark designer attires.

Lana stared at them in hatred.

When the news of Laura's death was delivered to them, along with her body, they were all shocked but not shocked enough to care for her funeral routine.

As usual, Lana had been the one who saw that the funeral was a success, and Laura would be sent off in peace.

As soon as the last shovel of sand hit the coffin, the Romeros filed out, leaving even the sympathizers who came to give their wishes.

She saw Damien leave Rina, however and walked towards her, his steps purposeful.

Rina stood back, a frown crossing her face, as she saw that Damien was making for Lana.

'What on Earth did he want with that bitch?' she thought bitterly as she bit her lups, watching them.

"Lana, we need to talk." Damien said, as he stood in front of her, his hands deep in the pockets of his custom-made black suit.

"I have nothing to say to you, except of course, you are ready to sign the divorce papers." Lana replied, looking past him as though he were insignificant.

The mention of divorce made Damien clench his fists in his suit pocket, and the muscles in his jaw tensed.

"You're still on about that?" He said, sneering "Just so you know, grandmother left everything to me. You're getting nothing Lana. Your plans failed."

Lana looked up at him, her gaze indifferent as she looked him from head to toe.

"I'd rather choke on my own vomit before I will collect anything from you" she said and Damien's eyes widened in shock at those words.

Lana smirked and signaled for her driver.

"You're leaving too?" Diego asked, wide eyed, and Lana glared at him. He always seem to ask stupid questions.

"Of course, I'm leaving, Diego. Get the car!" She snapped, then turned back to Damien "I'll be in the house with divorce papers. You just need to put your signature on it and we're done."

With that, she strolled towards her car, past Vera and Rina who looked at her with narrowed eyes.

Damien watched her leave and his face contorted with different emotions.

What was wrong with that woman? What was she trying to prove?

His grandmother was dead and she had left everything to him. He knew Lana had deliberately manipulated his grandmother into marrying him so she could have his wealth.

So why was she acting all righteous?

He should also be celebrating right now and getting ready to throw her out of his life but why was he hesitating?

The mere mention of divorce made him grit his teeth in anger. Who did she think she was to just walk out on him like that?

He had to get to the root of this matter. Things were not adding up at all.

Signalling his driver, he asked for his car and sat in silence throughout the journey home, no matter how much Rina tried to bring him out of it.

Seeing that Damien was not in the mood to talk, Rina bit her lips and turned away from him in anger, but she did not allow this to show.

She must still maintain her victim image, so that she can have Damien deep in guilt all his life.

Right now, Damien believes she's frail and suicidal, and he thinks it's due to the fact that he abandoned her.

She must use that to her advantage.

She wondered if Lana no longer wants the divorce. Maybe that's why Damien was angry, because there was no way he'd want to stay with her now that Laura was dead.

Rina clenched her fists as she thought of Lana, acting all high and mighty even when she had no one to support her.

She'd make sure they get divorced and Lana will never show her face in the city again, out of shame.

As soon as they walked into the vast sitting room, they found Lana sitting very primly on a sofa with her legs and arms crossed and her face determined.

A very uncomfortable lawyer stood by her side and bowed at them as they came in.

She looked very regal and dignified and she gave them a blame look as they filed into the room.

"Damien Romero, here are the papers" she said, calmly tapping the paper on the table with her fingers. "You can sign them. You have no excuse now."

"How dare you, lowlife?" Vera sneered at her "Do you think you're getting anything if you divorce Damien? And besides why would you divorce him? We are the ones who are supposed to be throwing you out!"

"Mother, enough!" Damien growled and his mother stopped.

She glared at him, offended that he should stop her.

Damien snatched the paper from the table and looked it over, then his eyes came down to Lana's face.

She stared right back at him, her look cold and unnerving, and he was suddenly nervous.

The feeling that he was about to lose something special came over him again, and his palms sweated.

"You'll be compensated for your time" he muttered, frowning darkly at her "How much do you want? Ten million? Fifty million? A billion?"

Lana laughed mockingly, as Vera gasped.

"Why should we give her any money?" Vera yelled, her eyes as fierce as a spitting cat " she has enjoyed the benefit of being your wife all this years. Lana, I want you to return everything you got using my son's money and the name of the Romero Family!"

"Mother, I said enough." Damien thundered this time, casting a dark look at his mother who gave him a stubborn look.

"I'm only looking out for your interest, Damien" she fired back at him "I will not let a gold digger use our family!."

Lana laughed and stood up.

"I want nothing from your evil family" she said with a smile on her face , although her eyes were cold "I just need you to sign the damn papers."

"If you leave, it's of your own accord!" He growled at her "if you ever try to make it look like we treated you badly to the media, I'll make you pay."

"Exactly, Lana. Just take the money." Rina chipped in, coming to stand beside Damien "Where else would you see this much amount again in your life. Just take it now while we are being nice."

Lana smirked, ignoring Rina completely while she stared directly at Damien.

"Sign the papers!"

Puzzled by her behavior, Damien was all the more doubtful of the story of Lana being a gold digger.

If she was a gold digger, why was she refusing the money then?

His eyes fell on Lana and something in her eyes made his heart clench but in the next instant, pride filled his heart.

Even if he was wrong about her, she still manipulated his grandmother. It was best to be rid of her.

He snarled as he grabbed the pen on the table, and signed his name on the divorce papers.

Smiling blandly, Lana collected it and handed it to the lawyer who bowed at them and took his leave quickly, as though he was being chased.

"Well then, I hope we never see each other again." She said coldly, as she walked out on them, taking absolutely nothing with her except her purse.

"Good riddance!" Vera shouted after her and Rina laughed delightedly.

"Finally, we are rid of the gold digger!" Rina cooed to Damien "Now we can be together, Dami, Right?"

Damien was silent. He was breathing hard as he watched Lana walking down the narrow lane which led to the main gates.

Without a word, he turned on his heel and went upstairs, leaving Rina puzzled.

Meanwhile, as Lana walked towards the gate, she hugged herself to keep from shaking.

Finally...

Her heart clenched and the ache was unbearable but she knew she had to leave.

Reaching into her purse, she pulled out a cell phone, which she had not used in three years.

Pressing the dial tone, she called the one number which she knew by heart.

When the tone clicked, Lana found her voice hoarse from the tears which were running down her face, as she heard the familiar voice she had missed so much.

"Lana, is that you?" The voice asked, filled with awe.

"Father. Please send the private Jet. I'm coming home."