The Weight Of Leaving by Riven Kade novel Chapter 5

“Mrs. Hale,” the butler said quietly, “Mr. Hale is still upset.”

I looked at the man smoking on the balcony, his face stormy and terrifying, radiating “don’t come near me.”

“Ow,” I hissed as my wrist was dabbed. “That hurts.”

“Good,” Landon snapped without turning around. “Serves you right.”

“You got bullied and didn’t even call for help,” he barked. “What are you, an idiot?”

I pouted, because after being humiliated like that, I was already upset.

The tears spilled over all at once, and it startled him.

He’d known me a long time, and after living together day in and day out for the past year, this was the first

time he’d ever seen me cry.

Of course he panicked.

“I’m sorry,” he blurted, the edge in his voice collapsing.

“It’s my fault. Hit me if you want–just don’t cry, okay?”

So that was what comfort from a younger guy sounded like. No wonder so many women liked dating younger–one sentence, and my chest warmed right up.

“Why didn’t you tell them you’re my wife?” he demanded, still fuming. “Or am I not qualified to be your other

half?”

“Isn’t that my line?” I shot back.

Landon knew exactly how capable I was, and he knew Carter was the idiot who didn’t appreciate it.

The first time Landon ever saw me, he’d noticed something different about me right away.

But back then I was Carter’s girlfriend, and he couldn’t make a move.

He’d barely managed to keep his darker thoughts buried, and then my wedding day happened.

With one sentence, I dragged every one of those thoughts back to the surface.

To be fair, I’d only meant to scare that whole group.

They’d laughed at me so many times already, so me messing with them once felt earned.

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I just didn’t expect Landon to take it seriously.

That night, he showed up and basically volunteered himself.

“Renee,” he’d said, eyes steady, “as his best bro, it’s only right that I make it up to you.”

I’d thought he was joking, so I joked right back.

“Paying damages could work,” I’d said, smiling. “But I’m gonna need a test drive to see if you’re worth it. I’m

not twenty anymore–I don’t have time for some sexless ‘pure love‘ fantasy.”

He really put in the work, and by morning he had me seeing stars.

So I let him stay by my side.

But he refused to leave it there.

He said it was his first time, and he wouldn’t sleep with me unless we made it legal first.

That was how everything that followed happened.

Even after we got married, we never publicly announced our relationship.

We did show up together sometimes, though.

Those guys were scared of Landon, so none of them dared to expose us.

At most, they just warned Carter and Lexi to be careful and not bring trouble down on themselves.

“I did try to say it,” I told him, quieter now. “But every time I got close, Lexi would start something and derail

it.”

“So I figured, whatever,” I said. “They’ll find out sooner or later.”

He’d assumed I didn’t want to go public, which was why he hadn’t dared to say anything in front of them

tonight.

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