Chapter 43 – Surviving Betrayal
Relationship Status – pre
SUMMARY: Ororo's heartbreak and life changing decision after discovering Forge's betrayal
Ororo had to see the space again. It was her fifth time for the week seeing the place that, in a matter of days, she would be moving into with her fiancé Forge before pledging herself to him in another two weeks. She had made the impulsive decision to stop by again on her way to meeting him for dinner, seeing that she had to drive by her new home to get to the designated restaurant. She needed to ensure that she hadn't miss anything during her past visits and that everything was in order before they would move in.
She smiled to herself as she slipped her key in to unlock the door of the two story structure that she was excited to call hers. He had found them the spacious, lavish condominium in an area not too far from the mansion, but also one that would afford them their privacy. Their unit was part of a newly built, modernized complex that housed a mixture of cooperative apartments and condominiums. As much as she would have loved living at the mansion after her wedding, she couldn't help but agree with Forge that they would definitely need their own space and privacy to grow as a newly wedded couple. When he had brought her to see the place, she had liked it immensely and they had decided to buy it on the spot, thrilling the real estate agent.
She was eager to have a place to call her own, especially after living a life where she didn't really have much to call her own. Although, Charles had given her the attic loft to call her own, she felt as if there was something more profound in knowing that she had had a hand in securing something for herself. Marveling that she would soon be a married woman, something she never thought would be in the cards for her, she turned the key in the lock and softly opened the door and stepped inside of the foyer, turning to close the door behind her.
Slipping the keys into her purse, she made her way into what would be the living room. The sound of a groan stopped her in her tracks. At first, she thought she was hearing things, but then a grunt followed by another groan lets her know that something was definitely amiss. Cautiously, she moved further into the room and the sounds became more distinct. They belonged to a man. Then, a moan…a moan from who was unmistakably a woman. Her eyes widened. Two people were definitely engaged in a sexual encounter in her new home! What in the Goddess' name?
Ororo was stunned. She plastered her frame against the wall of the living room and slowly inched herself to the edge and poked her head around the corner. What she saw had to have been either a nightmare or sick twisted joke There, on the kitchen island, was an anonymous woman lying shamelessly across it and Forge, her fiancé, the man whom she had decided to build a life with, the man whom she had given up a lot for, standing between the woman's legs, thrusting frantically. Her shock soon turned to outrage and then grief, causing her to blink back the tears that had pooled in her eyes. Quietly and dejectedly, she retraced her steps and slipped out of the condo unnoticed.
Suffice it to say, she was a no show at dinner with Forge and had sent him a message claiming that she had an emergency mission to complete for Charles. There was no mission, simply her locking herself in her room, lamenting the current situation she now found herself in. She firmly believe that this was a nightmare and at any moment she would become fully awake and the images would be banished. But she had no such luck and she was forced to admit that Forge was unfaithful to her. She mourned her foolishness in falling for his charms and believing that he could love her and only her. But most of all, she bemoaned the fact that she was willing to condemn herself to a lifetime of unhappiness with this man, when her soul and heart cried out for their true mate, Logan. She cried harder knowing that her unhappiness and misfortune were direct causes of her self-doubts and refusal to acknowledge and accept the man her heart and soul truly desired.
She continuously berated herself as the days went by. How silly she was to fall for Forge's game, knowing that her relationship with him was lifeless and didn't make her feel the completion she constantly yearned for and needed. Angrily, she cancelled all aspects of the upcoming wedding…the caterers, the flowers, the music, the officiant and the venue.
Her family began to worry when after three days of seclusion in her loft, she refused to see anyone, sending anyone who dared to knock on her door away and refusing to eat or drink. She somehow found the strength to emerge from her temporary isolation and went to notify her family of the disaster. Of course, they all rallied around her, at first encouraging and supporting her, which then slowly morphed into a constant bevy of pitying looks and snickering behind her back from some.
Forge, on the other hand, thought that Ororo was indeed on a mission for Charles, but it wasn't until he received a call from the caterers letting him know that even though the wedding was canceled, his credit card would still be billed because they were well beyond the time limits set forth for cancellation, that he suspected that something was awry. Of course, if he was smarter, he would have realized that sooner when his calls and messages to her went unanswered. He immediately made his way to the mansion to confront Ororo. Remy and Scott were the first ones waiting for him, ready to do damage to him for his duplicity. But Ororo stood tall and convinced them that she was going to handle the situation. Once they were given their privacy in Charles' office, Forge demanded explanations for her decision to cancel the wedding without first telling him. Ororo in turn revealed her discovery and she demanded to know why and for how long he was adulterous. Caught off guard and knowing that this was a situation he wouldn't be able to rectify with a few sweet words, his sanctimoniousness knew no bounds when he took to blaming her for his unfaithfulness. He even went so far as to scorn her appearance, mockingly telling her that she was lucky to have a man pay any attention to her. After his tirade was done, she didn't bother to waste any more time in offering any rebuttals to his rant, except to calmly hand him back his engagement ring and told him to get out and stay out of her life.
Her family tried to lessen her hurt and improve her mood, but eventually, life at the mansion began to fray her nerves and take its toll on her peace of mind. It was after an unexpected conversation with Kurt that she finally realized that she was even more foolish to allow a man who never meant her any good in the first place, to make her feel less than worthy of all the things she desired and truly wanted in her life. When Logan left, she had deemed it too late for her to do anything about her feelings for him because she had already devoted herself to Forge and creating a life with him. Now, there was no commitment and no Forge to hold her back. It was not too late for her and Logan. It was not too late for her to fight for what she should have from the beginning.
With a renewed vigor, she began to put her chaotic life back in order and she knew exactly what, or rather, who was needed to help her do just that. She needed Logan. She needed the man whom her heart, soul, body and mind all sang for. She needed her other half. Suspecting that he was away at his retreat in Canada, she made the decision to go to him and reveal all that she had kept inside of her for so long. She requested some much needed time off from Charles, who was all too happy to grant it to her. Loading up her car, she headed to Canada, to claim what she knew was her joy and to claim who she knew was her soul's mate.
