On the master suit, Victoria was fully clothed and with her make up on point, but she couldn't make herself come out to join the first gests, who were being welcomed by the staff. Always accustomed to being in control of everything, Victoria wasn't used to not knowing what could happen next. As much as she was excited about seeing Lydia, she was afraid too.
She felt an overwhelming weight on her chest. There were moments she wished life came with a manual. Other times, she had the feeling that everybody else around her had a copy of it, but she just didn't get one.
Anyway, she thought, she was the Hampton's queen no matter what and wouldn't stand there as a victim of her own choices. Victoria lifted from her chair and got out of her bedroom. She'd hang on to that hope she felt that afternoon.
A half hour later, she had already socialized with some guests and was starting to feel a bit more relaxed. The front door opened, revealing her best friend. She took a step back at the sight of Lydia. She'd never seen her more beautiful.
-Lydia! –she smiled widely, heading to her, ready for a hug. –You are breathtaking! - The blonde laughed and held her tight, closing her eyes.
"Finally…" Victoria's perfume was so sweet and the hug made Lydia feel like it'd been worth facing her earlier anxiety.
-Thank you! And you are no different, Victoria… - she stared at her, with her cheeks red, as she couldn't hide her obvious attraction to the figure standing in front of her. The brunette was wearing a long black dress, with lace over the legs by Monique Lhuillier.
They stared at each other without knowing what to do or say next, but glad to be together. A guest interrupted their moment, greeting them both and, for the next hour that's how the evening resumed. They met everyone with friendly comments, never leaving one another's side.
Having Lydia with her made barring all the pretentious and two-faced people possible and even fun. They made sarcastic jokes when they left, after making the most obviously adulating comments to her.
After getting sick of meeting everyone, they stopped by the Manor's bar and got drinks. Lydia felt like nothing had changed since that morning and Victoria was relieved, thinking about how much she had worried for nothing. Wanting to be alone, they made their way to the master suite, careful not to be seen leaving the event together. Victoria wouldn't have much time to spend with her due to all her responsibilities in the fundraiser.
Arriving in the room, they laid on the bed starring at the ceiling, laughing. Lydia was telling her all the recent gossip about the Hampton's socialites. Closing her eyes, the blonde slid her hand to the side of the bed, touching Victoria's slightly. The brunette held her friends hand tight and closed her eyes, exhaling. They both felt peaceful.
A bip on Victoria's phone broke the silence. She sat down and grabbed it. There was a message with a photo attached. She opened it.
-Oh god… - she covered her eyes with her hands. She felt all the blood in her body rush to her face and tears filled her eyes. There it was, the proof of a truth she'd avoided for a long time. In the picture, Conrad shared a bed with another woman. Another message arrived with a new one of him with a different woman.
Victoria had hired a private detective to find out if Conrad really was on business trips. She felt like the most stupid woman alive. Lydia sat beside her asking what was wrong and she couldn't even formulate words to respond.
The phone biped once more, but this time with a message from Conrad: "I'm coming tonight. I miss you."
She left the phone over the bed, unblocked and ran to the bathroom locking the door. Lydia watched her speechless, worried about what she'd received. When she closed the door, she reached to her phone and saw everything. "Shit…"
Victoria's head spin and she sat on the floor burying her face on her knees. It was almost eleven o'clock. He'd be at the manor at any moment. She could no longer hold back her cry. It was all too much. Lydia could hear her sobbing through the door. She went there and knocked.
-Victoria, please let me in! Let me help you! – the brunette didn't respond. Lydia imagined she wanted to be alone, but she didn't know what to do and didn't want to leave her that way. As much as she wanted Victoria to be with her, she understood what she was feeling because of her husband and didn't resent her for that. She wouldn't give up on trying to help. – Victoria! Please open!
The door opened a little, but Lydia couldn't see Victoria. She had opened it from the floor. She looked up at her with a red face and wet cheeks. She kneeled beside her and put her amrs around her . No words could be said to console her.
-Lydia…I need to deal with this tonight… I need to be alone now. –She said, her tone, suddenly, harsh. The blonde loosened her embrace and looked at her concerned.
-I'll be here if you need me. –She got up and left the room. A feeling of anger rose in her heart. She didn't understand it though. Arriving once again to the main hall, she grabbed a drink from a waiter passing by. She needed it to calm down.
Victoria stopped crying, but stayed on the floor, starring at the mirror in her bathroom. She could see the door and expected Conrad to knock on it at any time. In an intense wave of anger, she got up, washed her face and went back to the bedroom. Sitting by her bed, she held her phone, waiting for him.
Downstairs, Lydia was on her third glass and loosing count. Her fingertips felt slightly numb, but her rage had subsided. Her vision was blurry, but she felt glad to be in that state. She finished the glass of champagne and, a few moments later, she found herself in the private Grayson bar, in another room, outside of the party. She served herself a full glass of scotch and sat on the chair. She didn't even know why she was getting drunk.
Conrad opened the door to the manor, tired from his trip. He greeted a few people and, after realizing Victoria wasn't at the salon he went to her suite. He figured she took a minute to herself.
He found her sitting by the bed with her back turned to the door. She didn't turn to him when he came in and said hello and that he missed her.
-Victoria, are you ok? –he walked in front of her, trying to see her face.
-No, Conrad. I'm not. – her voice came out lower than she expected. There was so much rage inside of her that she expected to explode when he finally arrived, but, surprisingly, the words came out calmly from her mouth. She got up, facing him.
She could smell a new perfume he'd never used before. A slight tan on his cheeks suggested he went to a beach or maybe stayed by a pool the last few days. His expression, that seemed to be relaxed from his days away, quickly turned into a concerned one as he noticed her stare.
-What's wro…
-You don't get to talk now, Conrad. – The brunette hissed. – You know well what is going on. Don't lie to me! –the words started jumping out of her mouth faster and faster. – You do not get to come home after what you've been doing to me and act like nothing happened! You don't get to come in here and treat me like a fool!
-What, on earth, are you talking abou-
She reached for the phone over the bed.
-This. –She showed him all the pictures. He kept quiet, not knowing how to respond. His face burned, ashamed. There was nothing that could be said that could make this right. If it had been only one picture, he could've said it had been a mistake, but more than one, he had no way out. –What's the matter, sweetheart? –she spit the last word. –Cat caught your tongue?
-This is not what it looks like. – he managed to say with a dry throat, but he knew instantly he said the wrong thing. He felt awful, looking at her red eyes. Victoria laughed, furious.
-I can not believe this is what you're trying to pull on me! How stupid do you think I am, Conrad? –she sat down. –But I am... How could I not see this? I'm probably the last one who knows… I feel like the biggest idiot alive.
-Don't do this to yourself. You don't deserve this, Victoria.
-You're damn right I don't deserve this! I trusted you! – she yelled, pointing her finger at his chest– Some friends tried to alert me about this and I thought they were wrong, because I thought you loved me.–she threw her hands in the air, as if giving up.
-I do love you, Victoria. –he tried.
-Bullshit! Don't give me that! I don't believe a single word that comes out of your mouth anymore! –she went to the balcony, desperate for air. Connrad chased her.
-It's true Victoria. –he looked down. –I may have done this to you, but you have to believe me that it's not because I don't love you. –his eyes pleaded for her to listen to his words.
-Conrad… – she turned to face him. –At this moment, I couldn't care less if you love me. –the wind came from the beach and threw her hair on her face, but she didn't even mind. Putting it back behind her year, she made a decision. –What I want is to be away from you. We are done.
Sighing in relief, Victoria went back inside and poured herself a glass of whiskey. He was speechless. His heart ached in a way he'd never felt before. She couldn't leave him. He wouldn't accept this without a fight.
-You can't do this! Just because I had affairs, you want to give up on everything we have built? What about Daniel? –he took a step forward. –Have you given a second thought to what this could do to your son?
-Oh, please, Conrad! Of course I care about Daniel! You act like I'm completely heartless, but you are you're the one, who's been cheating on me and sabotaging this relationship! And it's not just that! –she put her glass down. – I've been putting up with your insane jealousy for far too long. I'm sick of feeling like you own me. –she walked to the door. –I'm tired of feeling trapped in this marriage, Conrad. I can't do this anymore. –she put her hand on the doorknob, ready to leave.
-So, what is your plan? To leave me, get a job and support yourself? – Conrad laughed. –Because we both know you can not live without all of this. –he looked around, referring to all the luxury he believed to provide her.
She turned her head to him. She thought about that morning at Lydia's kitchen. As much as she was worried about what he was saying, knowing that she was there gave her courage to, finally, change her life.
-What I will do, once you and I are divorced, is entirely my business. Not yours.
I hope you are all enjoying this story! Please leave comments letting me know what you thik of it :)