"Why do you do this to me? What sort of sick pleasure do you get from this emotional torture that you continue to inflict on me?!" Victoria yelled at Conrad, her whole body overwhelmed with too many emotions that it's a miracle she's still standing straight. It's not possible. David was murdered in prison. The very reason that ignited her to testify against Conrad two years ago was the fact that Conrad ordered Gordon Murphy to end David's life.
"What the hell are you talking about? I am simply telling you the truth!" Conrad said, his voice beginning to rise. "I saw him with my own two eyes!"
"No. David Clarke is dead! You killed him, you are responsible for the death of every man I ever loved!" Victoria said, tears welling up in her eyes.
Conrad tried his best to calm down by taking a deep breath. Of course she had to go there. "Time and time again, I have told you that David's death was decided by people far above me. And tell me how can I be responsible for David Clarke's death when he is in fact alive? And no, I am not lying, Victoria. What do I stand to gain by making that up?" He chose to ignore the other man she was referring to as he was indeed responsible for Pascal's death. While he is not sorry that Pascal is dead, he is very sorry at the impact it had on Victoria. He didn't realize that she had such deep feelings for the French man.
"To cause me pain, like you have all these years!" Victoria countered, shaking with anger.
"I know you might find it hard to believe, but I have never enjoyed seeing you suffer. And for God's sake I just risked my life trying to save yours so why don't you try and be grateful for once!" Conrad said trying to mask his hurt with anger.
"Oh you expect gratitude? Of course. Conrad Grayson does not do anything without getting something in return. I never asked you to save my life! As a matter of fact, I want nothing to do with you! I want to get out of this god-forsaken place. I'm going back to the Hamptons." Victoria demanded.
"Fine by me." Conrad said firmly. He does something nice for her and this is how she treats him. Unbelievable. "Actually, I have already requested a new passport for you. Should be delivered here any day now. You want nothing to do with me? Well guess what darling, the feeling is mutual." Conrad said, his heart racing. Does she think he brought her to a foreign land to woo her? Beg her to stay and live happily ever after with him? He knows her. The moment she regains her strength, she would be gone. He hoped that since he saved her life and told her the truth, that they could part amicably. What a fool he was to think that.
"The moment it arrives. I'm gone." Victoria said before retreating to her suite.
Victoria lay awake in her bed that night. Could David really be alive? As much as it pains her to admit it, Conrad was right. He has nothing to gain by David's resurfacing. If anything, it only means he would have to be in hiding for the rest of his life as David could easily tell everyone what Conrad did to him. What about her? What if David hated her so much that he starts talking about her role in his framing? She could go to prison for the rest of her life. Or be a fugitive like Conrad. No. She can't let that happen. David loves her. He's a good man and will eventually find it in his heart to forgive her. Victoria stood up. Sleep isn't clearly going to come so she might as well use her time wisely.
Victoria peeked into Conrad's suite to find that he was already sleeping. How he manages to attain slumber after everything that had just transpired between them is beyond her. She went downstairs and entered Conrad's study. There's only one way to confirm if Conrad was telling the truth. She sat on his desk and opened his computer. She googled David's name and all these articles about his resurrection popped up. He hasn't done any interviews so no one really knows what his real story is. One thing's for sure though, David Clarke is not dead.
Victoria closed her eyes and leaned back on Conrad's chair. He's not dead. After all the guilt that she had felt after he was arrested, and all the mourning that she had done after learning about his death, she finds out that he isn't dead. Victoria doesn't know what to think or feel. On the one hand, she is happy. After years of yearning for him, she will finally get to see him again. But on the other hand, she somehow feels regret. All those years that she couldn't connect with Charlotte as every time she looked at her she's reminded of what she did to David. That one time, two years ago, when she turned her back on Daniel after he asked her not to testify against his father. She almost put her entire family in jeopardy just so she could clear David's name.
Victoria looked around at Conrad's desk and saw pictures of Daniel and Charlotte. She sighed. She misses her children so much. She wonders what they might think of her absence. If they somehow found it suspicious that she left without talking to either of them. She thought about Conrad and how he must be feeling knowing that he may never see their children again. For a brief moment, she allowed herself to feel sorry for him. A life without a partner is lonely but possible, but a life without her children? It's unbearable.
To take her mind off her children losing their father, Victoria began opening the drawers at Conrad's desk. She doesn't know what she's hoping to find but when they were married, it was always a habit of hers to snoop into Conrad's study and find out what he's been up to. In her experience, there was always something that she could use as leverage at a later time. She opened the rightmost one and found a vault. Victoria smiled. If there is something of value to Conrad, it would surely be inside it. She wondered what the passcode would be. Perhaps the day he got out of prison? As soon as she typed it, the word E-R-R-O-R was displayed at the tiny screen. She thought about his old vault at Grayson Manor. The passcode was the date of their first wedding. She typed the date skeptically and heard an unlocking sound. She pulled it open, her excitement increasing every second.
Inside it she found three photographs: one of her and Daniel when he was born, one of her and Conrad on their second wedding, and lastly, a family picture which is a smaller version of the one hanging on Grayson manor. She suspected these must be the photos he intended to include on his now defunct memoirs. Other than these photos, she also found a brown envelope and inside it is Conrad's will as well as two sealed letter envelopes addressed to Daniel and Charlotte.
She read through it wanting to know if her children are taken care of. She skipped the first part which was all about charities and nonprofit organizations. The second part was entitled FAMILY. She knew that was where Daniel and Charlotte would come in. She read that part carefully.
For my only son Daniel Edward Grayson, the sum of 1 billion dollars and all Grayson commercial holdings all over the world.
For my only daughter Charlotte Clarke (formerly Grayson), the sum of 1 billion dollars and all Grayson residences throughout Europe.
For the mother of my children, Victoria Grayson, the sum of 1 billion dollars plus the Grayson triplex in Fifth Avenue, NYC and Grayson chalet in Aspen, Colorado.
Victoria could not believe that list line she read. Conrad had included her on his will? Surely he was not on his right mind when we made this. He made letters for Daniel and Charlotte most likely explaining why he left them such things, but none for her? She's expected to automatically understand his decision? And what is up with the two properties he gave her? She never spends more than a day in the city and she despises the cold for heaven's sake!
Victoria felt frustrated. She thought she was gonna find something to blackmail Conrad with in case they go head-to-head again but instead she gets nothing but confusion. Confused as to why Conrad would want to give her anything. She sure as hell would not leave that man anything if ever something happened to her.
"I guess this is what I get for prying into other people's affairs." She said to herself. She forfeited the right to go snooping at Conrad's stuff the moment their second divorce got finalized. A divorce that she had initiated. She decided to give up and put everything back in its proper place.
She left Conrad's study and climbed up the stairs, intending to go back to her suite. As she walked down the hallway, she heard Conrad's voice.
No, it can't be.
Victoria wondered who he was talking to at this hour. She decided to check what was going on.
"Conrad is everything alright?" Victoria said as she approached Conrad who was lying on his bed and seemed to be saying something.
It can't be. No. No way.
Victoria stood beside Conrad's bed and saw that his eyes were closed. Is he having a nightmare? "Conrad?" She said softly.
David? Is it really you?
Then Victoria saw Conrad's hand clutch his left side as if in pain. She remembered that Conrad told her he was stabbed in the gut. But was it on her left or right side. She slowly lifted his shirt and saw a scar. He didn't have one before. No doubt this was from the stabbing. Did David...? Could he have...?
David? It can't be. This can't be.
Victoria covered her mouth to keep herself from gasping out loud. She turned around and ran to her suite as quickly as possible. He couldn't have. But why does Conrad keep saying David's name? Victoria took deep breaths trying to calm herself down. She needs to talk to Conrad in the morning. She refuses to believe anything until she talks to him.
A/N: to be continued