Lydia

673

bevoustier

A dim light cascaded down at the entrance, bright enough for me to make out Julia’s features, but low enough to give the quiet glow to the room and maintain the mood.

My eyes flicker to Julia, there was no way Victoria truly sent her. “It was me who replied to your messages,b” /bShe said.

I furrowed my brows. I messaged Victoria’s phone. Is Julia in charge of it?

“You mean she doesn’t know you are here?” I asked, crossing my hand over my chest. She yed with her hair, curling it over her finger.

“She does,” Julia answered. “Where should I sit?” She asked, looking around. Low sounds of tes clinking mixed with the chattering.

“I am not here for you,” I stated, “if Victoria isn’t here herself, then there is no need for this.” I turned not ready for further conversations with her.

I was at the entrance when I heard her behind me.

“Are they his?” Her voice stopped me halfway. I paused and spun around, “Your twins. I learned about them for the first time during the conference. I was shocked too.”

“Well, congrattions.”

“But I can’t help but wonder if they are truly his.” I furrowed my brow, already aware of what she was insinuating. She walked around me like a predator.

“I am a woman too, I know the lengths a woman can go to keep a man.”

“The thing about you, Julia, is that you think everyone is like you. Stupid and extremely dumb.” I stated in a stern voice.

Her feet halt in front of me, and she turned, something dark slithered through her eyes. “I am not as stupid as you are, that’s a privilege meant for just you,” I said.

She fist her palm, although she tried to maintain a calm look, I saw past her facade. She was burning inside. My words struck at the right ce; they were so true that she didn’t bother disputing.

“You can deny all you want, but that will not change the truth.”

“Of course it won’t, I have no reason to deny.” She clenched her teeth, my lips curled up, I didn’t bother hiding that I enjoyed every reaction she showed.

She suddenly shed a smile, her lips trembling slightly, “You can talk to me since Victoria is absent. After all, we are already here.”

11:46 bSat/bb, /bbSep /bb27 /bM

3

Souchers

People bristled around, some threw curious looks at us. I had to get out before she drew more attention, since it was obvious she didn’t mind drawing one.

“You have already proved to be senseless; it will be an abuse of your stupidity to speak to you in bce /bof Victoriab./bb” /b

“Lydia, you-” she began, but I turned around. “You will regret walking away, anyway. I truly hope you enjoy my gift.”

I walked out, not caring about her words.

I had barely walked out fully when I was surrounded by a sea of reporters, shes went off, momentarily blinding me, microphones were directed towards me, and questions rang.

I raised my hand, blocking the side of my face as they continued to crowd in on me. My mind raced as I was being pushed from one side to the other.

“Why did you kill Mrs Wood’s husband?”

“Did you fall in love with your father–inw? Was it a love triangle?”

“Are the twins really Mr Woods’s children? Do you love them, or are they merely your tools to get him back?”

Suddenly, everywhere went quiet; the shes didn’t stop; in fact, it became more intense. A cold hand touched mine.

“Miss Alissa Brooks,” an unfamiliar voice called. I raised my head, flickering my eyes open to see a man wearing a police uniform standing in front of me.

He held my hand, and before I could say anything, sped a handcuff around my wrist. “You are under arrest, Miss Alissa Brooks.” The once rowdy ce exploded into a frenzy.

I was led to a police car parked at a distance. “You have the right to awyer,” he said as we walked, the crowd drifting with us.

I knew fighting or struggling would be useless. I maintained a calm demeanor as I walked past, my eyes swept through the crowd when we stopped in front of the police car. I marked a few faces I will surely never forget this night.

My eyes caught sight of a woman at a corner, a smudge look smeared over her face, she had her shoulders squared, and her hands crossed over each other in triumph.

Julia.

I immediately remembered her words, “I hope you like my gift.” My jaw ticked as I entered the car. She will definitely not get away with this.

When I got to the station, I was refused ess to my phone or anything, contrary to what I was told, I wasn’t even allowed to call anyone, let alone mywyer.

I shook the bars roughly, “You will not get away with this. This is an abuse of my rights.” My voice resounded.

11:46 bSat/bb, /bbSep /bb27 /bM…

But no one listened.

“Just give up alreadyi./ii” /iA voice said behind me. I hid the tremor in my hand and sat facing the woman who shared the same ceiling with me,

0733

This ce reminded me of a memory I was fighting to forget. The only difference was that it bwas /bsmaller insidepared to the ceiling I stayed in five years ago, and this Lydia wasn’t the same timid girl as before.

Mason’s POV

“What did you just say?” I asked, and Daniel repeated the words, “Lydia was arrested.” His words were clearer this time.

We were standing on a balcony. Cold breeze pped against my cheeks.

“It’s trending, a video of her being arrested is circting like wide fire.”

“But she was supposed to meet with mom,” I said, already walking out of the balcony.

“Yes, but I think it was Julia who was there. Hmm… I have no exnation for that, but I do know Lydia didn’t meet with your mom.”

“Let’s go over there right now,” I said, walking out of Lydia’s room. I cussed myself, hastening my steps. I should have followed her even if she insisted on going alone.

The door by the side opened, and Gloria stepped out, her eyes wide with panic. “Did you see the news?” Gloria Lydia’s mom asked, “Lydia, oh my baby,” her voice was thickened with worry.

My words caught up in my throat, so I nodded instead.

“I’m going with you.”

“No, you should look over the kids, we can’t both be seen there. I’ll go meet her right away.” My words did nothing to ease her anxiety. I tried to steady my emotions, which were all over the ce. “Look, trust me, please, I’ll take care of Lydia, I promise,” I assured her.

“You can take the twins out or something. They are smart, if you keep getting worked up, it will affect them.” I exined, and she nodded.

I dashed to my car. Once I got in, I ignited the car, pressing hard on the elerator. The car rolled to a stop in front of the beige building. I stepped out, mming the door behind me.

Camera clicked, shed went off, reported spread over in the entrance, they rushed towards me, blocking my path and throwing questions.

“Did Miss Alissa call you over?”

“Are you officially going out now?”

b11:46 /bbSat/b, Sep 27 M

“What do you have to say about your mom and ex–fiancé’s press conference? Was it held with your approval?”

“Are you here to bail Miss Alissa and take her home?b” /b

I stopped on my part, and they kept crawling in. My gaze hardened, and I swept my eyes over the crowd of

reporters.

shes continued, but questions stopped. Without a word, I forged on, walking through the path created by the reporters.

As I stepped in through the door, I ced a call to Daniel, “make sure the reporters are gone in ten minutesb.” /bbI /bsaid and hung up.

Getting Lydia out wasn’t difficult aside from the fifteen–minute wait for mywyer’s arrival.

“I’m sorry you had to go through that. This is all my fault; I should have stopped you from seeing Mom,” I said, pulling the car out of the parking lot.

“It’s not your fault,” Lydia said in a calm voice. I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that she was still calm after what she had just gone through.

“I’m holding a press conference tomorrow, you shoulde too.” It was time to clear these rumors.

Lydia shook her head. The car stopped in front of a red light. “Not yet. I want to speak to Victoria first. I don’t think she received my message.”

“Maybe she sent Julia.’

“That’s all the more reason why I need to speak to her.”

“If you insist on speaking to her, then I’ll go with you.”

She leaned into the leather seat and closed her eyes, tired lines spread over her forehead. “Fine.” She said in resignation.

biAD/i/b