Julia
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I stormed into my room and banged the door behind me. I dropped onto my bed, lying face down. My shoulders shook as I cried, my tears soaking my mattress. My chest felt so heavy, but no one seemed to understand.
I loved Mason before he knew me. When we began dating, it felt as though my life wasplete. I went from having my dream life with the man I love to having that dream snatched from me in the blink of an eye. Our break–up hurt more than it did my dad.
I heard my door open and close, but didn’t turn around. From the soft footsteps that slid across the room, I could tell it was Mom. The mattress sank and then rose up. Mom ced <i>one </i>hand on my head and smoothed it.
Typical of her, always arriving after the storm was over. “Are you alright?” She asked, and I was tempted to ask her if I looked alright to her. I didn’t stir, but instead I allowed the tears to flow. “You know your dad loves you, right?” She asked.
“You don’t think what he does is wrong?” I asked, and she remained quiet for a while. “How is saying demeaning words to me all the time a sign of love?” I asked, and she sighed. I pushed myself off the bed.
“If you refrain from going to the club or getting drunk and trying to sneak in, I don’t think he’d treat you in such a way.” There she goes again, supporting her husband as she always did.
She dragged in a deep breath. “Victoria will beingter today for a visit, she wants to see you.” I sat straight, this was enough to get my attention.
“She’sing over?” Mom nodded. “She said she has something to speak to you about.”
At noon, Victoria came just as mom had said. After exchanging pleasantries with her, Mom left us alone in the sitting room.
“I’m sorry things had to end between you and Mason in such a way. I think it’s partly my fault.” She said, It was the first time I was seeing her after my breakup with Mason.
“No, it’s not.” When she brought up the idea of pretending I was pregnant, I would have been able to tell her off if I didn’t want to do it, but I wanted to fool Mason, too, and trick him into marrying me. The n failed and backfired, and Victoria, who has always had my back, has nothing to do with it.
“If anyone is to be med, then it’s Lydia’s fault,” I said. Her name felt sour in my mouth. Everything was fine with Mason until Lydia showed up.
“Yes. You are right.”
“I heard she goes everywhere with Mason now.” I began, my throat tightening with each second. The thought of Mason getting back with his ex wife was too hard to ept.
“Yes. If she gets out of the picture, I am sure you can get back with Mason.” My eyes lit up at the thought of pulling Lydia and Mason away from each other. “I told you before, you are the only one I’ll ept as my
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daughter–inw. Lydia has no ce in my son’s life.” She said, and from her tone, I could tell she has a n.
“Is there a way to pull them away from each other?” I asked. Victoria grabbed her ss of juice from the table and sipped from it slowly, one side of her lips curled up into a sly smile.
“How far can you go to get Mason back?” She inquired.
“I am willing to do anything.” I pressed my lips together.
“Good,” she rose to her feet and handed me an invitation. “Do you mind attending an anniversary with me?” She asked. Taking hold of the invitation, I nodded, knowing it may be the ce where I begin my plot to take Mason back.
“Don’t they look like a perfect couple?”
“They look more like an artwork than any piece in here.”
“Quickly take a picture of them, we don’t get to see this sight every day.”
I curled my fist by my side as I listened to the whispering around me. Mason was standing close to Lydia in front of a painting.
My inside turned from seeing them together. Mason spoke to her, turning to look at her with a smile on his face.
Even from behind, I could tell how wide the smile was from his side profile. It was a smile I never got. The realization this further fueled my anger towards Lydia.
That should be me standing next to Mason. It should be me he was smiling on. Victoria slid her hand into mine and gave it a gentle squeeze.
I wanted to rip them apart, far away from each other. Mason was mine and not hers.
“Calm down, don’t reveal your emotions. You’ll get enough time to rip them apart.” Victoria said. “For now, you have to focus on making Mason hate Lydia.” She reminded me of our ns.
Make Mason hate Lydia till he could no longer stand her.
I drew in a deep breath, then slowly released it. Victoria and I walked forward.
“Mason,” I called, and they both turned. I could see the loom of surprise on his face. That face which I had fell in love with
Seeing Mason stand before me, reeking of Masculinity, I’m reminded of the very reason I fell for him.
“What a coincidence.” Victoria’s voice broke me out of my trance. I had not realised that I had been staring at him with stars in my eyes. I cleared my throat, feeling heat rise to my cheek. I must be a shade of pink now. I should learn to keep my emotions in check. <ol><li><b></b><b>? </b></li></ol>
<b>mu</b><b>, </b><b>sep </b>
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I shifted my gaze to Lydia, who had an unreasonable expression on her face. “I don’t think this is a coincidence, mom, what is going on?” Mason asked, ring daggers at us. I looked at Victoria. It seemed he was not in a good rtionship with her either.
“Come on, son.” She said, walking forward she spread her hand out inviting him for a hug, but he gently stepped to the side.
“Since this is a coincidence, I hope you enjoy the night,” he said and walked away, grabbing hold of Lydia’s hand.
“Don’t get all worked up, this will not be as easy as we expected.” I nodded at her words. We should enjoy the night for now. There would be other opportunities to put down Lydia.
<b>*** </b>
Mason’s Pov
All I could think about while we walked was how small Lydia’s hand was under mine. “Where are you taking me?” She asked, and I stopped, realising that we were heading in the direction of the restroom.
I released her hand from mine reluctantly, “sorry, I got lost in thought.” I apologised. She crossed her hand over her chest and tilted her head to the side, “did you know your mom wasing with Julia and you brought me here. Why?” She asked. Her voice sounds raw.
“I had no idea they would be here.” This was no coincidence. Mom had this all nned out, but I resolved not to allow them to ruin the night, which had already begun on a good note.
“You don’t have to worry about them. We should enjoy the night as though they aren’t here.”
Thirty minutester, the anniversary officially began. Lydia and I are seated at a round table with four other people. There are bottles of wine on the table with flowers in the middle and an empty ss in front of each of us.
After the chairman’s wee address, it was followed by a boring session of talks about what they had achieved. Lydia leaned towards me, her perfume filled my nostrils, “Why do people always do this?”
“So what?” I asked.
“Pretend as though anyone is truly interested in these topics.”
“Tell me about it, it’s high time these parts are struck out,” <b>I </b>said, and she giggled. I loved the sound, nothing beats making small talk with the woman you love at an event.
Suddenly, I felt a chilly sensation at my back. I whipped my head to the back to find Julia’s eyes trained on us. She looked away when I met her gaze.
“Now, we have a guess who has volunteered to sing for us.” The MC began. Mummering ensued as everyone wondered who this person was. “She is not a celebrity, but she has a solid number of fans online.” He added.
Lydia was on her phone typing away and wasn’t listening to the MC. “Let’s wee, Miss Brooks!”