Choose: Me or Her

Sienna

I stared at the phone in my hand. At the unknown number I didn’t recognize it no matter how many I recited in my head.

His name was Charles. That was all he gave me a first name and five words that landed like a punch in my gut. What did he mean ‘It was about the Stanford group’? The Stanford group had gone bankrupt three years ago. The Stanford group no longer existed. 

I have wanted to hang up. I should have. I was bone-deep tired and the last thing I needed was a strange riling up of my feelings and emotions at a time like this. 

If it was a prank call…

I brought the phone back to my ear. “What about the Stanford group?” 

As though he’d been waiting for just that question, his voice intensified. “I know this isn’t the right time. And I know how tonight must have felt, watching that press conference. But Sienna, I want you to think about what happened to the Stanford group, it wasn’t what you were told it was.”

I frowned. 

“What are you talking about?” I knew I shouldn’t be entertaining whoever this was, but my curiosity was already piqued. Besides, what was the worse that could happen? If it was a scam, I had no money, no connection or influence to give. What could he possibly take from me?

“I’m saying that the company wasn’t in the condition the Falcon’s presented to you.” Charles continued. “In the crisis you were shown debt, the inevitable collapse  was constructed. Made up. The Stanford group never had those problems. At least not to that degree as far as I know. You were deceived, Sienna.” 

My heart stopped. The room suddenly felt too small- smaller than it was. I sat up on the edge of the bed, my grip on the phone tightening. 

“That’s. ..” I trailed off, unable to find the words to defend Drey. To defend his family. To defend my choices. Even if they disliked me that much, would they go that far? “That’s not possible. Who”

He cut in again. “I’m not asking you to believe me now, Luna. But don’t dismiss it entirely,” he sighed into the phone. “Think about it okay, really. And once you start thinking I may be right, then give me a call. I’ll be waiting.”

The line went dead immediately, not giving me a chance to ask who he was or how he got my contact. If this was a prank, then they knew very much how to get to me. But there was a part of me that couldn’t believe it was. 

The man had sounded too sure, too confident for it to be a set up. But why was he telling me now? Of all times, why now? .I set the phone down on the bed and sat in the dark, trying to find the logical, organized part of my mind that usually took over at times like this. 

I didn’t find it though.

Maybe because I was already too invested in this. Maybe because I didn’t want to let myself believe that he was right. Because if he was, then what was the excuse I kept giving myself for the past two years? 

Why did I get married to a man who could never love me and endured his family for two years?

I laid back against the pillow and told myself ididnt know enough to feel anything about it yet. I would meet Drey again tomorrow. I would confirm if any of the things the man told me were true and from that, I’d make my decision. 

I wondered what I’d do if I found myself standing in front of Drey Falcon. Wondered what I’d feel if I looked him in the eyes and saw that the man I married was guilty of something worse than not loving me.

For his sake, I wanted to give him the benefit of doubt. 

I didn’t sleep much that night and woke up quite early the next day. I dressed quickly, packed the little purse I brought with me and checked out of the hotel. Thankfully, the Falcon estate was only a fifteen-minute drive from the hotel and I got there just in time for breakfast. 

I knew what Drey would be doing by this time  if he was still home. I imagined him sitting on the dining and digging into his breakfast silently as he always did. Or will he be more communicative now? 

After all, Vanessa would be the one standing by his side instead of me. He always enjoyed my food. That was the part of the marriage I enjoyed. Would he like her as well? I coughed, catching the thought before I spiraled further. 

I had my keys still. I hadn’t thought you leave it behind when I left Drey’s office yesterday. So I let myself in though the side entrance, moving quickly through the ground floor and up the staircase toward what used to be our shared bedroom

I didn’t intend to stay long. If already catalogued the things I needed to take from here. Photograph. Ring. Documents. That was all. 

I was just about to turn the hallway which opened to our room when the sound of laughter stopped my feet. I recognized the voice immediately and my heart immediately stopped beating. She was here already? Did Drey already inform his mother of the divorce? 

The other voice made my heart ache. It was bright, cheerful and warm. Although I’d never met the woman, I recognized her voice instantly. 

Vanessa Hart. 

I wasn’t surprised that she was here already. No, I was more shocked at how welcoming Drey’s mother was. In the two years I spent as her son’s wide, she never failed to voice her displeasure of me. 

Nothing I did was good enough. Even I was not good enough for her son. 

“… never really had any real sense for this house,” Drey’s mother, Margaret was saying in light conversational tone, a stark contrast to the cold, dismissive tone she always used with me. “I tried, in the beginning. But some women simply aren’t made for this kind of life. You know, taste and standard can’t be thought. It’s another you have it… or you don’t.”

I knew instinctively who she was referring to and that alone sent a sword through my heart. 

“Well,” Vanessa said softly. “I’m sure she did her best.” 

“Mm.” was all of Margaret’s reply. 

Deciding I’d herd enough, I turned and slipped into the bedroom. I moved through the space quickly, trying not to look at the unmade bed and the dentations in the pillows which suggested two people had slept on it. 

It was no question that they’d spent the night together. Did they…? I pushed the thought aside and rushed to gather the documents I came for. I was just about stepping out of the bedroom when Drey’s mother walked inside, rolling a suitcase  with her. 

“Ah, I thought you might stop by.” Her tone took its usual iciness, very different from the warmth she exuded just moments ago. “You’re like a rat who doesn’t know when to stay out. He’s divorced you, yet you can’t stay away.”