Chapter 5 - You didn't waste time

[Asher]

"What wasn't real?" Vienna asked. I bit down on my lips, knowing I had to explain every damn thing to her.

"My marriage to your sister wasn't real. A month after your disappearance, I couldn't hold it anymore. I was going insane. I didn't know what I was doing. I came up with the idea, I begged her, and we signed a contract. I wanted the news to reach you so you could come back from wherever you were!" I explained and Vienna took a step back.

Confusion flickered across her face. She blinked twice, another unreadable emotion flashing in her eyes just as quickly.

"And you think I would believe that rubbish?"

"I can show you the contract if you want. And you can also ask Elena... Elena," I stuttered as Elena's face flashed back into my head.

This wasn't the time for it. I pushed it aside, staring back at Vienna who had her eyes fixed deeply on mine.

"It wasn't... wasn't real? You signed a contract with her?" Vienna stuttered and I nodded.

She lowered her head, a smile curling up her lips. "That fucking bitch!" She mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper. But I heard her.

She stared back at me and scoffed loudly. "That's not an excuse Asher. I don't fucking care if it was a contract. You married my sister. You've been with her for two fucking years and you're here talking trash?"

"I had no choice. Are you even listening to me?" I snapped.

"I don't care. You could have waited. It's not a damn excuse. You could have fucking waited. Do you know the reason I left? Do you know why I fucking disappeared?" Vienna's voice dipped lower, tears already rolling down her cheeks.

I blinked back trying to take a step closer to her, only for her hand to shoot out.

"I was fucking sick, Asher. I was damn sick. I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. I thought I was dying. I didn't want you to see me like that. I was scared you would leave me once you found out, so I had to run away to fight for my life! I shut the door on your face yesterday because I was scared, I didn't know how to face you for leaving without a word!" Vienna yelled and this time tears were streaming down her face.

My heart clenched as every word she said slammed back into my head.

My throat tightened, I took a step forward but faltered, my hand balling into a fist.

"Why did you think I'd leave you for being sick Vienna? I love you and I should be there for you. You should have told me what you were passing through!"

She paused. Her eyes flashed back at me. She blinked back, staring right into my eyes like I'd suddenly grown two heads. "You love...love me that much?"

I couldn't stand it anymore. I took a step closer and then another until I was standing in front of her. "How can you be asking this? Goodness, Vienna, these two years without you have been hell!" I growled.

Tears flowed freely from her eyes. She took another step closer, and the next second she was right in my arms. "I was scared...I was scared I was going to lose you. I didn't know, I...,"

"Don't say another word," my hand wrapped around her waist. I couldn't explain what I was feeling at this moment.

It's been two years without her. Two years of feeling empty. But why was I still feeling this way even with her in my arms?

Why was a particular face flashing in my mind? The face of the woman who was back in my house. That look on her face when she confessed her feelings.

"I can't stay any other minute without you Asher. I can't stay here," Vienna's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I swallowed hard, pulling her back.

My eyes shifted to her face, it felt like I was looking at a different version of the woman I used to know but I quickly pushed the thoughts aside.

We haven't seen for two years and she went through all of this, so of course she wouldn't be the same.

"You don't have to be away from me anymore," I said and a smile spread across her lips.

"I want to go with you right now, it's been hell without you Asher." Another tear streamed down her face.

I reached out, brushing my thumb across her cheek to wipe it away. "Of course you can, if that’s what you want. Let’s go — my house is always open to you. What about your parents?"

"They are upstairs," Vienna said and I nodded.

"I'll come next time to explain things to them. They had no idea that what Elena and I had was a contract, so I'm sure they are not very pleased with me," I said and she nodded.

She blinked back and her eyes suddenly darkened, her jaw clenched but before I could read the expression on her face, she quickly masked it up. "And what about her?" Vienna asked. "About Elena?"

I swallowed hard, and my heart skipped. My lips wobbled as I tried to say the next word but it felt like it got stuck in my throat. "You're back. So that means what I have with her is over. She'll sign the divorce papers as soon as possible."

A sly smirk crept up Vienna's lips, another look flickering in her eyes. My brow creased but before I could read deeper into it, she quickly masked it up, flashing me a genuine smile. "I'll get my bags," she said softly and quickly walked back into her house.

I stood still, still trying to push out the way my heart skipped when I talked about Elena leaving.

I watched Vienna emerge a few minutes later, dragging two suitcases behind her, but something inside me twisted. I should have felt whole again, I should have felt complete, but what...what was this feeling?

~~~~~~~~

The closer we got to my house, the more my heart clenched in ways I couldn't explain.

I was finally with the woman of my heart. The woman I love. She was finally back. So why the hell was I feeling this void? Why was I feeling so fucking bad walking into that house with Vienna, while Elena was right there?

"Is something wrong?" Vienna's voice dragged me out of my thoughts as she placed her hand on my lap.

I flashed her a quick smile, masking my expression. "I'm good," I mumbled.

A few minutes in, my house came into view. I drove straight to the garage. I killed my engine and stepped out, Vienna did the same, her eyes darting all over my house.

It wasn't the old house she knew.

"Let's go in. The maids would grab the bags," I said and Vienna nodded.

We walked over to the entrance of my house, I stared at her, noticing how her eyes lit up as she stared from one part of the house to the other.

I pushed the door open and we stepped inside.

The door clicked shut behind us, and we hadn’t even made it two steps before Elena stepped out of the kitchen. She froze on the spot, her whole body stiffening at once.

Her eyes landed on Vienna—and her breath hitched

"Vienna... Vienna? Is...is this you?" Elena stuttered but the next word Vienna said made me freeze.

"Yes, Elena, it's me." Vienna scoffed. "You didn't waste time, did you? I knew you always had eyes for what was mine. I hope your little moment with him lived up to your fantasies." Vienna snapped.

Elena's eyes widened as she stared back at me.

What the hell is Vienna talking about? Did..did she know about Elena's feelings for me?