LOGINI pushed through the blinding tears and retreated my footsteps slowly.
"no..." I continued to repeat to myself. "no.." "Vicky... please...Vicky wait ..." Carl hurriedly picked up his briefs and dangled Into a pair of trousers. "yes, that's right Vicky.... run before it gets late in here, ...you wouldn't wanna know what happens under the sheets." "or would you?" she sliced maliciously. "No... Victoria please....." Their voices had drowned into the background as all I that kept ringing was their deep and raw betraying sexual affair. "how could they do this to me?" I cried, heart wrenched as I ran Into my car. But Carls speed had nearly caught up to me, his fingers clawing in on the edge of my car . My tyres screeched loudly as I hurriedly changed the gears into reverse. My hands trembled , but I held unto the steering wheel for stability. And zoomed off. "get a grip of yourself Victoria. " I bit too tightly into my trembling lip, but the salty tears continued to find way into my tongue. My eyes remained blurry and unsteady as the vulgar look on Trisha's face remained plastered in mind as I drove. It screamed, satisfaction. I gasped. Her malicious smile, she asking me to come over, the,,,,the sexual affair...., it was all a set up. She meant for me to see all of it. And now, my phone began to buzz, endlessly. Of course it was Carl, it had to be him. Ringing nonstop. What the fuck did he want?? I stomped my foot on the brakes with all the force I could muster on the last ring. Burying my head against the steering wheel, My heart welled with so much emotions that my heart began to leak explosively. Raw and Ugly tears. That was what happened. Just then there was a knock on my door glass, which was slightly wound down. "what the? ...go away..!!.."I shook my head furiously at the intruder. But he wouldn't leave. Standing there like the damn Fbi, I hissed. His chest rose up and downwards with his lips slightly parted. Was he a sturdy fan or what? "Fuck you anyways. You all are the same" I sniffed into my palms , painfully drying off my soaked cheeks. I snuck a peek at my puffy eyes in the rear mirror, and averted my gaze quickly. And by the time I looked back. He was gone. Of course he was a weird one. thank goodness. Well, If this was what Trisha wanted. Then congratulations. She won the lottery. I said, speeding off back to my apartment. Somehow, all through the ride, the playlist felt like the deepest warm hug. The tracks glided from a Billie eilish to Taylor swift all through the ride and when I had gotten home. The sobs had numbed down. I exhaled deeply and took out my keys, ready to soak myself into a puddle of wine. I couldn't tell mom. She wouldn't even support me afterall, she'd find a way to make me the problem. But as I opened the door, a little parcel fell off. "What's this, ?" I pushed the strands blinding my eyes backwards and picked it up. Was this what I thought it was? I folded the little piece of substance into my palm, Most importantly, how did it get into my car? Was someone trying to set me up? I wiped my eyes completely and entered into my apartment. The first thing my eyes landed on was the frame. I felt my blood boil. The anger, sadness and betrayal had sipped into my veins and turned into a hot mix. I stomped my feet to the position and grabbed the cute frame , "This is what I get for believing in love." I teared. Smashing it against the wall. I scraped my fingers into my skull at this point, I needed to feel something, anything. Practicing deep breaths weren't working anymore, hopefully wine would. I reached for a glass and poured myself the strongest wine on my shelf. Glass after glass after glass. After glass. "Fuck you taste so good baby.." Trisha's sloppy tongue flicked in my head. "arrrghhhhhhhhhgghhh!!!!!" I cried out loud. smashing the now empty bottle of wine with all the strength i could muster against the wall. An empty bottle? I realized... The wine was finished? How was i going to forget them now?? I panicked, rerunning through the wine shelf, "37% alcohol?" I picked up a bottle. " what the fuck was i supposed to do with a thirty seven percent alcohol? I cocked it open and sank it into my throat, feeling the harshness scorch my throat dry. My knees had begun to feel weak. Like I couldn't carry my weight anymore, But more strangely, was the familiar arousal, Why the hell was i feeling this way Just like back at Trisha's house. "Nononno" I blocked my ears, trying to block out the sweet moans of pleasure that traumatized me now. I fell on my knees just in front of the table. Just them my lazy eyes caught that strange little parcel. "no Victoria...this is not you..." a voice said in my head. "you have the slightest clue who I am." I responded. Opening up the tiny parcel. "I'm a failure. I failed At my relationship, I tried to do something for myself, rather than hide under the family name and wealth and guess what?" I cackled. "I failed at that too!" I blurted. "so you don't get to tell me who I am." I said, and closing my eyes, I swallowed the entire substance. **********************†****‡****** "Miss Vic...tor.ia?" I heard a voice slurr my name. my eyes opened softly. "oh my God... You are awake!" " thank God I didn't call the 911" "ahhhhhhh" I pressed my hand into my skull. The migraine seeping into my consciousness. "yes you are. you were totally...blacked out" said Becky. "After leaving a hundred unanswered calls, I grew so worried I had to come here directly, and when I saw you, I knew I had to call him..." she smiled triumphantly "call who?" I asked furrowing my eyebrows. Just then the door opened. And he walked in. the reason behind my misery walked in. The memory washed over me like a flood and in that instant, my heart grew heavy. "Vicky...." he treaded carefully. "I love you..you know that." "Becky, .... If you don't get him out of here on three, I'll call the cops." I said, my words landing like ice. For a second, he stared at me with disbelief, his lips slightly parted. "you don't mean that do you... Victoria, Thompson?" I needed him to leave before the mask fell off, how could I explain the burn of heartbreak and betrayal I was feeling without turning to my lowest point of nothing. I swallowed the bile. "Get out of my house carl." "What was i supposed to do with my hard on?!" he blurted. Apparently, his own mask had fallen off. "You wouldn't even ....." his eyes darted to Becky who looked like she could use a little help by disappearing away from the heated conversation. "Becky... would you believe she wouldn't even suck my dick?!" He thundered. Beckys cheeks turned a bright shade of red. If she was embarrassed for me,I wonder the depth of the pit of embarrassment I was at now? Probably under earth crust level chilling with Satan. "I had deliberately dropped down the towel on a faithful day with my erect dick, hoping my 'girlfriend' " he drew quotes in the air, and continued, "would help me out, but what did she do?, act like a damn fuck nine year old running outta the room Becky. "Victoria. A twenty five year old. Ran. Out. Of. The. Damn. Room because .she .saw. her .boyfriends .naked .form." "And oh...did I mention that she closed her eyes too?." he chuckled hilariously. He shook his head. "we could have been a power couple Vicky. We could. But you know what you are so good at? " he asked, pointing his index finger at my face. "you are good at ruining everything."he said, and with that, he stormed out of the house with a loud bang. My ears were stunned. And my speech was lost. An innocent tear escaped my cheeks. "Miss Victoria..." Becky ran to my shoulders, engulfing me in a hug from behind. "you know that's not true. I Promise you, things are going to get better, but for now, don't cry... please." I wiped off the tears off my cheeks. "you need lots of rest miss Victoria, " she sighed deeply, "You can't overwhelm your self with heartbreak right now..." I turned slowly to face her, did she have any idea how I was feeling, that I'd just ignore it? "I had a list of calls for models who wanted a slot and I scheduled the meeting for tomorrow, you need a distraction...." "Cancel it." I cut in sharply. Her eyes widened like she had just heard a suicide note. she opened her mouth to speak. "You are right. I need a distraction, and Im getting it tonight." "I...I don't get it" she adjusted her glasses saying. "Carl hurt me," "And the only way I can get back at him is to get even." "I'm sorry but I still don't have any idea what you are talking about." she said. "What I'm trying to say Becky is," "I'm getting the "D" tonight," a malicious smirk drew across my lips. "and I'm going to send the video tape to him."Lucas pov "Do we still have a problem?" Alexander asked, the corners of his lips twitching into a mockery smirk.the entire hall was thrown up in a frenzy, cheering, jamming their cups together in delight. My hands fisted tightly by my sides as I stood beside Rosette, I tilted my head over my shoulders, narrowing down my glares.She knew Maddie was here all these while —,my stomach twisted under my ribs.Maddie's hands, even inside the cage was bound by chains like a raving animal. stripped off her clothes with scattered pieces of food on the iron tray beneath her.her head lifted up slow to meet me.the lines on her face, contoured by trauma, her sad gaze lingered on me for a moment. it was difficult to read what was happening behind and those sad eyes. slowly, she turned her back,picking up a meat from the tray. she dipped it into her mouth. My muscles tensed, as my heart beat drummed loudly against my chest. I dug my finge
LUCAS POV ( Back to present)After a long, suffocating ride of silence from the gala to the airport, we arrived just in time for our flight. A few hours later, the wheels touched down in Carcassonne—the central, beating heart of the Monarchs.To understand how this place operates, you have to understand the protocol.They call it the Train Station. It isn't a physical platform with tracks; it’s a mandate. Anyone visiting the Monarchs must pass through the Train Station in a completely unconscious state.You go under in the outside world, and you wake up in front of the gates of Calvary.It is their ultimate security measure. No one leaves a trail.—"My father doesn't know where I am, and neither do the Calvary Monarchs," I said, leaning forward in the back of the transport truck, desperately inching for a truce. "You might as well kill me first." I said to her."You were sleeping with her, Lucas Lorenzo. And you know I want her," Roset
Lucas’s POV (FLASHBACK)the massive gates ground open before us, and a woman—completely naked, looking to be in her early twenties—stepped out into the light."This way," she said.Her skin shone like grease, covered entirely in a thick, black oily paint. The double-edged sword she held in her right hand caught the harsh rays of the sun, reflecting the glare straight into my eyes.Beyond the gates lay a small, secluded town, its houses arranged in tiers up the face of a steep hill. At the pinnacle stood a tall, imposing structure that loomed over the valley like a dark cathedral.I gasped, the air catching in my throat."How did we get here?" I spun my head immediately to face Maddie, who was shuddering violently by my side. Her expression was pure fright, her high cheekbones completely pale, stripped of all color."Maddie?" I shook her arm rougher than I intended. "Why aren't you saying something?"Slowly, she turned her head to face me
Victoria pov —did he just?, ......Emorys mouth formed the letter O, and he brought his fists to his mouth to fight back the amusement dancing In his eyes,and Carl,?, ....he. seemed rather impressed with lucas,wearing that "I told you Lucas doesn't care about you," look in his face,and honestly, their both expressions were equally valid. how could he say that to me?.... publicly?—"Fine." I blinked back the tears, finding my voice."leave all you want Lucas." I inhaled sharply as he turned to walk away without looking back. "Im sick of how crazy you make me feel,"—this moment you can't get your hands off me and the next, you are a whole different person."my voice cracked."it's exhausting Lucas, so go on ahead—."i swallowed,feeling a pang tighten in my chest. "—you would never love me half of the way you loved Maddie, because you still choose her, you keep holding on,even when you k
Lucas pov Her eyes flinched, "wha- what are you talking about?"she shook her head saying, "Wait, does anything I just said even matter to you?""No." it doesn't.""but you care so deeply about some god-damned ghostly letters longing for someone whom has for the most part of her life forgotten you?" her teeth, gritted tight as she spoke."you have no idea what you are talking about Victoria," I said firmly, her eyebrows furrowed with disbelief, she scoffed. holding her focus away from my face back to over the balcony.just in the position when I sighted her."—great," then you should head back into the ballroom because your partner must miss you already."She said with a hiss."you can't tell me what to do Victoria." my Jaws clenched."Fine then I'll allow you enjoy the space to yourself." her tightened knuckles released from the railings, As she brushed passed me, her delicious Jasmine scent hung up too close,
Lucas povI said I'd give anything to hear Victoria say my name with those lips, Not the exact person whom I'd rather smash his head on a rock than extend a handshake to. "—LUCAS, its a pleasure seeing you here," although I'm not exactly sure that's true." Carl extended a handshake ,with a tightened smile. "hm. i see we are mutuals on that." my lips twitched to the side. then his eyes drifted to Rosette, who's eyes was hung up on the damsel in distress fixing her necklace right above the stairs. "I see, you have moved on so quick." his eyes returned back to me saying. "um—i could introduce you both, but she's not a fan of losers." I cleared my throat. Carl chuckled, quite heartily, "Losers?,—but I won Lucas, I got the girl" he grinned sheepishly,Then Victoria began to walk down the stairs, her facial expressions, unreadable.but with each step she took, her outfit became more and more visible, —the deep red b







