At the beach

 07

Valentina stared on, shocked to her bone marrow. She slowly stood up, watched them as they got closer. 

Scared of what her friend might do next, Paula left her chair, grabbed Valentina by the arm. "Hey. Relax. We're in the public. Don't you make a scene." 

Valentina turned to glare at her friend, yanked her arm away from her. "I'm not going to make a scene." Her reply came through clenched teeth, and slowly, she turned back to stare at the couple. 

*

Ryan smiled triumphantly, glad that he got the attention he wanted. He placed his arm around Marina, guarded her towards the shore. 

Marina smiled at the attention, but the smile on her face disappeared as soon as she saw Valentina walking towards them. She gasped, and stared up Ryan. "Are you smiling right now? It's Valentina!" She whispered furiously.

"Exactly what I wanted." Ryan replied, and held her even more tight. 

Marina's face fell as comprehension dawned on her. He is using her. 

"Wow. Would you look at that, Paula? It's ex husband and his mistress." Valentina's sarcastic voice came with a clamp. She glared at Marina, and down to her fingers which was clutching Ryan's palm. "Aren't you a snake? I've always knew that you had eyes for him."

Marina clamped her mouth shut, but her eyes did the talking as she stared daggers at Valentina. She let her eyes take in the woman's dressing, and rolled her eyes. As always, she is beautiful. More than she would ever be. Her chestnut hair was neatly plaited into two large ponytails, and they rested against her arm, falling down to her blossom like waterfalls. 

Her pink bikini screamed wealth and elegance, her perfectly shaped legs couldn't be missed either. Feeling insecure, Marina stole a glance at Ryan, just to be sure he wasn't staring at those legs. 

"Are you getting jealous?" Ryan threw the question at Valentina while his arm was still draped around Marina's shoulders. 

Valentina gave a short chuckle, and folded her arms. "Jealous? Well, no. I'm not, and I will never be. I just hate people who", she stopped, and returned a hostile glance at Marina, "pretend a lot." She turned back to look at Ryan. "You should be careful of them."

Ryan's expression changed, and his arm loosened around Marina's shoulders. "Where did you leave my son?" 

Valentina raised an eyebrow. "Do you even remember you have a son? Because if you do, you wouldn't be on the beach frolicking with this cheap secretary of yours." 

Marina gasped, feeling insulted. She opened her mouth to speak, but then, Paula stepped out, glaring at her. Daring her. She flipped her hair with an eye roll and looked away. 

"Better." Paula mumbled. 

 "Come here. We need to talk." Ryan suddenly let go of Marina, grabbed Valentina and started dragging her to the water banks.

"Let go of me, you bitch!" Valentina protested as she tried to wriggle out, but as expected, Ryan was way stronger.

"Where's he?" Ryan asked as soon as they got to the shore, and spun around to face his ex-wife. "Where is Tony!"

Valentina scoffed, and looked away. Her gaze landed on a beautiful young woman on a water bike, riding with a man who probably would be her partner. They looked happy. So happy that she couldn't watch any longer. She looked away, and her eyes found Ryan staring at her. 

For a split second, she saw the admiration in his eyes, but it disappeared as soon as her gaze met with his. 

"You aren't saying anything."

"How could you move on so quickly?" Valentina asked, shattered. She wanted to stop herself from showing him how hurt she was; how hurtful it was that he slept with another woman. "You brought that cheap slut here, Ryan, and you have the temerity to ask me where your son is? Gosh. What if he'd seen you? What if he was here with me!" 

Ryan stared at her mutely. He kept his face expressionless, sticking stubbornly to his gun. "Where is he?" 

"Well, I will tell you, if that's all it will take for you to leave me the hell alone!" Valentina screamed into his face, attracting attention in the process. 

Ryan didn't take his eyes off her, and waited patiently for his son's whereabouts to be told. 

"He's gone to basketball practice with Timmy. And don't you go there until I say so." 

Ryan chuckled, surprised. "You want to stop me from seeing my son, is that what this is all about? What have you been telling him?" 

Valentina shook her head indignantly. "I would never waste my time, trying to convince him of how lowly his father has become."

"Okay. Now, you're beginning to insult me." Ryan warned. 

Valentina glanced over at Marina, a knowing smile on her face. "I would say you already insulted yourself Ryan, by replacing me with that red haired dachshund."

"So...who did you replace me with? That hairy cow I caught you sleeping with?" 

Without thinking twice, Valentina raised her hand and brought it down and hard on Ryan's face, her eyes sparkling with tears. 

His face turned to a side, Ryan reached up rubbing his aching face. He slowly turned back to look at Valentina, saw the hatred and pain in her eyes.

Valentina shook her head, and tears spilled out of her eyes and down her cheeks. "I will never forgive you, Ryan. Never." She cursed at him, slammed her palms repeatedly against his chest, finally stopped when Paula rushed to drag her away. 

Ryan watched as they left, and from the distance, he could hear Valentina whimpering. For the first time after the incident, he started to doubt himself. 

Without giving it a second thought, he dashed after them.