Evie I exit the dining hall and head down the corridor. This place is huge and I’ve always thought so, but right now it feels enormous.I pass by a library and a large door. I assume it’s a study and after I make a turn I am in front of the guest bathroom.Where is he? I keep walking and reach a darker corner of the corridor when I take another turn and bump into Max.“Woah,” I take a step back, startled. “You scared me.”As if I wasn’t the one who followed him out.“I did?” He lifts an eyebrow and folds his arms. Then Max leans against the wall next to him, observing me.“Are you following me?” “Why are you acting like this?” I hiss and glance around to see if anyone is coming.“This is what you wanted, right?”“Hmph,” I scoff and he unfolds his arms.Max leans towards me, his breath is on my neck.“I would kiss you,” he whispers and the words send a shiver down my back, “But I can’t remember.”My eyes flutter closed as he traces slow kisses down my neck. I bite my lip and lift my
Violet “They look suspicious, “ I watch Evie and Max as they try not to look at each other or at least not to be too obvious about it. “She went out to talk over the phone and he went right after her. And for some reason, they look really close after they come back home. Do you think it’s because of the accident and because they spent some time together?...” I look at Dominic. He looks… amused.“What are you hiding from me again? “I ask him, squinting my eyes suspiciously and he shrugs casually. If he does that, it means I am right. He is hiding something. “Dominic, “ I tell him and he eventually says. “I think they are together. And it's been going on for a while.” “What?” I exclaim, but…. Then I turn to look at them again. Among the sea of well-dressed, rich people with great manners they look so… different. As if they are in their own private world. “Yes, “ I mutter, “They are. Why didn’t they tell us?” Dominic gives me a pointed look. “Okay, you are right. We did
Five years later Violet “Mom! I don’t want the red one!” I take a very deep breath. “Charlotte, please, “ I tell her for the tenth time, “Choose whatever you want. Just choose now. Please. “ The maid is looking at me, smiling. “I can help, miss. And you can prepare. I will let you know once we are ready.“ “It’s fine. Thank you, Marta. I’ve got this. “ I always refused to have a nanny to help me, even when Charlotte was a baby, but recently Marta’s been trying to help, seeing how busy we all are. Charlotte finally chooses the dress she will be wearing and we start preparing. Half an hour later Marta announces the driver is downstairs. “Coming!” I call out as I put on my earrings. “Mommy, you look pretty. “ Charlotte beams at me. “Thank you, sweetheart, “I kiss the top of her head, “Let’s go. Are you eager to see Aunt Evie and Uncle Max? ““Yes!” She claps and we head downstairs. “Where is Daddy?” She asks as I take her hand and we descend the stairs. “He is…”
Dominic “You will be a grandfather, “ I tell the man, sitting opposite me in the small cafeteria. We arranged to meet during my lunch break today. Violet called me earlier but I told her I would be having lunch with a business partner. In a way that’s true. Frederick’s eyes filled with tears at the news I shared. “Thank you. “ he says,” For being here and telling me.” “I thought you deserved to know. “He nods and looks down at his hands, folded in front of him. “I hope you will find the strength in you to forgive me. ““I have nothing to forgive you for. “ I tell him. “No, “he shakes his head. “You do. I am not the father I was supposed to be. ““I have a father, “I argue. “And I will never argue that. But I would like you to listen to me. “I lean back in the chair and he takes this as a sign to continue. “When I met your mother, I fell in love with her at first sight. I swear. There is love at first sight. ”“I believe you, “ And I do. I fell in love with Violet the mo
Violet “I want a divorce!” I yell at him and throw the papers on his desk. Conor only looks at them briefly and then continues signing documents and going through the pile of work-related notes in front of him. “Are you listening to me?’I ask, trying to keep my voice calm, and placing my hands on his desk. “It’s over, “I say, “I can’t do this anymore. I’m done. “Conor finally looks up at me, bright blue eyes- almost the same as mine - fixing upon me. “I am not signing this, Violet, “ He says, “You know that. “He sounds indifferent. He doesn’t even care what I am saying to him. “Listen, Conor…”I clench my teeth and force myself to take a breath. “I agreed to this marriage only because I needed the money at the time. We both know this marriage was never meant to work out. “I finally admit what I should have said a very long time ago. “I don’t want this, “I say. “Please, you have to let me go. It’s the only way for us to be happy. ““I am happy. “He says shortly. Then h
Violet The driver opens the door for me and I get off fumbling with the present in my hands. “Thank you, “Evie smiles at the young man as he opens her door as well. The driver is tall and muscular, wearing the usual black suit. When I notice she doesn’t stop beaming at him, I pull her and smile at him, keeping my tone polite. “Thank you, Garreth, you are free to leave. ““Thank you, Madam.”He tips his head and gets back in the car. “Why don’t you ever let me talk to the hot staff? “ She complains, fixing her dress as we walk towards the manor. “Because it’s their job to be polite and you think they are hitting on you. ““And you think he doesn’t like me?”“Evie…”I roll my eyes and she giggles. “Come on, Violet, “ She says, pushing me very lightly. “Why are you so sour? ““Because I don’t want to be at the party. ““Oh, come on, “she says, “it will be full of celebrities, politicians and… and maybe the future king, even. “I scoff as we take the stairs and the butler opens
Violet I'm just standing there, in the middle of the chaos. It's like all of this is happening to someone else and I'm just an onlooker. “Dominic!” Someone says and rushes towards him to greet him. Dominic is surrounded by family, friends, and all those people he used to know. He has always been the most enigmatic man in the room. The one you can’t help but notice. Tall with broad shoulders and a confident look on his face. His black hair is slightly longer than it used to be. Deep, back eyes you can't NOT notice. This hasn’t changed. What’s changed is he seems to be smiling more. “How have you been, “ someone says and he smiles at them, replying politely. Dominic is dressed in a perfectly tailored suit. He used to hate suits and always said he can't breathe in them. Suddenly all the memories from before are flooding my mind and I am taking deep breaths to calm myself down. I can’t just run away, pretend I didn’t see him and this never happened, can I?He is only a few fee
Violet I hear the footsteps and pause. I don’t dare turn around. What will I tell him after all this time?And here, of all places. Why did he choose to come back now? My hands close into fists and I turn around.But the man coming my way is not Dominic.It’s Conor.And he looks pissed. Very pissed, at that. “What the hell was that in there?” He growls, coming to stand before me. I take a small step away from him. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”I say. “I just needed some fresh air, it’s really suffocating in there. “I’m keeping my voice neutral but he is already irritated to no end for some reason.“Suffocating?”He snorts. “You know perfectly well what I am talking about,” Then he takes a threatening step in my direction. Conor grabs me. Now, that it’s just the two of us, he has no reason to try to be careful and no one would see him.He grabs me really forcefully and pulls me towards him, looming over me.“I saw how you look at him.” he snarls. “At who?” I ask