Chapter 20 – A Helpless Feeling
Emelia’s POV
Victor left almost immediately, as if he truly thought my words were me giving him permission. For someone as smart as him, it baffled me with just how foolish he could be when it came to my emotions!
How was it that he couldn’t see that he was being manipulated? Oh, because he didn’t see it that way. How stupid of me to think that he didn’t think of her as anything less than perfect…..
I’d tossed my luggage back onto our well, now my bed, even though I had planned to leave.
My heart felt like it was being torn in half, and Victor wanted to do nothing about it. Hell, if anything, he was the reason why it was happening
All it took was one damn phone call for our perfect getaway to come crashing down. Once again, our relationship was pushed towards its breaking point.
It made me feel like a damn idiot for thinking things were going to change. Even though he’d shown me time and time again that he was incapable of prioritizing his own wife over her.
1 loved Victor with everything I had and I showed him everyday.
I knew about his favorite dishes from his favorite restaurants, and knew about the type of clothing material he didn’t like because it made his skin itch. I came to learn about his favorite classical musician, and how forehead massages with lavender oil helped with his migraines.
But no matter what I did or what I learned to do, he still chose Lily.
Every. Single. Damn. Time.
Even now when our marriage was still so fragile, and there were so many issues left unresolved. Especially after he’d stopped trusting in me, and believing her every word…
Without any hesitation, he chose her in every way.
Lily just needs a job, okay?
I can’t just leave her to fend for herself…
This isn’t going to be forever–only temporary just so she can get on her feet.
All Victor had given me were excuses.
From not telling about his dinner with her, to ditching grandpa Antonio’s dinner for her hospital visit, to giving her my promotion, and then to her moving in with us.
All just so he could hide his true relationship with her.
I screamed into a pillow for a few seconds to get out as much frustration as I could. I truly didn’t know how much more of this I could take!
Even though I wanted to go home at that moment, I knew couldn’t. It wasn’t my safe haven anymore. Not with
her there.
Not to mention, the thought of Victor and Lily possibly bein; intimate in my bed almost made me vomit. All I could think about was her pouty attitude; her bubbly, but fake laugh; and Victor helplessly catering to her every whim.
It was exhausting. I needed time away from both of them.
So instead, I stayed in the hotel by myself. Even though I knew nothing about this city, I made an effort to go out there and explore.
I visited the local zoo and was fortunate enough to experience the interactive sessions with the capybaras. They were so cute and laid back–it made me wish I could have one as a pet!
Next, I was able to find a spa resort and get a full–bodied massage. I desperately needed one after all the anger I’d been holding onto for God knows how long. It was rejuvenating and refreshing to feel my muscles at ease.
Then, I visited the botanical gardens. The flowers were fragrant and vibrant, and I got to see a myriad of butterflies, honey bees, and other little wildlife. It was like I’d stepped into a fairytale, and it truly was a magical
experience.
The days I’d spent alone were what I needed, even though it didn’t help me get any closer to figuring out what it was I needed to do. It especially didn’t help that throughout those days, Victor had been calling and texting me nonstop.
Which, I simply chose to ignore him. There truly wasn’t anything he could say that could convince me he was worth forgiving. At least not now,
But what threw me off was even how Lily reached out to me Naturally, I ignored it. I especially didn’t want to hear anything from her.
Still, I couldn’t fight the curiosity of wanting to know what she said in the voicemail she left me after I ignored the third call from her.
“It’s such a sad thing for you to be ignoring your husband like this, you know!” Lily’s harsh tone was palpable through the speakers. “I knew you weren’t good enough for someone as wonderful and kind–hearted as Vic! You know, if you just want to throw a hissy fit and be ungrateful for everything he’s done for you, why don’t you just leave him, hm? Leave him so he can go be with someone who actually appreciates everything he does! I swear, it’s honestly so pathetic that Vic has tried to defend and placate someone as arrogant as you!”
It took a few moments for me to register what Lily had proposed.
Leave Victor? As in divorce him?
I hadn’t even considered the thought, but now that it was brought up, I was conflicted.
Could that truly be the best course of action? I promised to love him and choose him, no matter how hard things FOL
Would it make him happy?
Would it make me happy?
I had no idea what to think.
As I walked down the street to head back to the hotel with my mind swimming with alternative possibilities, I bumped into someone.
1 stumbled and landed back on my ass, but got back up almost immediately.
“I’m so, so sorry!” I bowed out of respect. “I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.”
“No need to apologize, miss.” The man responded in a kind tone. His voice was like velvet and the smell of pine and musk wafted from his jacket.
Just as I was about to open my mouth to thank the mysterious stranger, he spoke again.
Chapter 20–A Helpless Feels
“Oh, you wouldn’t happen to be Mrs. Russo, would you?”
