It was an ordinary afternoon, with Rachel and me sitting in the living room, sharing stories and laughs. I hadn’t thought much about Victoria since the engagement party. I hoped she would stay away and let us enjoy some peace. But just as I was starting to feel relaxed, there was a sharp knock at the door.
I looked at Rachel, surprised. “Are you expecting anyone?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
“No,” I said, feeling a little uneasy. I stood up and went to open the door.
And there she was-Victoria. She was dressed up as if she was going somewhere fancy, her hair perfectly styled, and her lipstick a bold red. She looked at me with a smug expression, not a hint of shame in her eyes.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.
“Can I come in?” she asked, ignoring my question and stepping inside before I could answer.
Rachel was still on the couch, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion. “Victoria? What are you doing here?”
Victoria ignored Rachel, her eyes fixed on me as if I was the only person in the room. “I wanted to talk to you, Emma. Alone, if you don’t mind.”
“Anything you have to say, you can say in front of Rachel,” I replied firmly. I didn’t trust her, and I wasn’t going to let her make me uncomfortable in my own home.
Victoria rolled her eyes, letting out a small sigh. “Fine. It doesn’t matter.”
She stepped closer, and for a moment, I felt a strange chill run down my spine. Her eyes held a mix of jealousy and something else-something almost desperate.
“What do you want, Victoria?” I asked, my patience starting to thin.
She paused, then said, “I’ve been thinking. Maybe it’s time we… made things right between us.”
Rachel looked as confused as I felt. “Made things right?” I repeated, not understanding what she meant.
Victoria nodded, her smile widening. “Yes. I think it’s time we consider… switching boyfriends.”
For a moment, I thought I’d misheard her. “What did you just say?”
“You heard me,” she said, crossing her arms. “You used to like Alex, didn’t you? Maybe even love him. I saw the way you looked at him back then. I think you still have feelings for him.”
I stared at her in disbelief. This was insane. “That was years ago, Victoria. I’m engaged to Harrison now. Why would you even think that?”
Victoria shrugged, her smile never fading. “Come on, Emma. Don’t pretend. I’m offering you something you want. You get Alex, I get Harrison. Everyone’s happy.”
Rachel let out a sharp laugh, unable to hold back. “You’re actually serious? This is crazy, even for you, Victoria.”
Victoria shot Rachel a glare but kept her focus on me. “Think about it, Emma. Don’t you ever wonder what it would be like? You and Alex? I’m just giving you a chance.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My hands started to shake, and I clenched them into fists, trying to hold back the anger building inside me. This was beyond disrespectful-it was insulting.
“Victoria,” I said, my voice trembling, “you need to leave. Now.”
She ignored me, stepping even closer, her voice lowering. “Admit it, Emma. You still want him. Don’t you? Just one kiss, one moment alone with Alex-”
Before I knew what I was doing, my hand shot out, and I slapped her across the face. The sound echoed through the room, and for a moment, there was silence. Victoria’s eyes widened in shock, and she held her cheek, looking at me like she couldn’t believe I’d actually hit her.
“How dare you?” I said, my voice filled with a fury I didn’t know I had. “How stupid and shameless can you be? You think you can just walk in here, disrespect my relationship, and make such an idiotic proposal? This is my life, and you have no place in it!”
Rachel let out a cheer from behind me, clapping her hands with a huge grin on her face. “Go, Emma! It’s about time someone put her in her place!”
Victoria glared at Rachel, then turned back to me, her face red and her eyes blazing with anger. “You’re going to regret this, Emma. You think you’re better than me, but you’re not. You’ve always wanted what I have.”
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. “No, Victoria. You’re the one who’s never happy with what you have. That’s why you’re here, acting like a jealous, desperate person. You’re the one who’s never satisfied, always looking for something you don’t deserve.”
She clenched her jaw, her hand still pressed to her cheek. “Fine,” she hissed. “You’ll see, Emma. One day, you’ll see that I was right.”
Without another word, she turned on her heel and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
*************************
As soon as she was gone, I sank down onto the couch, feeling drained and shaky. I couldn’t believe what had just happened. I’d never felt such anger in my life, and I’d never slapped anyone before. But Victoria… she had crossed every line.
Rachel sat down beside me, a wide grin on her face. “Emma, I am so proud of you. You did what I’ve wanted to do for years.”
I let out a small laugh, though my heart was still racing. “I can’t believe I actually slapped her. She just… she wouldn’t stop.”
“She deserved it,” Rachel said firmly. “Coming in here with that ridiculous proposal. Who does she think she is?”
I shook my head, still in disbelief. “I just don’t understand her, Rachel. Why would she even think that I’d be interested in Alex? And why now, after everything?”
Rachel put a comforting arm around my shoulders. “Because she’s jealous. You’re happy, you’re engaged, and she can’t stand it. She’ll never be satisfied, no matter what she has.”
I leaned against Rachel, feeling a mix of anger and sadness. “I just wish she’d leave us alone. Harrison and I… we don’t need this drama.”
Rachel nodded, giving me a reassuring squeeze. “You’re right. And you don’t have to deal with her. If she comes around again, I’ll make sure she knows exactly where to go.”
We sat together in silence for a moment, and I felt a sense of peace settle over me. Despite the tension, I knew that I’d stood up for myself and for my relationship with Harrison. And with Rachel by my side, I felt stronger than ever.
********************
The rest of the afternoon passed quietly. I tried to focus on other things, pushing thoughts of Victoria out of my mind. But deep down, I knew that this wouldn’t be the end of it. Victoria wouldn’t give up so easily. Still, I was prepared to face whatever she threw my way.
Later that evening, as I sat down with Harrison, I told him everything that had happened. He listened quietly, his expression growing dark as I described Victoria’s proposal.
“Unbelievable,” he said, shaking his head. “She’s out of control. I don’t want her anywhere near you.”
“I don’t either,” I replied, reaching for his hand. “But if she tries anything else, I’ll handle it. We’ll handle it.”
He squeezed my hand, a small smile on his face. “I know you will, Emma. And I’m proud of you.”
For the first time since Victoria’s visit, I felt a sense of calm. With Harrison by my side and Rachel’s support, I knew I could face whatever challenges came our way. Victoria’s jealousy was her own problem, not ours. And as long as we stayed true to each other, nothing could break the happiness we’d found together.