POV: Victoria
“You love him?” Claire asks me, startling me from my thoughts.
“He’s not coming back, is he?” I responded, my voice heavy and sad. I’ve been standing out here since he drove off. A part of me still thinks he would turn around and come back to me. I didn’t think he would leave that way, I thought he was simply bluffing. But as it is, nothing is a joke to Raphael Hawkins.
“You shouldn’t have asked him to leave if you love him that much, you shouldn’t let anyone manipulate you into leaving him. You need to start thinking about your future, no one has the right to tell you what to do and who to be with!” she told me firmly.
“Jeez, who are you and where is my kid sister?” I joke, earning a chuckle.
“You know how you always ask me to leave Kyle because he is not good for me and I completely ignore you?
Well, that is because I love him and I chose to think with my heart and not my brain. I let myself love him because I know he is a good man and he loves me too. In fact, he is willing to change because of me. He’s willing to get a good job and be the man everyone wants him to be.” She lets out excitedly, her eyes brightening up.
She has this beautiful content smile on her face that says that she is happy and content with her relationship. My God, she must think that I’m such a joy killer for trying so hard to separate her relationship with her boyfriend. She must hate me so much.
“Claire, I’m so sorry for…”
“No Vee, don’t be sorry. You were just being a big sister and looking out for your cute little sister,” she teased, making us both chuckle softly.
“This is not about me and Kyle, Vee. It’s about you and your boyfriend. He’s been nothing but good to us since you met him. He paid Mom’s bills before he even met her, he thought about us when you two went out and he got us nice things too.
Think about all the things he has done for us because of you. He scared Dad away from us and this is the first time we are living without fear. His family may be weird and crazy but he is a good man and he cares about you. Don’t let him slip off your hands, Vee, look at this beautiful house he gave us. A man like him is hard to come by, you have no idea how many women yearn to be in your shoes.” She advised, making me look at her suspiciously.
“Are you saying all this because of my feelings or do you just want to keep getting gifts and favors from him?” I asked, eyeing her suspiciously. She chuckled and threw her arms around me, engulfing me in a bear hug.
“I know you love him, Vee. And I know you will do the right thing. I trust your decisions and I’m sure you would do the right thing.” She told me confidently, making me smile in appreciation for her kind words and thoughtfulness. We were still standing in the driveway, but it was pretty clear that Raphael ain’t coming back here. He must be so pissed off at me, I wonder why he was screaming at Mom. What could they be talking about that was so secretive?
“Let’s go in, I’ll go and look for him, I know exactly where to find him,” I told her, winking at the end as we both laughed and turned to head back to the house. I opened my mouth in amazement as I took in the impeccable decorations of this mansion. It was so beautiful and I wanted to take a tour of the entire building, but mom was standing in the living room when we got in and she looked frantic and pale.
“I forbid you to see that man again, Victoria. You must end your relationship with him and cut off all ties with him. If you consider me as your mother, you must listen to me and do exactly as I say!” she told me fiercely, sounding so angry. I looked at her and I felt different emotions swirling around me.
I can’t believe she would insist that I leave Raphael at this point in time when we need him the most. As Claire said out there, this is the first time in our lives that we have nothing to be afraid of, this is the first time in years that I have nothing to worry about. I’m not thinking about our debt in the hospital, or what we are going to eat, or when next dad would show up and torment our lives. Things are going well for the first time in our lives and she doesn’t seem to like it.
“Why Mom?” I asked her, looking into her eyes.
“W… W… Why what?” she stammered tearfully, shutting her eyes as if she didn’t want me to say the next words.
“Why don’t you like him, what has he done to make you hate him this much?
You don’t even know him mom, you just met the guy and you don’t know anything about him. Yet you hate him so much and wish to destroy our relationship. Why Mom, tell me what he has done to deserve such treatment from you.” I demanded angrily, trying so hard not to let the tears flow down my cheeks. She heaved a sigh of are, chuckling sadly. It’s as though she thought she knew what I wanted to ask her.
“This is not a joke, mom. Stop laughing and answer me now, I demand an explanation!” I yelled at her angrily.
“You see, this is why I want you to end it. You were such a sweet child before you met him, you never raised your voice at anyone, let alone your mother. He is a bad influence on you and his family is dangerous too. You will get in so much trouble if you don’t leave him before it is too late. He could destroy our family, he will take you away from me.” She sobbed sadly. Now I feel guilty for yelling at her, it seems like she is only looking out for me after all.
“I’m right here mom, he will never take me away from my family, I won’t allow it. I love you Mom, and I remember your words to us since we were kids. Family over everything else, family comes first. I know that Mom and I won’t let you down.” I told her, pulling her in for a hug, kissing her forehead, and helping her to sit on the couch.
“Damn, this couch is so soft!” I mused to myself as I sat next to her, hugging her.
“I love you Mom, and I will never do anything to hurt your feelings. But I love Raphael, and I want to be with him. So stop whining and stop trying to stop me because I won’t let you!” I let out firmly, kissing her forehead. Claire gave me two thumbs up from behind her, I almost laughed out loud when she did a victory dance the moment Mom let out a weak sigh and walked away, leaving me to make my decision.
“What are you going to do?” she asked me, smiling excitedly.
“I’m going to get back my man,” I let out confidently and Claire yelled in excitement obviously loving this fairy tale love that she believes I have with Raphael. I wonder what everyone says when they find out this fairy tale romance between Ralph and I is as fake as the words themselves.
“Now show me to my room, Claire. I need to go out right now, I need to find Raphael before it is too late!” I told her anxiously. She kept cheering me on, squealing excitedly because she thought I was anxious to be with the man I love. She had no idea that I was rushing to go and find him before he drew up a termination contract to terminate our deal.
Ralph can be crazy when he is pissed, so I have to get to him before he does something stupid. Claire gas no idea which room I could use, so I had to ask the housekeeper that I found cooking in the kitchen. She smiled politely when I walked in and she told me that Master Hawkins has made everything available for me and my family.
When I asked for a room, I was taken to the master bedroom upstairs and Claire followed me up the stairs to the bedroom. The moment the housekeeper opened the door to the master bedroom, my eyes lit up with surprise and all I could say was,
“Wow,”