Forsaken betrayal

Episode 14

"The news was all over the net this morning. I don't know why but those reporters must have planned it. How else could they have multiplied so fast?" Alex questioned, deeply engrossed in his conversation with Johnson. Lennox stayed quiet, opting to listen instead as they argued and talked about his wife's incident.

"Last I remember, these reporters are very competitive. They'd rather die than let another hear of their exclusive news. Someone must have called them together to start the mob." He continued. "Could it be Amelia herself?" Johnson asked both men, pondering on what possibilities there were. "You think?"

"We all know Amelia and what she can do to get Lennox. I mean, she even tried to kill herself once. The last time, Lennox had almost gotten stabbed in one of her mad antics. There's no taking her out of the possibility." "You're right but given the circumstances, there was no way she would have known Lennox would be there. Lennox just happened to call a guard at that moment that informed him of the situation." Alex countered. "Len, are you listening?" Johnson asked, eager to get Lennox's attention.

"You guys are babbling like women. I have a headache, please shut up." He vareased his temple, trying to rub the ache away.

"Having a woman like Amelia in your life is enough headache. You know, you kind of deserve her, you can also be a dick sometimes." Johnson joked, retreating in fear as Lennox shot him a glare. "Johnson," Alex warned.

"Fine, fine. Enjoy your boring ass, I'm going out to catch me some girls." Johnson stood up, patting Alex on the shoulder and winking at Lennox before leaving the VIP room.

"I'll leave too, there's a long day ahead of us." Lennox stood up, drowning the remaining wine in his cup.

"And I'll head home too, the alcohol is starting to get to me." Alex followed suit.

~~~

Lennox trudged into the living room, his eyes fixed on the staircase leading to his room. He normally didn't feel fatigued but these days, the stress was getting to him, his wife was getting to him that all he ever thought of on getting home was to collapse on the cool sheets of his bed. Every thought of sleep left his head as he noted the presence of Gealic seated on a sofa.

She was dressed in a sheer, flowy robe that exposed part of her skin, making her look like a royal from the medieval age. His face morphed into disgust, his lips curling into a sneer.

"Try again Amelia, you're not seducing me tonight." He muttered to himself before heading up the staircase leading to his bedroom.

"Sit down for dinner," Grealic stood up from the sofa and walked to the dining space, uncovering the plates of food that she had dished out.

He briefly glanced at her before turning the other way to his wing of the house.

"I spent half the day cooking for you, don't you think it's proper to at least taste it?" Her voice came out a frustrated shrill like she was holding herself back from getting angry.

He stopped on the stairs. "Throw it away, I don't have the strength to trade words with you tonight."

"Why?" She quipped.

"I said you owe me dinner, I never said I'd eat it." He smirked, a cold calculating look masking his face as he stepped down from the staircase. "How can I be sure that you have not drugged this too?"

She scoffed, bored by the insistence of his wild accusation. With an air of nonchalance, she sat at the table and began eating his food, savouring every bite without sparing him a glance. Lennox's brows curled in cold humour.

"You can leave," She dismissed him with a wave of her hand, "There's nothing I can do about your foul mood."

He turned on his heels, shaking his head in confusion at his wife's behavior.

"Is she possessed?"

~~~

Gealic stepped out onto the terrace for the first time since she had gotten to Lennox's house. Her thoughts had made a mess of her mind, keeping her from sleep. The wind blew through her hair in small waves, caressing her face in soft whispers as she walked closer to the edge of the open terrace. She turned her gaze from the exquisite view of the gardens stretched before her, all darkened by the mask of the darkness, and faced the stars in the night sky. "They're so free, while I'm here basking in pretence." She murmured.

Her thoughts wandered to Lennox's mood a few hours ago. He has dismissed her for nothing and made useless what she had put all energy into doing.

"Why does he hate Amelia so much? What has she done to him?"

She turned at the sound of feet behind her, her mood turning sour and she sighed Mrs Rachel behind her.

"Do you know why I have not fired you yet?" She asked.

The woman moved closer, fretting before Gealic, "No ma'am. I'm very sorry ma'am. Miss Maggie helped-"

"I don't want to hear it. I don't care what she has done for you or what she has given you. I am only keeping you here because you are of use to me." Gealic waved her off.

The older woman fell to her knees, "Thank you ma. I promise my loyalty to you."

"Stand up," Gealic instructed, embarrassed by the woman's behavior.

"No ma'am, I feel very guilty for what I did. Let me stay this way."

"You only feel guilty because I caught you. Bet if I was still oblivious, you wouldn't feel a pang of guilt."

The woman turned her face to the ground, sobbing. "I'm very sorry ma'am, I had no choice." She held on to Gealic's robe, "I'll make it up to you ma'am."

"Woah, I see you're still wicked to your maid."

The two women turn in the direction of Lennox voice. He stood leaning on the a sofa of the terrace, swirling his cup of wine in his hands.

The older woman quickly scrambled to her feet and excused the couple.

"What do you mean?"

"It's impossible to act forever, I knew you'd slip up one day. I guess today is my lucky day, you're still as bitchy as ever Amelia."

"You've read the situation wrong, and what do you mean by being as bitchy as ever. Last I remember, you're the one being a dick, locking me up in the house and kissing me forcefully."

"That's mild compared to what you can do. I see you're beating your maid again." His voice raised in anger.

"Beating her again? I didn't even touch her,"

"So now I'm blind," He snickered.

"Yes, you are a blind madman for not seeing what is so close to you."

"You? Do you still want me to notice you? Aren't you satisfied?" He moved closer to her with every word he said, backing her up to the edge of the terrace, "You've gotten what you wanted, haven't you?" "No," She raised her head to meet his sloppy eyes, "I haven't."

"What more do you want Amelia?" He didn't stop when her back hit the rail and she was close enough to reel over and fall down the twenty-meter height. Her hands shook in fear but her face remained still, trusting that he would not push her

over.

"If he pushes me over, this place is big enough for him to bury me without anyone knowing." She let out a short heave of breath as her mind betrayed her resolve. She smelled the acrid tang of alcohol from his body and noted that he was drunk making him and the situation all the more unpredictable, just a small push would have her reeling down the terrace to her death.

"What more do you want from me?" He asked again.

Her lips quivered. "Right now, all I want is to not see you. To disappear from this hellhole you call a life." She spat.