Glimmering Shadows

Chapter 3

 Lucas Grayson strode confidently towards Victoria, his ego as inflated as ever as he approached her with an air of arrogance.

Victoria, her icy blue eyes catching the sunlight as she chatted with Arabella, looked up as Lucas swaggered towards her, her expression a mixture of amusement and exasperation at his predictable bravado.

With a self-assured smirk, Lucas interrupted the conversation, his voice dripping with cockiness as he addressed Victoria. "Hey there, Victoria," he began, his tone smooth but tinged with superiority. "I couldn't help but notice how stunning you looked today. How about you and I go out sometime?"

Victoria's eyes narrowed slightly at Lucas's audacious approach, her lips curling into a wry smile as she met his gaze with a raised eyebrow. She exchanged a knowing glance with her friend, who watched the exchange with amusement, before turning back to Lucas with a playful glint in her eye.

"Well, aren't you full of yourself," Victoria replied, her voice laced with sarcasm but tinged with amusement as she sized up Lucas. "But sure, why not? It could be fun."

Lucas's smirk widened at Victoria's acceptance, his ego inflated even further by her willingness to entertain his advances. "Great," he replied, his tone oozing with smugness as he mentally congratulated himself on his conquest. "I'll pick you up at eight."

As Lucas walked away with a swagger in his step, Victoria couldn't help but shake her head in amusement at his overconfident demeanour, but as she turned back to her friend with a knowing smile, she couldn't deny that a part of her was looking forward to seeing what the evening would bring.

 Arabella couldn't contain her laughter as she watched Lucas walk away. She turned to Victoria with a mischievous glint in her eye, her lips curled into a smirk of amusement.

"Well, well, well, looks like someone's got a hot date," Arabella teased, her voice laced with playful sarcasm as she nudged Victoria with a knowing grin. "I hope you're ready for the full Lucas Grayson experience."

Victoria rolled her eyes at Arabella's teasing, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment but a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Oh, please," she replied, her tone light but tinged with amusement. "I'm sure it'll be a night to remember, for better or for worse."

Arabella chuckled at Victoria's response, her laughter echoing through the courtyard as she linked arms with her friend. "Well, just remember to bring your sense of humour," she advised, her voice warm with affection as she squeezed Victoria's arm. "And if all else fails, just think of it as free entertainment."

As Oliver Blackwood strolled past, his effortless charm and magnetic presence caught the attention of everyone nearby, including Arabella. She couldn't help but watch him, her eyes tracing the lines of his confident stride, her heart fluttering slightly at the sight.

Lost in her admiration for Oliver, Arabella failed to notice the subtle shift in his gaze. Unbeknownst to her, his eyes lingered on Victoria, a flicker of interest sparking in his gaze as he observed her from across the courtyard.

It wasn't until Victoria nudged her with a playful grin that Arabella snapped out of her reverie, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she realized her mistake. She turned to Victoria with a sheepish smile, her heart still racing from the unexpected encounter.

Victoria couldn't resist teasing Arabella about her clear interest with Oliver. With a playful grin, she leaned in closer, her voice laced with amusement as she nudged Arabella gently.

"Caught in Oliver's web again, huh?" Victoria teased, her eyes dancing with mischief as she watched Arabella's cheeks flush with embarrassment. "I swear, if you keep swooning over him like that, you're going to start a fan club."

Arabella rolled her eyes at Victoria's teasing, but couldn't help but laugh at the truth in her words. "Oh, please," she replied, her tone mockingly defiant. "It's not like you're any better when it comes to catching the eye of the opposite sex."

Victoria feigned offense at Arabella's remark, her hand placed dramatically over her heart. "Me? Never," she protested, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she shot Arabella a playful smirk. 

"Keep telling yourself that."

                                                                                                     ...

Oliver hummed quietly as he watched the lift go up floor after floor until it finally reached his family's penthouse, the opulence of their luxurious abode enveloped him like a familiar embrace. But as he stepped through the threshold, a sense of dread settled over him like a heavy cloud.

Heading towards the sound of muffled voices, Oliver's footsteps faltered as he approached the doorway to his parents' bedroom. His heart sank as he pushed open the door, revealing a scene that he had witnessed far too many times before.

His father, Henry Blackwood, stood with a woman who was not his mother, their embrace a painful reminder of the betrayal that had become all too familiar. Henry's expression shifted from surprise to guilt as he caught sight of his son standing in the doorway, his features a mask of resignation as he awaited Oliver's reaction.

But Oliver wasn't surprised. He had caught his father cheating on his mother before, each time feeling a fresh wave of disappointment but never truly shocked by the revelation. Instead, he felt a numbness settle over him, a sense of detachment that had become his coping mechanism in the face of his father's infidelity.

Without a word, Oliver turned and walked away, the weight of his father's betrayal heavy on his shoulders but his resolve unshaken. He had long since accepted that his father's actions were beyond his control, and he refused to let them get to him.

As he retreated to his own room, Oliver couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness for his mother, who remained oblivious to her husband's indiscretions. But he also knew he could never tell her, how could anyone tell their mother that the man they're in love with is fucking whores in your bedroom. 

He heard a soft knock on the door followed by the sound of it creaking open. Henry Blackwood stepped into the room, his expression a mixture of guilt and desperation as he approached his son.

"Oliver, we need to talk," Henry began, his voice strained with emotion as he crossed the room to stand before his son. "I know what you saw, and I understand if you're angry with me."

Oliver remained silent, his gaze fixed on his father as he waited for him to continue. He had heard these words before, the empty promises and justifications that always seemed to fall short of making things right.

Henry sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair as he struggled to find the right words. "I know I've made mistakes, Oliver," he admitted, his voice tinged with regret. "But you have to understand, things aren't always as simple as they seem."

Oliver's jaw clenched with frustration at his father's feeble attempts to justify his actions. "How can you say that, Dad?" he finally spoke, his voice tinged with bitterness. "You've been caught cheating on Mum more times than I can count, and every time you come up with some excuse to try and justify it."

Henry flinched at Oliver's words, the truth of his son's accusation hitting him like a punch to the gut. "I know I've let you down, Oliver," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "But please, believe me when I say that I never meant to hurt you or your mother."

"Fuck off." Oliver scoffed looking away from his father.