27 | She Would've Made Such A Lovely Bride
You're happy, goddammit!
Stop being a bitch.
I am. I am happy that she's back home safe. I screamed inside my head, desperately fooling myself into believing that I was a good person.
I wasn't.
Seeing Camila in Rafael's arms stung like a bitch. How could I even think anything like this. Look at her condition, Vittoria. She's physically weak, probably in trauma.
My inner battle went on and on for what felt like ages.
"I'm not like this. I'm not like this. I- I'm not.." I mumbled, my gaze down to the marbled floor.
"Hey." Alli whispered. "It's natural to feel so."
Fear spiked up my chest. Did everyone notice my state?
"Don't worry. No one heard that." She whispered yet again in response to the frantic movements my eyes made. Everyone was focused on the grand reunion.
The shock gradually began to subside as I took in the sudden changes. My insecurity was unjustified. He loves me, not her.
Even so, I couldn't stop thinking from Camila's point of view. A simple gesture of him leaving my hand to go to her got me so hurt. How must she feel knowing I've taken him away– a person she loved all her life.
Suddenly, none of it felt right. Again.
Rafael's shirt, now stained with her tears became visible to me as he turned back with her still clinging to his body.
Like she fucking owns what's mine.
Shut up! My dark side was growing powerful every passing second. I had to kill it before it killed me. But how?
"How did this happen?" Rafael quizzed, demanding an explanation.
"We found her slumped near the car back in Canada." Oliver said, narrating the entire story of what happened there.
Something felt off. This didn't add up. I get why Allegra and now Nikolai's men would be there– to take Allegra back to that sick bastard. But how did Camila reach there? She was with the Visitant right?
"I don't understand anything." Rafael mumbled, his eyes not looking at me even once ever since he saw her.
"She hasn't spoken a single word." Toby said, passing her a worried glance.
"Talk to me, Mila." Rafael spoke softly, placing her hand between his warm ones.
The same hands which had held mine in a promising grip.
"Camila." He repeated in the same tone when she didn't answer. "How will we punish them if you don't tell us anything? Look, we still need to find the Visitant. I'm not letting them get away with this. They'll pay for what they've done to you." His fingers tenderly brushed her red curls from her face.
She was beautiful. Ten times more beautiful than me.
"I was so scared." She spoke for the first time, rather cried burying her face into Rafael's chest.
Allegra rolled her eyes and Liam passed me a sad smile, somewhat reassuring.
"I was kept in a dark room all this time." She cried harder in his embrace. "I don't even know how much time has passed. H- how long have I been away?" She asked timidly.
"About eight months." Oliver answered, pulling her into a brotherly embrace. "I'm sorry, dear. I really am."
She shook her head in disbelief, struggling to speak.
I can't even begin to imagine what all must've happened to her in those eight months. Memories of that torturous night flashed through my mind, sending a shiver run down my spine.
"They drugged me. I didn't know what happened. When I opened my eyes, I saw you." She replied, looking at Oliver. "That's all that matters to me now. I don't want any revenge, nor punishment to them."
She pulled apart from Oliver and jumped back into Rafael's arms. "I just want to be with you. I don't want to stay away from you anymore."
Rafael's eyes finally found the courage to look at me. I could clearly see his muscles tensing at her words. I simply looked away, unsure of what I was currently feeling.
"I missed you all so much." He casted her emerald eyes at the twins, a tiny smile beginning to break on her plump lips.
It was only then did she noticed my presence. Our gazes met. A shudder ran down my body.
Her mere glare made me feel unwanted. It was like I was a displaced piece, desperately trying to fit in a place I didn't belong.
I felt little. I felt worthless.
"You." Her voice was barely above a whisper, distaste replacing the pain in her eyes.
"Camila." Oliver placed a hand over her shoulder. But her hatred filled glare didn't shift from me. "A lot happened while you were gone-"
"You were real." She spat, her chest heaving up and down. "They weren't lying. You..you.." She trailed off, the immense amount of anger not allow her to speak.
"Who wasn't lying?" Liam questioned, narrow eyed.
"The Visitant." She said. "I mean, their men. They kept telling me about this girl, Ava, Vittoria, whatever the fuck your name is."
Her harsh words made me flinch, much like everyone else. I could see Mason's hands form a fist from my peripheral vision. Thankfully Alli took care of it.
She snapped her head towards Rafael, the mess of bright red hair following the abrupt move. "You love her, don't you?" She yelled.
He remained silent.
"Oh my god!" She gasped, stumbling back as if being hit by a harsh blow. "Y-you're engaged to me. Me!" She held her hand up, displaying the diamond on her finger.
"Please calm down, Camila. All this can wait. You need to rest." Toby tried to interrupt.
She didn't. She instead closed the distance between us in two long strides, her tall frame now right in front of me.
"You fucking lowlife whore!" Her heated words were followed by the crisp sound of her hand slamming against my cheek.
"Watch your mouth while you talk to my sister." Mason lashed out at her but was constrained by Alli and Toby.
"I- I'm sorry, Camila." Rafael mumbled, ashamed.
A pang of hurt hit my chest. It overpowered the burning sensation on my cheek. He's ashamed to love me.
Is that how he must feel when I made that same guilty face after kissing him or sometimes even being near him?
"You're sorry?" She scoffed.
"I didn't plan on falling in love with someone else. Trust me I tried but.." His sentence hung there in the air as if it's effects won't be felt if he did so.
It wasn't good seeing her in so much pain. After all, she was the one to be affected by this the most.
"You have all the right to hate me, Camila." I said in a feeble voice, afraid it will crack any moment.
Rage unfurled from her eyes like it had been trapped there for years. "Do you have any idea what I went through?" She gritted her teeth. "All this time I just kept thinking of the day I'd be free and get my life back with him. That's how I fucking survived at that place. I should have given up. I endured so much pain for nothing. I came back only to lose him to some cheap slut."
"Camila!" Oliver bellowed in aggression. "She's your sister. No matter what, you can't talk to her like that."
"It's okay." I shook my head. "Her behavior is justified."
"I thought she was a myth." She whispered, anger switching to awe. "I thought Ava was just our dying mother's figment of imagination."
"Camila." Toby cupped her shoulders, gently pushing her down to take a seat on the couch. "I know these changes are hard to digest. But right now your health is more important than anything. Please get some rest."
"You know how I felt when I was apparently being traded for her?" Her green eyes looked away, her face contorting in pain as if reliving those horrible memories. "I felt worthless. The enemies valued her more than me. They knew having me won't affect Rafael anymo-"
"How can you say that?" Liam said rather harshly. "Don't you see his condition? Look carefully Camila. Was he like that when you last saw him? All we've been doing is look for you."
Pain dripped from his words as he spoke with so much efforts. How could she think like that? It was so easy for her to blame Rafael. He didn't say anything but I knew how much he must've hurted hearing that.
"Is that so?" She challanged, springing up from the couch. "Then tell me Rafael, where were you all these days? Why were you two missing?"
"It was an investor meeting." I butted in quickly. "I work in his company and the client was important. He..he invited us to his place-"
"Tell that shit story to yourself, Vittoria." She sneered.
There goes nothing.
"You could've stopped it when you learned about the truth but you didn't. You're no saint, Vittoria. Admit it that you're a selfish bitch. You just want these people to believe you're that good little innocent girl. But you are far from it."
"I think that's enough insult, Camila." Alli glared at her.
"What are you even doing here? Just go suck Nikolai's dick." She shot back.
"Not a word, Camila." Rafael grabbed her arm, turning her to face him. "She's has been helping us to find you. You should be grateful to her."
"Where were you Rafael?" She demanded, ignoring his warning. "You're going to leave me, aren't you?"
"You still want to marry me after knowing I love someone else?" He raised his brows in surprise.
"Someone else." She repeated in a dark tone. "That's what she is. Just someone else. You're my fiance, Rafael. If all this wouldn't have happened then we would be married today.
Married.
Rafael married to her.
Aa much as the sound of it cut my heart, I couldn't deny it was the truth.
"You'll forget her. It won't be that difficult. Nothing has to change, Rafael." She frantically fisted the collar of his shirt.
"I'm sorry but everything has changed already." She said bluntly now, his determined eyes set fully on me.
Dread twisted in my gut and my breaths came out as feelble gasps.
No! Please don't do this Rafael.
I was blinded by the lack of reality when I made that stupid decision to marry him. How am I going to face the world? Scratch that, how am I going to face Oliver? How will Camila be able to see the man she loves wake up to someone else.
Someone else. That's right. I was just someone else coming between them.
Snatching someone's fiance is wrong by every means. They say one shouldn't think about the world but that's all in stories. In real life, you have to face the society cursing your very presence.
Above all, I won't be able to live with the guilt. She's my sister. Mom would be ashamed of me. I've got a family which I never had until now. I'll fall in their eyes.
"Vittoria." Rafael placed my hands in his, the familiar warmth appeasing the agony spreading inside me.
"No, please don't Rafael." I let my entrapped tears fall freely.
Oliver's eyes widened in first shock and then anger when he registered the meaning of my reaction. "This is not the right time."
"So what do you suggest we do? Keep fooling her with a lie? Don't you know what it does?" He protested.
"Look Rafael, he's right." Allegra supported Oliver. "Let this calm down for a while."
"And that would change the situation?" He countered.
"Vittoria look at me." He ordered, his tone soft and firm at the same time. "Please, Vittoria." He pulled me a little closer to him.
Connecting our gazes seemed like a task. From my blurred vision, I could see him stare intently into my eyes as if desperately trying to search something in there.
"Vittoria Vivienne Andress," He began, his voice housing a breathy shiver.
"No!" The sound of Camila's knees hitting the ground made us snap our heads at her devastated form.
"Don't be so cruel to her, Rafael." Mason said in a straight tone.
"You just don't want me to marry Vittoria." He frowned, his eyes softening when they fell over Camila.
"You'll never be happy with me, Camila. I can't do that to you. You're important to me. I can't knowingly hurt you like that. Please try to understand." He almost begged.
"Shut the fuck up, Rafael. Stop this madness!" Oliver yelled, helping her up.
"I should've chosen death when I had the chance to." She cried, her voice hoarse, eyes swollen and red curls stuck to her tear stained face.
"What are you saying?" Oliver let out an incredulous gasp. "Answer me, Camila!" She shook her frantically.
"I let Nikolai rape me." She screamed, her voice tearing my soul away.
"You what?" Liam whispered in shock.
"I fucking let him use my body in exchange of my life. T-that day when I was given to him for a day, he asked me to sleep with him or lose my life."
"Fuck!" Rafael cursed.
"He told me you don't give a damn about me. I should've listened to him. Now all I have is those memories of him brutally-"
"Stop! Stop! Please stop!" I pressed my hands over my ears and shut my eyes to escape her words.
The image of that innocent girl being brutally raped flashed before my tightly shut eyes and my breathing stopped momentarily.
"Hey, Vittoria!" Rafael shook my shoulders frantically to get me out of it. "It's okay, calm down. You're safe. I'm right here." He cooed into my ears.
My heart rate gradually went back to normal but that was only until I noticed all eyes on me. "I'm sorry." I mumbled, rigorously wiping my tears.
"Of course." Camila spat, eying me with a disgusted look. "She's the victim everytime."
"You don't know what happened to her." Liam said defensively.
"I'm sorry, Camila. I'm sorry you had to go through it." I took a wary step forward but she stepped back, a clear indication of her not wanting me anywhere near her.
"No." I shook my head, my now stern gaze fixed at Rafael.
Worry morphed into a helpless fear in those charcoal eyes. His feet began faltering in my direction but I held my hand up signalling to stop right there.
"Don't do this, Vittoria." He pleaded, the agony in his voice reaching my heart only to make it numb. "None of us will be happy."
"I wouldn't be able to stay happy at the cost of my sisters happiness. That's not me. No matter how hard I try."
"Vittoria." He reached up to me and grabbed my hands, ignoring my protests. "I still have the ring right here." He tapped the pocket of his black demins. His eyes glistened with unshed tears that he was trying so hard to hold back.
My heart hurt like it was being pierced with a million shards of glass. I wanted to look up, hoping to search for some comfort but I had no courage to meet anyone's gaze.
"I'm sorry, Rafael. My answer is a no." I whispered after a long pause, the sound deafening my ears in the deathly silence.
I pried his hands away, watching them drop like a lifeless corpse. I searched his eyes. They were empty. I looked at his handsome face. It was impassive. I tried feeling his heart beat. It was dead.
I was petrified. So I spun back on my heels and ran upstairs like that would help me escape this excruciating reality.
Vittoria: Vote if you dislike the new character.
Liam: *dancing with his headphones on* Also vote if you loved Midnights!!!!!!!!