Christmas Redemption: A second chance with my mysterious billionaire

Elena's Point of view “Victor!" "Oh my gosh!” I screamed at the top of my voice at what just made me stop dead in my tracks. The sight before me, of Victor standing there with his shirt unbuttoned and his trousers down his legs. His hands were tangled in the hair of my best friend and supposed maid of honor. Her legs were wrapped around his naked asscheek and her hands around his back while his face was buried in her bosom. They immediately froze then loosely separated at the sound of my scream, their once pleasured expression morphed into guilt. How could they? I watched as they quickly dressed up while the air left in my lungs left in a rush, I had to hold the door to steady myself. This just has to be a hallucination, it can't be real. I felt my heart thundered in my chest as the betrayal of what they had done sliced through my heart like a knife. “Oh my goodness, what the hell is going on here?" I demanded with a sharp yet shaking voice as I walked further into the room. There was no explanation for what I just saw, I watched as they looked at each other then at me with a mixed look of shock and guilt. But Victor's expression caught my attention, it had quickly changed to one of annoyance while Alice turned away, fanning her colored cheeks of shame. “Elena… look, it's not what it looks like,” he uttered with an infuriatingly calm tone which irritated me. "What? Not what it looked like? Then what did I just see?” I asked with a cracked voice. I can't believe him. "I just saw you, Victor and… and… and you… how could you do this to me, Victor? Our wedding is in two days! How could you? With her? Her, Victor? Alice, who is supposed to be my very good friend?” I asked, gesturing wildly at both of them. I was on the verge of exploding and just… I don't know the word. I am not myself anymore. He straightened up as he wore a mask of indifference. “You have to calm down, Elena. You are just overreacting, it's unnecessary!" He spat as my palm came in contact with his cheek. "How dare you say that? Overreacting?” My voice rose as my anger rose. "I just caught you having s*x with my… a friend and you expect me to calmly accept it? To accept that you cheated on me calmly?" “Elena, I am really sorry. As much as this wasn't supposed to happen, I didn't mean for it to happen and it just went beyond my control…” Alice finally had the nerve to utter a word as she whispered to me. “You didn't mean for any of it to happen? But this happened and if it was your intention, what would have happened?” I asked her as my fury bubbled over me. I didn't know when I lunged towards her but Victor grabbed me roughly, stepping between us as he glared at me. "Elena, control yourself, stop being a brat and don't make a scene!” He scolded me in a harsh tone. And I was in disbelief as I froze with my chest heaving while I stared at the man I thought I knew all along. But I didn't, not one bit! Had I been so in love to see any signs of this is just new? “Are you really defending her? Right now? Against me?" I couldn't help but ask as I struggled with the tears that threatened to fall. Where did I miss things? “Just listen, that isn't the point. What happened was a mistake, nothing but a silly mistake and it meant nothing. Let's not blow things out of proportion. It's no big deal, you get?" He uttered shamelessly with a chuckle. I yanked my hand out of his grip in disgust. He sighed as he ran his hand through his hair. “Oh wow, so cheating two days before your wedding is nothing? A no big deal? Oh my goodness!” I cried out in disbelief and disgust for the man before me. "It's your audacity for me to think cheating on me with this b***h is a no big deal. If I had done this, would it be the same thing?” I asked as I stared dagger at him. "That's not the point, Elena. Why are you making this look too serious? She is no b***h just your friend who…” he corrected me with his hand in the air as he wiped his face in frustration. "Just shut that trash of a mouth up! I can't believe you right now, have you forgotten that you promised me? Before we began this relationship, I told you something was going to destroy us if you ever tried it and I kept to my side of the promise but," I struggled to say amidst the whole emotions I was going through. I was breaking at each word that came out of his mouth. “You did? I never knew we discussed anything like that but that doesn't mean now, we can always uphold it later after the wedding," he nonchalantly uttered with a shrug as he took a step towards me. I stepped back with a bitter laughter. “Oh wow, you forgot… you don't even know it!” I wiped my forehead back in frustration and anger then without thinking yanked off the engagement ring and just threw it at him. "It was cheating, Victor! I told you it would destroy us as I can't condone or wouldn't even tolerate a cheating man but guess what you did it anyways regardless of how I pleaded and discussed it with you. You don't value or prioritize me so you are free to get married to the w***e beside you!” I slammed in anger as I turned to walk away. But he yanked me back with a darkened face of anger, the ring lying beside him. “Don't be unreasonable and petty, Elena! You are just being stupid right now over a silly mistake. Are you just going to throw everything that we built over the year? Destroy everything because you are blinded and can't…” he spat in anger. I yanked my hand again and stepped back. “You should have thought of ‘what we built over the year’ before falling stupidly into Alice's feminine hole in a silly mistake! Lies! I see them now and like I said before I will never marry a cheat!” I yelled at him with my voice trembling badly with emotions. With that, I turned and stormed out of my room with my heart pounding heavily, they chose to follow me closely behind. "Elena! I am talking to you, Elena! Would you even listen to me? Wait up, Elena!” "No, I won't!” I spun to face him and shouted back. "I am done listening to every one of your wretched excuses!” I descended the grand staircases then entered the former dining hall where both families were enjoying the Christmas eve s***h pre-wedding dinner party. They were focused on their little conversations and music to notice me. “The wedding is off! I am calling it off!" I announced in a steady voice despite the chaos going on within me, especially my heart. Their gasps rippled through the room, I noticed Victor facepalming himself as mother stood up in confusion. Auntie walked up to me in shock. “What happened dear? You look so pale and sick suddenly. You were excited for your forthcoming wedding, what changed?” She asked me calmly and softly as she hugged me. "Elena, what did you just say?” Mother asked aloud as she stared at me, hoping it wasn't true. “Thanks, auntie!" I mouthed at her before facing mother and others. “Just what you heard! The wedding and my relationship with Victor Crawford is off. I can't marry a man who will betray me in my room by cheating on me with someone I once considered my friend!" I explained as I pointed at them. Father frowned as he exchanged an angry stare with mother likewise Victor's parents who both exchanged nervous glances then glared at their son. Mother walked up to me with an unreadable expression as she grabbed my arm roughly. “Elena, you can't do that! Do you want to bring shame upon our families? You can't do that," she harshly spat out. "What?” Auntie and I uttered in shock. "Mom? Shame? Isn't that not better than allowing your daughter to get married to a man who doesn't respect or value me? I don't trust him anymore,” I explained with my eyes still widened in shock. Father, who was still seated and silent, finally spoke in a stern tone. “Elena, you should know marriage is more than that, compromise and sacrifice is also needed. Forgiveness and compassion, remember? This is a marriage of not just you too but the Lawson and the Crawford, have you forgotten? Canceling the wedding after everything that had gone into it? I don't think so, baby girl! You will be costing us a lot dearly!” He explained with a dismissive stance. Mother also nodded in agreement, likewise the Crawford, her expression was tight as she looked at me. “You have to think of our business partnership which would be at stake if you do that, Elena! You are not a bad child so think wisely," she urged me and I was disgusted further that my parents will behave this way. “Mom!" “I can't believe you two, Beatrice, this is your daughter we are talking about. Aren't you not supposed to be on her side? To marry a man she doesn't want to marry? Will you close your eyes and send her off to a marriage she would never be happy in?" Auntie, who was by my side, said to mother, in my defense. Why was she the only one who understood me? “Please, Betty, don't butt your ass into this issue. You weren't called,” mother yelled at her angrily. "Of course I will but betrayal two days before the wedding shouldn't be the foundation for your daughter's marriage. Remember she is still young for marriage, anyways. Elena, be wise and do what you deem fit and well for you. You will be the one in the marriage, not them! They are together because they love each other, not otherwise!” She advised me before stepping aside. Mother kept staring daggers at her. “I won't let you guys sell me out for a business deal!" I slammed, voicing my intention. Father stood up with a glare as he pointed at me. “You will either listen to me and go on with the marriage or leave this house this instant. I don't want to see you!" He yelled angrily. I stared at him in disbelief as tears burned my eyes but I wasn't going to break down before them so I held my head high and stared back. “Fine, you made this easy for me!"