I Was Only His Substitute

Chapter 10

Vincent stood at the edge of the warehouse ruins, staring blankly at the charred scene.

"Mr. Stevens, it's been two days. We've searched everywhere..." Andy's voice sounded cautiously behind him. "Gloria... might really be gone."

"I know." Vincent's voice was hoarse. He turned. His eyes were emotionless.

Yet Andy noticed Vincent's fists clenched so tightly that his nails had dug deep into his palms, blood dripping steadily to the ground.

Andy gritted his teeth. "Mr. Stevens, should we keep looking?"

Vincent remained silent for a long moment before finally waving his hand, signaling to stand down.

Shortly after the car left the ruins, Vincent's phone rang.

But he seemed not to hear it, his gaze fixed vacantly out the window.

Then Andy's phone rang again.

After answering, Andy's face changed. He turned sharply. "Mr. Stevens, Miss Stevens got into a fight at the clubhouse! The manager can't control her. You need to go there now!"

Vincent, who had been rubbing his temples, paused. Overwhelming exhaustion surged through him.

He took a deep breath, choking back his irritation. "To the clubhouse."

*****

The VIP room was a total mess.

Clearly drunk, Dora was gripping a broken bottle and hurling insults at someone.

Vincent closed his eyes briefly. 'Gloria would never stir up trouble like this.'

"Uncle Vincent!" Dora spotted him, eyes reddening. "They bullied me! Teach them a lesson!"

Vincent snapped out of it and grabbed her wrist. His grip was unmistakably firm. "Dora, stop this. Come with me."

She stamped her foot. "You're not even gonna back me up?"

"Dora." Vincent's voice was thick with exhaustion and barely restrained impatience, "Can't you give me a break? I'm exhausted."

"Exhausted?" Dora's voice shot up sharply. "You were never like this before! Is this about Gloria?"

"Don't drag her into this!" Vincent snapped.

"Do you regret it?" Dora caught his shift in mood instantly, screaming, "Regretting not saving her that day!"

The words stabbed like a hot needle into Vincent's most vulnerable spot. His face twisted in pain, jaw clenched tight. "I said, go home!"

"I won't go!" Dora's temper exploded. She grabbed anything within reach, hurling objects wildly at the walls and floor.

Watching the wild-eyed Dora, for the first time, Vincent felt that this willfully beautiful face had become both alien and exhausting.

He turned away without another glance, instructing his assistant calmly, "Take her home."

Then he left the club alone.

He drove aimlessly until, through some strange compulsion, he found himself at Lakeside Villa.

The door opened to complete darkness.

Fumbling through the blackness, he suddenly remembered Gloria's month of captivity here.

A ghostly, emaciated form flashed before his eyes, who curled up in a corner, trembling violently.

Vincent shook his head hard, trying to dislodge the haunting image.

He flung his coat aside and collapsed onto the bed, still fully dressed.

As he turned, his fingers brushed against a notebook hidden under the pillow.

His heart lurched. He switched on the light and began reading.

Gloria's handwriting stared back at him.

[May 2nd, 2018.

Today I seized an opportunity. Is this salvation or deeper damnation? I had no choice.]

[October 9th, 2018.

He taught me to shoot today. My hands trembled uncontrollably. When he stood behind me, covering my hands with his, I felt his warmth through the fabric. My heart raced.]

[August 3rd, 2019.

I'm becoming so greedy! I want to see him smile at me, hear him say my name, even...]

[January 1st, 2020.

I'm really in love with him... What am I going to do... Vincent, if she comes back, will you throw me away without a second thought?]

...

This was a diary, recording a woman's cautious, humble, yet desperate love.

The diary slipped from Vincent's trembling hands. His heart felt as if gripped by an invisible fist, twisted until the pain nearly suffocated him.

He rushed to the wine cellar, gulping hard liquor, desperate to catch his breath.

Yet he couldn't stop himself from reading Gloria's diary.

For a whole week, Vincent drowned himself in drink.

When Andy finally found him, he was unconscious from alcohol poisoning, yet still clutching that diary tightly in his hand.

Vincent regained consciousness in the hospital.

He looked utterly broken, his gaze vacant and unfocused.

Suddenly, his eyes sharpened, widening in shocked disbelief.

He saw a familiar figure nestled against Daniel, smiling radiantly.

Vincent launched himself from the hospital bed, a hoarse cry tore from his throat.

"Gloria!"