Between Love and Revenge

Chapter 3: The Rainy Night

POV: Julian Ashford

The Ashford estate was breathtaking.

To everyone else.

To Julian, it was nothing more than a beautifully decorated prison.

Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked acres of perfectly manicured gardens. Crystal chandeliers illuminated the grand foyer, while priceless paintings lined the marble walls like silent spectators.

Everything about Ashford Manor screamed wealth.

Everything except happiness.

Julian loosened the knot of his tie as he climbed the staircase toward his bedroom, hoping for a few moments of peace before another exhausting day began.

"Julian."

His father's deep voice stopped him.

Julian closed his eyes for a brief second before turning around.

"Father."

Richard Ashford stood in the study doorway, one hand tucked into the pocket of his tailored suit.

"Come in."

It wasn't a request.

Julian obeyed.

The study smelled faintly of expensive whiskey and leather-bound books.

Richard remained standing by the fireplace.

"I had lunch with the Sterlings today."

Julian already knew where the conversation was going.

"They've finalized the engagement arrangement."

Julian's jaw tightened.

"We've talked about this."

"No."

Richard's expression remained unreadable.

"You talked. I listened."

"I don't love Victoria."

"You don't have to."

Julian laughed bitterly.

"You really believe marriage is just another business contract?"

"It has always been."

Richard stepped closer.

"The Ashford and Sterling families have built empires over three generations."

"And you want me to protect those empires."

"I expect you to."

Julian looked away.

"I'm not marrying someone because it's profitable."

"You will."

"I'm thirty years old."

"And you'll start acting like it."

Silence filled the room.

Richard's voice softened only slightly.

"One day you'll thank me."

Julian smiled without humor.

"I doubt that."

Without waiting for permission, he turned and walked out of the study.

Behind him, his father's voice echoed through the hallway.

"The announcement is in two weeks."

Julian didn't answer.

Twenty minutes later, he was standing on the mansion's front porch when headlights swept across the circular driveway.

A sleek black Mercedes-Benz rolled to a stop.

Victoria Sterling stepped out gracefully, dressed in a cream-colored blazer over a fitted black dress.

Elegant.

Confident.

Every movement reflected the poise expected of Riverdale's most admired socialite.

She smiled as she approached him.

"There you are."

Julian forced a polite smile.

"I wasn't expecting you."

"I know."

She held up a small paper bag.

"I brought your favorite coffee."

"You didn't have to."

"I wanted to."

He accepted it with a quiet thank you.

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Victoria broke the silence.

"Walk with me."

Julian glanced toward the house.

"My father is still inside."

"Even better."

A faint smile played on her lips.

"I'd rather not have an audience."

They strolled slowly through the gardens.

The evening breeze carried the scent of fresh roses.

"You've been avoiding me."

Julian sighed.

"I've been busy."

"Busy enough to ignore my calls?"

"I wasn't ignoring you."

"You missed six."

"I know."

Victoria stopped walking.

"So..."

She folded her arms.

"What's really going on?"

Julian looked at the fountain ahead.

Its water flowed peacefully beneath the fading sunset.

He wished life were that simple.

"I've been thinking."

He smiled faintly.

“Yes.”

She waited.

Finally, he spoke.

"I don't think we should get married."

Victoria's smile disappeared.

The silence that followed felt heavier than stone.

"What?"

"I don't want to lie to you anymore."

She stared at him, searching his face for any sign that he was joking.

There wasn't one.

"Julian..."

"You deserve someone who loves you."

"I already have him."

"No."

His voice was gentle.

"You have someone who's trying to convince himself that love can be negotiated."

She took a slow breath.

"Is there someone else?"

"No."

"Then why?"

"Because marrying you would be unfair."

"To whom?"

"To you."

Victoria laughed once.

A short, disbelieving laugh.

"Do you honestly think feelings matter to families like ours?"

"They matter to me."

She shook her head.

"No."

"They do."

"No."

She stepped closer.

"You've let your emotions cloud your judgment."

"My judgment is clearer than it's ever been."

"Julian..."

She looked directly into his eyes.

"Our engagement isn't just about us."

"I know."

"It's about our families."

"I know."

"It's about thousands of employees."

"I know."

"It's about everything we've spent years building."

Julian ran a tired hand through his hair.

"And what about us?"

Victoria didn't answer immediately.

Instead, she looked away.

Her confidence cracked.

"We'll learn to love each other."

Julian's heart sank.

He knew she believed that.

He simply didn't.

A distant rumble of thunder rolled across the darkening sky.

Victoria glanced upward.

"It's going to rain."

Julian nodded.

The rain began before they reached the porch.

Within minutes, it became a downpour.

Victoria looked toward the driveway where her car waited.

"I should leave."

Julian glanced at the dark sky.

"In this?"

"I can't stay here all night."

"You don't have to."

She looked at him.

"I'll go with you."

Victoria hesitated.

"You don't have to."

"I know."

Julian picked up his coat.

"But after that conversation, I'm not letting you drive through a storm alone."

Something softened in Victoria's expression.

"Are you suddenly worried about me?"

"I've always been worried about you."

She looked away.

"Then you have a strange way of showing it."

Julian gave a faint smile.

"Probably."

They walked toward the car together.

She studied him for a moment before opening the door.

Neither of them noticed the man standing beneath the far end of the estate's covered walkway.

Or the way he watched them leave.

The black Mercedes disappeared into the rain.

The conversation between them had changed something.

Neither seemed to know what to say anymore.

After several minutes, Victoria spoke.

"You really mean it?"

Julian looked at her.

"Yes."

"You want to end our engagement."

"I don't think it should happen."

She gave a humorless laugh.

"You're unbelievable."

"I'm trying to be honest."

"Honest?"

She turned briefly toward him.

"After three years?"

"I should've told you sooner."

"You should've."

"I know."

"But I was hoping..."

"Hoping what?"

"That things would change."

Victoria looked back at the road.

"They didn't."

"No."

Lightning flashed across the sky.

The rain became heavier.

"Do you know how long our parents have planned this?"

"Since university."

"No."

She shook her head.

"Long before that."

Julian frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"They decided we'd marry before either of us graduated."

"I never knew that."

"Because nobody thought your opinion mattered."

The words lingered.

Painfully true.

"So my life was decided before I could decide it for myself."

Victoria glanced at him.

"Mine too."

Julian looked at her differently.

"You think I wanted this?"

"I don't know."

"I fought my father."

"You never told me."

"What would've been the point?"

She laughed softly.

"We lost."

Silence filled the car.

"I don't hate you, Julian."

"I know."

"I actually..."

She hesitated.

"I thought if we spent enough time together..."

Her voice broke slightly.

"...you might eventually love me."

Julian's expression softened.

"I'm sorry."

"I don't want your pity."

"It's not pity."

"Then what is it?"

"I respect you."

Victoria laughed.

"I don't want respect."

She looked straight ahead.

"I wanted to be chosen."

Julian had no answer.

Rain hammered against the windshield.

The road ahead blurred beneath the storm.

*****************************************************************

“I should've brought an umbrella.” Vivian muttered to herself

The pedestrian light changed.

Green.

Vivian stepped onto the crossing.

One step.

Two.

She tightened her grip on her handbag.

Then she heard it.

A horn.

Sharp.

Desperate.

She looked up.

Headlights burst through the curtain of rain.

A vehicle was coming toward her.

Too fast.

Vivian froze.

The tires screamed against the wet road.

She turned.

The vehicle swerved.

For one terrible second, she saw nothing but blinding headlights.

Then

Impact.

Her body was thrown onto the rain-soaked pavement.

Her handbag landed several feet away.

The velvet box slipped out.

It skidded across the road and disappeared beneath a parked vehicle.

People screamed.

A man shouted for an ambulance.

Another ran toward the car.

The vehicle had stopped at an angle across the road.

The rain continued pouring.

Vivian lay motionless.

Blood slowly mixed with the water beneath her.

"Somebody help her!"

"Call an ambulance!"

"I already did!"

The driver's side door opened.

Someone stepped out.

But the rain, darkness and frantic movement around the vehicle made it impossible for anyone nearby to clearly see the person's face.

A few seconds later, the passenger door opened.

Victoria was shocked.

She stared at the scene.

Her face was drained of color.

"God..."

She took a step toward Vivian.

Then stopped.

Her eyes moved from Vivian to the vehicle.

Then toward the gathering crowd.

Someone recognized the car.

"Isn't that a Sterling car?"

Victoria's breathing quickened.

"No..."

She pulled out her phone.

Her fingers shook as she searched for a number.

"Dad..."

Her voice was barely audible.

"There was an accident."

She listened.

Her eyes remained fixed on Vivian.

"Yes."

A pause.

"I understand."

She ended the call.

Someone nearby shouted that the ambulance was coming.

Victoria looked toward the road.

The sirens grew louder.

She took another step toward Vivian.

"Please..."

Her voice broke.

"I'm sorry."

Vivian's fingers moved.

Barely.

Her eyes fluttered open.

The sound of the crowd faded around her.

She tried to breathe.

Her lips moved.

"...Elena..."

A woman kneeling beside her leaned closer.

"What did she say?"

Vivian tried again.

"Elena..."

Her hand searched weakly across the wet pavement.

Nothing.

Her eyes closed again.

The ambulance arrived seconds later.

Paramedics rushed toward her.

"Move back!"

"Give us space!"

They began working on Vivian.

Victoria stood several feet away, frozen.

Rain ran down her face.

She didn't wipe it away.

Her eyes remained fixed on the paramedics.

One of them suddenly shouted,

"We've got a pulse!"

Victoria closed her eyes.

A shaky breath escaped her.

But her relief lasted only seconds.

Because the paramedic looked toward his colleague and said quietly,

"She's losing too much blood." “She might not make it to the hospital.”

Victoria opened her eyes.

The ambulance doors swung open.

Vivian was lifted onto the stretcher.

Her handbag remained on the road.

The velvet box was nowhere in sight.

As the ambulance pulled away, Victoria stood beneath the rain, staring after it.

Her phone was still clutched tightly in her hand.

She looked at the Sterling emblem on the car.

Then at the blood-stained road.

Something had changed.

Something that could never be undone.

And somewhere beneath that parked vehicle, hidden from everyone searching the scene, the small velvet box remained untouched.

Inside it was the gift Vivian had bought for Elena.

A gift that would never reach her.