Second chance seduction

Alice’s POV ****************************** My gown, my jewelry, they were all serving their purpose, creating the illusion of a woman who has everything that should make her happy. Lucas stood close to me as we entered the grand ballroom, his hands wrapped around my waist, his grip was possessive but distant at the same time. I could see the chandeliers spilling golden light over us, the murmurs of admiration and envy clearly audible from the crowd. To the whole world, we are nothing but the perfect couple. I glanced at Lucas, searching for the love in his eyes, but his eyes were busting, scanning the whole room, already elsewhere. The realization of that lodged itself in me like a thorn in my chest. We make our grand entrance, exchanging pleasantries and smiling for the paparazzi and media, indulging in mindless small talks. I leaned towards Lucas, my voice soft and fragile as I whispered in his ears a compliment about his suit. But he barely even acknowledges it, brushing it off like my words were nothing but a background noise. The atmosphere between us changes, and I feel the weight of the eyes watching us, the moment stretching into something unbearable. My pulse quickens, but I try to compose myself, painting my lips with another effortless and gorgeous smile. “No one can know. No one should ever know what is happening behind closed doors.” As the night goes on, Lucas is engaged in conversation after conversation. He loved every bit of the attention, charisma effortless, his laughter practiced to be perfect as usual. I just stood there, looking at him and hoping for us to finally have our romantic moment, for him to give me a whisper of reassurance. I could no longer wait for the moment to happen, I perhaps needed to make it happen myself. I reached for his hands to hold him and feel him close to me. But all I got was him already stepping away and shoving my hands away, holding his phone in his hands, his voice colder than the chilling air-conditioned room. "It’s work," Lucas said, his voice sounding very dismissive. "Go ahead and enjoy yourself without me." The drive back home between us was longer than usual, silent rather I would say, my reflection in the tinted window more of a stranger than myself. I pressed my fingers into my lap, nails biting my skin. “It’s just stress, just exhaustion.” But deep down, I knew better. Our love which we once held tightly is slipping through my fingers, and I am helpless to stop it. “I hope our anniversary will be the best opportunity to rekindle our love”, I whispered to myself. Things had to get better between us that day. I just knew it. ***************************************** A few days later, it is finally the day of our anniversary. This gives me a glimmer of hope. I prepared everything perfectly—a candle-light dinner for us, with a bottle of his favorite wine, and most importantly, the expensive watch that I got for him which was engraved with the word “Forever”. I also do not forget that this night had to be perfect, we needed to rekindle our romance, and I had just perfect lingerie to make him drool all over me. I cannot control the excitement running through my veins as I arrive home early, the neatly wrapped gift gripped tightly in my hands. My heels click softly against the marbled floor as I make my way to our bedroom, ready to change into my sexy lingerie. I opened the door and immediately the world around me seemed to stop. The air in my lungs disappears without hesitation as I freeze in the doorway. Lucas is lying on our matrimonial bed, his body entwined with another woman, the sheets covering them like vines. It’s Nin…… Nina, my step-sister. Her dark hair was spilled all over our pillows, her nails pressing into his skin the way mine once did, as he pleasured her immensely and the only thing I could hear was her loud, pleasure moans. The neatly wrapped gift immediately slips from my fingers, the box hitting the floor with a loud thud. The sound immediately jolted both of them in my direction. Lucas jerks upright, his eyes wide and unblinking, a drop of sweat running down his forehead. I can see his mouth opening up in a silent scream, but I don’t wait for any explanations. My heart races, pounding in my chest, and before my mind catches up, my feet are already moving, carrying me out in the chilling air, each step echoing the panic inside of me. The cool night breeze was rather sharp against my tear—streaked face as I drove blindly through the city. My hands grip the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles turned white. Angers simmered underneath my surface, a hot flame licking at my insides, while humiliation wrapped itself around me like a suffocating fog. I can feel each emotion coiling tighter, battling for control, my hands folding into fists at my side as I struggle to contain the storm that is rising within me. "How could he….. How could he do such a thing”. The words rushed out from my mouth with a choked whisper, followed by another. “What did I ever do to deserve this from him?" Before I even realize it, I am standing before Macon’s door, my chest heaving with uneven rhythm, my hands shaking uncontrollably. The door immediately swung open, and his eyes widened at the sight of my face. My mascara had run down my cheeks, leaving streaks like a tear of despair. I gasped for air, each breath shallow and shaky, as if the weight of the world was pressing down on my chest. I must have looked like a woman unraveling, my vulnerability naked before him to see. He doesn’t say a word, instead he just pulls me into his arms, the warmth in his hug a huge difference to the cold in my veins. As his embrace tightens around me, a shiver runs through my body and the floodgates of tears open. I cannot hold back anymore, my sobs come in desperate gasps, each one shaking me to the core. I grip his shirt tightly at this shirt, gripping the fabric like a lifeline, as if he was the only solid ground I have left in this chaotic world. It feels like I might just dissolve into the surrounding air. Minutes pass, or maybe hours. When the storm inside me finally settled, I pulled away from Macon just enough to whisper, "I caught Lucas in bed with another woman, my…. My step-sister Nina". Macon’s expression changes, his eyes widen in shock and his jaw drops. Macon blinks twice as he struggles to come up with the right words. "O-h my Go-d.." He stutters, causing tears to prick from the corner of my eyes. "Are you sure?" Macon's eyes twinkle in disbelief. I nod my head in agreement, biting my lower lip to stop myself from breaking down. He takes a deep breath before responding to me as his grip becomes firm. “I can’t believe he would ever do such a thing to you." “You deserve so much better than this, Alice.” I want to believe him, but doubts fill around my thoughts like smoke. "I don’t know what to do…I …I still love him even after everything.” I could see Macon’s eyes on me growing cold, his concern transforming into something more resolute. “Then you need to divorce him”. His voice sounded firm. The words hit me like a slap. Anger flares inside me, hot and fierce. “How can you even suggest such a thing?”. I shouted, my voice echoing in the silence. I can feel my heart racing, the pulse of betrayal running through my veins. I turn on my heel, walking away from him, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air behind me. “How dare he think he knows what’s best for me?”. *************************************** Several days had gone by. I spent most of my time avoiding Macon for what he said. Waiting for Lucas to show up and tell me that he’s very sorry for what he did, but it never happened. Every single day that went by felt long and heavy. Eventually, I started to realize that Macon was right about everything he said. I had made up my mind and decided to file for divorce against Lucas. He never showed any regret. “Maybe this would finally teach him a lesson”, I said to myself. Sounds totally stupid. But he just signed the divorce papers and sent them back to me as if it meant nothing. I went back to Macon and apologized for how I acted towards him. Knowing Macon, he forgave me so easily. His understanding made me feel supported again. As the days went by, I started planning my escape to another country. But it was cut short by my health as I started feeling unnecessarily sick and nauseated. I decided to visit the doctor to find out what was happening to me. “Miss Alice, You’re Pregnant”. The doctor said,"I looked down at my trembling hands, feeling the weight of the news. Panic washed over me like a wave crashing against the shore. The thought of bringing a child who came from Lucas, with his wickedness and hurtful actions. “How could I bring a child into this toxic environment?”. But at that moment, I decided to make a vow to myself:I would raise this child with all the love and care I never had. I thought my father would be one of the people to be there for me, but I faced nothing but his rejection. With my father's rejection still on my mind, I turned to Macon for help. He helped me to leave the country for good. As I boarded the plane, I felt nothing but determination. I was going to a different country, but this was not going to be the end. I would be back, Lucas would pay for everything he did to me and I would make sure of that.