Chapter 23 Motherf*cking Simon Armstrong
VICTORIA
My clenched fist shook in fury as I glared at the disgusting face of Simon Armstrong, my fuckass ex-husband.
“What the fuck is that bastard doing here?" Michael spat in annoyance and made to march off, but I grabbed his hand.
"Stop, we can't cause a scene here,” I muttered, and he paused.
Simon's eyes were on me this whole time, not breaking off for even a second. I was sure he had been staring at me way too long before I caught him.
"Why the fuck did you invite someone like him?" James snapped at Connor, and he sighed loudly.
I looked away from him and faced my brothers, heaving in anger.
“I'm sorry, I'm sure this must be Stella's doing. She was the one who distributed the invitation cards,” Connor said, and I huffed loudly, searching for Stella in the crowd.
I knew she had invited him here to taunt me.
"I'm sorry, Vicky, I'll tell the asshole to leave,” Connor said, but I shook my head.
"Don't do that, it'll only put us in a bad light,” I muttered, and his shoulders slumped.
“Will you be okay being in the same room with that scum?" Michael asked, and I nodded, forcing a smile on my face.
"Why not?” I faked a chuckle.
My eyes fell on Stella at a corner, and I frowned deeply. I turned to my brothers with a forced smile and waved towards the ladies.
"I'll go join them,” I said and walked off to where they stood.
"Stella?” I called in a sharp tone.
She stopped chatting and turned to look at me, her head tilted to the side.
“What?" She raised her brows.
"Let's talk…” I paused and darted a glare at her annoying friends.
“In private!" I added and turned around to walk into the corridor that led to the restrooms, but her scoff stopped me.
I turned and looked at her with dimmed eyes.
“Are you coming or not?" I asked.
“If you're here to rant about your ex-husband’s invitation to my wedding anniversary party, then save your time and idle away with your brothers. Erica is a friend of mine…” She paused and smiled when she saw the anger in my eyes. She stepped closer and placed her hand on my shoulder, smirking.
"We met in the hospital during our antenatal check-up. Ah, you don't know what that means, do you?" She said, and my heart clenched in pain.
I gulped hard, refusing to get swayed or belittled by her words.
I forced a smile onto my face and stepped closer till there was just a little space left between us. She shot her head back, her eyes filled with confusion about what my next move could be.
“If not for the respect I have for my brother, I would have slapped some sense into you without hesitation," I muttered, and the color drained from her face.
Her eyes widened when she looked down at my clenched fist.
“What? You can do that if you want," She snapped.
I laughed at the fear dripping in her voice.
“You scared puppy, I wonder how miserable your home is for you to resort to taunting women better than you,” I muttered.
Anger flashed across her eyes, she she scoffed loudly, twitching up her lips in irritation.
“Better than me? You don't even have half of the things I have,” She scoffed.
“What’s that? Children? Your children don't even love you anymore. They don't see you as their mother because you don't give a fuck about them. If being seen as a stranger by your children is what a mother is, then I decline the offer to be one,” I said and pushed her back. She staggered back and gasped loudly, her eyes wide as saucers.
“How dare you!" She hissed.
I took a step toward her again, and she staggered back in fear.
“You know that's true. I hope my brother gets freed from you soon, the same way I got free from that scumbag and this snake," I said and waved my hand at Erica, who stood smiling behind her. The smile on her face faded, and she frowned.
“What? How dare you compare me to your cunning–" she stopped when she realized that Erica was right behind her.
I grinned, knowing that I had instigated a clash between them.
“Cunning? Me?" Erica gasped, stomping her feet on the ground while glaring at Stella.
"It's not what you think,” she tried to explain, but Erica hissed at her, threw me a glare, and disappeared from their circle.
"Oh, you lost your antenatal best friend,” I mocked.
Stella cursed at me and tried to grab my hair, but I gripped her hand and yanked her around, earning a wince of pain from her.
Thankfully, the guest all had their attention on the MC, and aside from the women there, no one knew what was going on.
I twisted her hand more, and she cried out in agony.
“Look here, you should try to mind your business and leave me out of your bitterness. The next time you try to mess with me, I'll make sure you're never able to have a place in my family,” I muttered, and the women around her gasped in shock and fear.
I let go of her, and she dropped to the ground, wincing as she nursed her wrist.
“Try to learn how to be a good wife like Rose, who knows what my poor brother is going through all in the name of being your husband," I muttered, and she sprang up, glaring hatefully at me.
My eyes shifted to Margaret, and she staggered back, avoiding my eyes.
I wiped away the stain of my lipstick on Stella's dress and smiled at her before walking away.
The smile on my face faded as I walked into the corridor that led to the bathroom.
“That bitch! It's been a long time since I put her in her place,” I spat as I marched into one of the restrooms.
I turned the tap on and washed my hands, letting the cold water that ran down my hands calm me down.
As I leaned on the sink with my eyes closed, a creepy, familiar knock on the door pierced my heart.
My eyes flew open, and I spun around, only to find the shadow of someone outside the door.
The hairs on my skin sprang up, and I covered my mouth with my hand. It was him! He was back to hunt me.
I parted my lips to ask who was at the door, but slammed them shut and began to creep to the door noiselessly.
A familiar card was slipped into the restroom from beneath the door, and my stomach knotted in horror, confirming my suspicion.
I quickly grabbed the knob while he was still there, pulled the door open, then grabbed his hand, pushing him to the wall.
“Bastard, your cup is filled up–" I paused, and a gasp escaped my lips.
“Simon?" I whispered in horror, and he paled.