Chapter 32 Favorite flower
VICTORIA
“Black roses?" I whispered in horror, and his eyes darted to the bouquet in his hand.
“Yes, black roses. Isn't that your mom's favorite?" He said, and my throat ran dry.
"My mom's favorite? Who told you that?" I almost screamed at him. His eyes darkened, and he took a step back, his hand dropping to his side.
Rage, fear, and panic filled my body and clouded my mind, so I didn't think twice before grabbing his collar.
“Who told you that?" I growled at his face with tears almost blurring my vision.
His jaw dropped in shock, and confusion swept past his eyes.
“Victoria, what the hell are you doing?" Michael snapped from where he stood.
He paused and jerked my head to the side. More horror hit me when I found the eyes of the entire family on me. The expression on their faces made the hairs on my skin stand up. I was being attacked with anger, disappointment, and disgust from every side.
I gulped hard and let go of Mr Thompson's collar, then grabbed the bouquet and hid it behind me.
“Nothing!" I blurted out and began to stagger back.
“I… I forgot something in the car,” I stuttered and spun around, running off with the bouquet hidden from their sight.
I dropped to my knees and clutched my burning belly while the cursed bouquet of black roses lay before me.
I glared at the bouquet, trying so hard to stop the tears stinging my eyes from slipping out like it wanted. I took a deep breath and cursed in pain as his reply echoed in my head.
No one knew this was my mom's favorite rose aside from my dad and me. Of course, and the man who haunted her when she was still alive. The same man who still haunted her even in death.
This was always his present on every one of her birthdays…
I wanted to stop thinking about it all, but those words kept appearing before my eyes, not just in letters, but in blood.
“Why did you do that?" Mr Thompson's voice came up, and my eyes pulled open. I slowly got up and turned to face him, my face red and puffy from the pain and tears.
He didn't seem fazed, nor did the care he had in his eyes a few minutes ago return when he saw the tears.
I didn't expect it to, not after what I had done to him in front of the entire family.
“I'm sorry," I whispered, my head lowered in guilt.
"That wasn't what I asked, is it?" He replied. His voice dripped with anger as he spoke.
“The man I chased after, he…” I sighed and looked up.
My heart clenched when I noticed that some of my family members were walking towards the gate.
“Unlock your car, please," I pleaded.
He glanced back and understood why I was panicking, then turned to face me.
“I still need an explanation," he muttered, and my jaw dropped.
I glanced at the gate, and my legs began to wobble when I saw someone grab the handle.
“I promise to explain later!" I gripped Mr Thompson's arms as I spoke.
“I can't let my family see this flower!” I pleaded.
He sighed and took out his car key, then pressed the unlock button.
I quickly pulled the door open and dumped the bouquet into the car, then slammed the door shut.
“Victoria," I froze when my father called.
"Victoria, turn around!” He groused in anger.
I bit my lips and slowly turned around to face him.
He sighed loudly, disappointment bouncing in his eyes as he glared at me.
“We've always had your mother's remembrance without any chaos, but you came back…”
My heart clenched, and pain shot through my body when my father paused.
I knew exactly what he wanted to say. I was always the one who caused chaos and trouble. I was always the one who ruined everything.
He sighed and threw his head in Mr Thomson's direction.
“Mr Thompson, please, come in and pay your respect before we leave,” he said and waved his hand towards the graveyard.
I glanced up at Mr Thompson and our eyes locked, but he looked away immediately and followed my father into the graveyard.
I sighed loudly and brushed my hair back, then stared at the rose in the car before walking into the graveyard.
I could feel the eyes of everyone on me as I walked down to my mom's tombstone.
My blood froze, and my mind ceased functioning as I stared at her name engraved on the stone.
Tears gathered in my eyes, and my lips trembled in anger and agony. I hated myself. I hated myself so much for not being able to catch that man.
I would have helped my mother achieve her wishes. I would have granted my mother's unspoken request.
Some of the family members were beginning to leave, but I didn't care. All that was on my mind, which had begun working, was my mom and that man.
“Victoria," Connor called, and I turned.
He pushed the flower I bought towards me.
I muttered a thank you and took the flowers, then waited for him to leave with Mr Thompson before I dropped to the ground.
The graveyard was empty now, with just me and my mom left to speak in solitude.
I sighed loudly and dropped the flower on her grave, then wiped the tears that slid down my cheek.
“Mom… I'm sorry that I acted dramatically today, but I couldn't help it,” I began to speak in a shaking voice.
I took a deep breath and reached out to wipe the speck of dust that must have escaped my father's wipe.
“I saw him. The man you wrote about in your diary was here again, and I almost caught him. I didn't succeed today, but I'll definitely succeed another time. All I need is his face, and I'll fish him out and kill him myself. I will torment him more than he tormented you. I will make him wish for death until he finds it,” I seethed.
“I will fulfill all your requests one by one. Everyone of them will be fulfilled, I promise," I muttered.
After sitting there for some minutes and letting the cool breeze of the graveyard caress my skin, I stood up and walked out of the graveyard.
Some people were still outside the graveyard, chatting when I came out.
I avoided all the stares directed at me and headed to Connor's car, but froze when I saw Stella already sitting inside, a smirk on her face.
“You have a wound on your knee, yet you didn't catch the criminal you were after," she laughed, and my fist clenched.
She leaned out of the window, her smirk widening.
“Sometimes, you need to forget about work and focus on your family. You disappointed a whole lot of people,” she muttered.
If only the fool knows…
I took a deep breath and turned around, refraining from talking back at her.
“Vicky–"
“Don't worry, I'll stay with Father," I cut Connor off when he came up behind me.
“Father is gone with Aunt and his brothers," he muttered.
I sighed and ruffled my hair, scanning the rest of my cousins who littered around the place.
I wasn't close to any of them, and after what happened, I didn't have the face to meet and chat with them.
“You can stay in the back –"
“She'll stay with me," Mr Thompson's voice came up from behind, and my belly knotted.
I slowly turned around and faced him.
My lips parted and slammed shut, and my face reddened in embarrassment and guilt.
“Come on, everyone is leaving,” he waved his hand to his car.
I gulped hard. I trailed after him into the car, avoiding taking a glance at the bouquet in the backseat.
Mr Thompson drove off to my house, barely sparing me a glance as he drove.
After letting the silence linger for half of the ride, I broke it.
“Who told you that black roses are my mom's favorite?" I asked.
“A man at the flower shop," he muttered, and my heart skipped a beat.
“Who?" I gasped.
“He didn't tell me his name, he only told me your mother's name," he muttered, his eyes still fixed on the road.
“Did you see his face?" I asked, and he slowed down, then finally looked at me.
His face was cold, and anger still flared around his eyes.
"Yes, I did. I saw his face.”