Chapter 52 Shattered Illusions

Chapter 52 Shattered Illusions
Elena

The mansion had become a lot quieter these past few days. Alexander hadn’t spoken to me since the confrontation. He had not said a word or even a glance at me. Matter of fact, I haven't really seen him. 

He left early in the mornings, way before I got out of bed, and by the time I came downstairs, the only trace of him was the faint scent of his cologne and the sound of the front gates closing behind his car. 

I didn't want to admit it, but it made me upset. I didn't know why he was avoiding me. 

I could sense that he was upset about something, but I didn't know what it was. And honestly, I wasn't sure if it was about me. 

Maybe it was better this way. It was probably better if we stuck to the contract. 

I stepped out of my room feeling too uneasy. I needed a breath of fresh air. 

I changed into my bodycon swimsuit, threw on a light robe, and decided to use the pool. Maybe the water could clear my head for a while. Riley was still unreachable, and it was beginning to bother me. 

Had Alexander done something to her? Had he paid her off to stay away from me or what? 

I knew Riley loved money, but I'm not sure she was so low as to cut me off because of money. Maybe. 

I stopped out in the backyard and made my way to the pool, but immediately I got there, my breath caught in my throat. 

I could sense a presence. Someone was already there.

Who could it be?
It was probably Alexander. Perhaps he didn't go to work today. Something about seeing him made a part of my heart skip a beat, which made me feel guilty. I cleared my throat and walked to the water. 

My hopes crashed instantly when, instead of seeing Alexander's masculine frame cutting clean strokes across the pool, I saw a lean and feminine figure with confident movements doing so. 

I so badly wanted to believe that it was one of the domestic staff, but as the swimmer reached the edge and rose from the water with droplets cascading down smooth and tanned skin, I froze.

It was her.

Victoria.

I felt uneasy standing there and felt my stomach tighten. 

She looked effortlessly perfect, her wet hair was slicked back, and the diamond studs in her ears kept glinting in the morning sun. Water slides down her body in slow rivulets.

Of all people, what the hell was she doing here?

She spotted me almost immediately and smiled, it was one that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Well,” she said smoothly and pushed herself out of the pool with ease, “if it isn’t the tenant.”

My hands tightened around the edge of my robe. 

“Where’s Alexander?” I asked, trying to sound neutral, but my pulse betrayed me.

She reached for a white towel draped nearby and proceeded to take her time wrapping it around herself. Her movements were slow and deliberate. The bitch was a total show-off.

Frankly, I would be if I had that body.

“Oh, he’s not here,” she said airily. “He’s off on a short business trip,” she said casually. 

Something in my chest sank as I tried not to think too much about the fact that he left on a trip without even a single word to me. But he told Victoria. I guess they were still a thing. 

I swallowed hard and pushed the disappointment down. 

“Right,” I murmured. “Of course.”

She smiled again, then tilted her head slightly as if she was assessing me. 

“You look surprised to see me,” she observed. 

The hell I was, my subconscious rolled her eyes. 

“I am,” I said quietly. “Why are you here, Victoria?”

Her lips twitched into a smirk. She stepped closer, and her perfume filled my nostrils. I almost puked. 

Why the hell could I still perceive her perfume even after she came out of a pool? Was she spraying an air freshener or something?

“Well,” she said, “I suppose you haven’t heard the news.”

“What news?” I asked, frowning. 

She lifted her hand and deliberately brushed wet hair off her face, revealing an enormous diamond ring that was glittering on her finger. The sunlight caught it and sent tiny sparks across the marble tiles.

My heart stopped.

“I’m his fiancée now,” she announced with cruel satisfaction. “Alexander and I are getting married.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I blinked once, trying to process, but all I could do was stare at the ring.

“What are you talking about?" I asked, and she let out a laugh. 

“Oh, darling," she said. “He's mine." 

“I know why you're doing this," I continued, taking a slow step back. “You’re doing this to get under my skin. Because you feel threatened.”

Her expression shifted into one of mock pity. 

“Threatened?” she repeated, feigning disbelief. “By you?”

She let out another soft, disdainful laugh. 

“Oh, Elena. You’re cute, but you’re getting your hopes up, and that’s not healthy for your well… line of work,” she sneered.

My chest tightened. 

“My line of work?” I asked. 

“Surrogacy, of course,” she said sweetly, drawing out the word like it tasted delicious on her tongue.

I stared at her, stunned and unable to form words.

Victoria took her time and walked closer. When she stopped in front of me, she leaned in slightly and lowered her voice.

“Let me give you a piece of advice,” she whispered. “Take the money, finish what you were paid to do, and leave quietly. It’ll save you a lot of embarrassment.”

Something in me snapped. But I didn't say anything, just glared at her, and she let out a cruel smile, realizing

“Isn’t it? That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? To carry his child and be paid off when it’s born,” she continued. 

I could feel my nails digging into my palms. 

“You don’t know anything about me,” I muttered under my breath. 

“Oh, but I know enough,” she said. “Alexander loves me, Elena. Always has. And unlike you, I actually belong in his world.”

“If that’s true, then why are you so desperate to convince me?” I challenged. 

Her smirk faltered for a split second, but she recovered quickly. 

“Desperate? Please,” she said lightly. “I’m just being honest. You’re living in a fantasy if you think he’ll ever choose you.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but she raised a finger, silencing me.

“Do you even know why you’re here?” she asked softly. “Because I refused to get pregnant for him.”

My breath caught, but I remained silent. 

Her smile widened, and she stepped even closer.

“That’s right,” she said with satisfied eyes. “He wanted a child. I wasn’t interested in ruining this body for it.” She gestured down at herself with a proud smirk. “So he found you to do the job,” she continued. 

Her words were hurtful. 

She tilted her head and continued. 

“The baby will be mine, of course. I’ll raise it. Love it. Give it the life it deserves. While you…” she trailed off, letting her gaze sweep over me dismissively. “You’ll be paid off and sent back to whatever hole you crawled out from.”

I felt the blood drain from my face, but I refused to look away.

Victoria smiled wider, like she had just won. 

“So,” she whispered, leaning close enough for me to feel the heat of her breath, “do yourself a favor, sweetheart. Don’t confuse business with love,” she said, and with that, she stepped back with the towel slipping slightly off her shoulders as she walked past me. 

Leaving me standing there and reeling with everything she just said, feeling so shitty and humiliated!