Chapter 9 Back!
VICTORIA
The moment my feet touched the soil of Los Angeles, my breath ceased for a few seconds, and a fresh breath of freedom filled my body.
A smile crept into my face as I stood at the spot, staring as people moved around with their suitcases, searching for their loved ones in the crowd or leaving with a smile on their face to meet them at home.
I gripped the handle of my suitcase and headed to the exit of the airport. Aside from my father, I wasn't sure how my brothers would react if they saw me back.
Ever since my divorce, they haven't said a word to me.
I doubted whether they still cared about my existence. To them, their sister was dead.
I glanced at my wristwatch, sighing loudly. My chauffeur still wasn't here to pick me up.
A car screeched to a stop before me, and I took a step back, glaring at the tinted windows.
The window rolled down, and a head popped out, revealing a familiar face.
My grip around my suitcase's handle tightened, and my jaw dropped in shock.
"Get in!" He said in a hoarse voice, swinging his head to the side.
A smile crept into my face as I walked over to the passenger's side, then slipped in.
Maybe I was wrong about my brothers. Maybe they did care about me.
I stared at Connor in silence, unable to start a proper conversation with my eldest brother.
“You want to say something?" He asked, and my head jerked back when I realized that I had been staring at him for way too long.
“Uhm…thanks for picking me up from the airport,” I muttered, making sure to avoid his eyes that peered curiously at me.
“You've never said thank you whenever I pick you up from the airport," he said.
He was speaking so freely and being his usual self. It felt like nothing had happened in the past between us.
"Well, I was a child then," I said. I wanted to sound free and lively like him, but each time I would end up stuttering on a word.
"And now, you're a stranger," he muttered, and my heart sank.
I swerved my head in his direction and stared at him with widened eyes.
"Stranger?" I scoffed loudly while my heart was crushed at his words.
He chuckled, shook his head, and tore his gaze back to the road ahead as he gripped the wheels tightly.
"Be yourself, Victoria, no one cares about your divorce," he said.
A sigh escaped my lips, and I dropped my head, then began to play with my fingers.
Silence descended on us all through the rest of the ride to my father's villa.
"Father bought a house for you in case you didn't feel like staying in the family mansion," Connor suddenly said as he turned off the ignition.
My brows raised in question, but I said nothing.
I nodded my head and stepped out of the car, asking him, then trailed behind him at a close distance as we headed to the main building.
Nothing had changed about this house, aside from the overwhelming silence and the refreshing feeling that welcomed everyone who stepped into the building.
Perhaps it was only happening to me, the runaway daughter. But studying my brother's blank face, I realized that I wasn't the only one who didn't have that feeling.
Connor gripped the handles of the dark, large oak door and pushed it back.
A nauseous feeling hit me and I almost staggered back at how strong it was. From the lingering, never-fading scent of my mom's favorite air freshener to the lilac curtains that swayed around the living room.
Corneal looked at me and waved his hand before shuffling in, dragging my suitcase behind him. I hesitated for a moment, my fist clenching at the amount of goosebumps that washes across my skin.
"Victoria?" I shuddered as Michael's voice drifted from within the house. If Michael were here, then it meant that my three brothers came around to welcome me home. I was slowly relating to the story of the prodigal son.
I rubbed my shaking hands and dragged my feet into the house. The nausea got stronger and heavier on me as I walked into the room.
The chairs, flower vases, bookshelves, tables, the electrical appliances, and the Persian rugs were just the way they were when I walked out of this house.
Nothing had changed, aside from the faces that stared at me.
I gripped my hand and forced a smile on my face.
"Hello…Everyone," I muttered.
James, my younger brother, got up and padded across the room to meet me.
"I've been waiting like forever, sis. I thought I would never see you again," he whined like he always does, and engulfed his large arms around my body.
My body stiffened, and my arms widened in surprise at how large James had become. It was just a few years ago!
"We all thought the same, son, we all thought the same," my father's voice echoed from the stairs.
I broke the hug and looked up, my lips stretching into a true smile.
"Dad!" I yelled and raced across the room, not minding the eyes that stared at me.
I pounded up the stairs and wrapped my hands around him.
I cried softly as I buried my face into his large chest.
"Are you crying, my dear?" he whispered only to my hearing.
"No," I whispered back and sniffed, then quickly wiped away the tears on my cheeks.
"Come on, we held a little family gathering for your return," father said, chuckling loudly.
I dropped my hand into his and followed him down the stairs.
"I guess you haven't forgotten about your sister-in-laws," Father said, waving at Connor and Michael's wives.
Stella and Rose waved at me, beaming with smiles that could either be real or fake.
My gaze shifted to the third lady sitting on the couch, looking cold as ice.
"Ah, that is James's fiancée," father said, waving at the beautiful, blonde lady I was looking at.
I could tell from her classy choice of clothes that she was the daughter of one of the many tycoons in my father's circle. It would turn out to be a marriage arrangement just like that of Connor.
"You never told me you were engaged, James," I said, and my head shot up, dread darting across his grey eyes.
"Perhaps that was because you never bothered to call home," the lady's sharp tone pierced across the room, and my smile fell.
I never expected her to be that bold on our first meeting.
Her lips stretched into a mischievous smile, and her eyes twinkled.
"What James told me isn't what I'm seeing. It seems like you changed after your divorce, right, James?" She said, glancing at James, who glared at her in return.
My heart clenched in anger, and I felt blood surge through my body in a violent gush. She was worse than Stella.
"Hello, I'm Margaret!" She said and stretched out her hand.
I stared at the heavily jeweled hand, and a smirk appeared on my face. I guessed that she would be a harder nut to crack.
"I am Victoria, your future sister-in-law," I said and clasped my hand in hers.
"I know…" the smile on her face fell, and her eyes widened in horror as she parted her lips and released a wince filled with pain.
I gasped loudly and let go of her hand, my eyes widening.
"I'm… I'm sorry, I didn't mean to squeeze your hand that hard!" I blurted out before she could spit out her accusation.
She glared at me as she nursed her crushed hand.
"Oh, come on, Vicky, you don't have to be that harsh!" Stella snapped.
I spun around and faced her, my brows raising.
"I don't see anything wrong in what I did," I said and looked at Margaret, who was still nursing her hand.
I moved closer to her, and she staggered back, fear bouncing in her eyes. She stopped shifting back when she hit the couch behind her.
I wrapped my hand around her chin and stared confidently into her eyes.
"I was just welcoming her into the Alexander family my own way," I muttered, smiling at her.
From the corner of my eyes, I saw Connor and James smile in pride while Michael, who was trying hard to look upset, smirked.
"Now, Miss Margaret, this was the kind of person James described, right?"