Chapter 50 Secret instintcs
Birdy’s body trembled as she moved to the haunting rhythm of “Metropolitan” by Metro Station, her feet twisting and twirling in a frantic dance. The music pulsed through the dimly lit room, echoing her swirling thoughts and turbulent heart. Her hands clutched at her chest, her eyes wide with a mixture of confusion, fear, and longing. Victor held her close, trying to anchor her in the moment, his own face tense with uncertainty.
Suddenly, the door swung open with a creak, and in staggered Odette, her cheeks flushed with wine, her steps unsteady. Sammy, the family’s loyal driver, trailed behind her, also visibly intoxicated. Both of them reeked of alcohol, their laughter loud and unrestrained.
Odette staggered forward, her eyes gleaming with mischief and something darker. Without warning, she leaned in and pressed a drunken kiss to Victor’s cheek, then turned to Birdy with a smirk. “Oh, sweetie,” Odette slurred, “you should see your father when he’s drunk. He’s quite a character.” Her voice was thick with affection—and something more sinister.
Birdy’s face hardened as she faced her mother, her fists clenched. “Mom, what are you doing?” she demanded, her voice trembling but firm. “This isn’t like you.”
Odette giggled and took another sip from her glass, waving dismissively. “Relax, Birdy. We’re just having fun. You should loosen up, darling.” Her eyes flicked over to Sammy and back to Birdy, a mischievous sparkle in her gaze.
Victor, sensing the rising tension, stepped between them, his voice calm but firm. “Odette, maybe you’ve had enough. Let’s not make a scene.”
Odette pouted, then suddenly leaned in and planted a drunken, lingering kiss on Victor’s lips, her hands wandering playfully. Sammy chuckled, trying to hide his amusement, while Birdy looked away, her stomach twisting.
“Mom, stop,” Birdy whispered, her voice breaking. “This isn’t right.”
Odette finally straightened, her face a mixture of drunken bravado and hidden pain. She looked at Birdy and Victor, then burst into a loud, unrestrained laugh. “Oh, darling,” she slurred, “you’re so serious. Life’s too short to be all about rules. Sometimes, you have to just live a little.”
Victor gently took Odette’s arm to steady her, guiding her toward the sofa. “Odette, come on. Let’s sit down. You need water, not more wine.”
Odette leaned into him, her eyes closing for a moment. Sammy helped her sit, and the room fell into an uneasy silence, broken only by Odette’s drunken giggles.
Birdy looked at her mother, a mixture of heartbreak and resolve in her eyes. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. Victor reached out and took her hand, offering silent support.
“Mom,” Birdy said softly, “we need to talk. When you’re sober. This isn’t the woman I know.”
Odette opened her eyes, blinking slowly. “Birdy, sweetheart,” she slurred, “I’m still here. Just… a little lost tonight.”
Victor gently pulled Birdy closer. “Let’s get her some water. And maybe some rest. We’ll talk more in the morning.”
As Sammy helped Odette settle onto the sofa, Birdy looked at Victor, her heart pounding. The shadows of the night had revealed more than she expected—secrets lurking beneath the surface of her family’s facade. But for now, she held onto Victor, seeking comfort in his presence amid the chaos.
Birdy’s body trembled as she moved to the haunting rhythm of “Metropolitan” by Metro Station, her feet twisting and twirling in a frantic dance. The music pulsed through the dimly lit room, echoing her swirling thoughts and turbulent heart. Her hands clutched at her chest, her eyes wide with a mixture of confusion, fear, and longing. Victor held her close, trying to anchor her in the moment, his own face tense with uncertainty.
Suddenly, the door swung open with a creak, and in staggered Odette, her cheeks flushed with wine, her steps unsteady. Sammy, the family’s loyal driver, trailed behind her, also visibly intoxicated. Both of them reeked of alcohol, their laughter loud and unrestrained.
Odette staggered forward, her eyes gleaming with mischief and something darker. Without warning, she leaned in and pressed a drunken kiss to Victor’s cheek, then turned to Birdy with a smirk. “Oh, sweetie,” Odette slurred, “you should see your father when he’s drunk. He’s quite a character.” Her voice was thick with affection—and something more sinister.
Birdy’s face hardened as she faced her mother, her fists clenched. “Mom, what are you doing?” she demanded, her voice trembling but firm. “This isn’t like you.”
Odette giggled and took another sip from her glass, waving dismissively. “Relax, Birdy. We’re just having fun. You should loosen up, darling.” Her eyes flicked over to Sammy and back to Birdy, a mischievous sparkle in her gaze.
Victor, sensing the rising tension, stepped between them, his voice calm but firm. “Odette, maybe you’ve had enough. Let’s not make a scene.”
Odette pouted, then suddenly leaned in and planted a drunken, lingering kiss on Victor’s lips, her hands wandering playfully. Sammy chuckled, trying to hide his amusement, while Birdy looked away, her stomach twisting.
“Mom, stop,” Birdy whispered, her voice breaking. “This isn’t right.”
Odette finally straightened, her face a mixture of drunken bravado and hidden pain. She looked at Birdy and Victor, then burst into a loud, unrestrained laugh. “Oh, darling,” she slurred, “you’re so serious. Life’s too short to be all about rules. Sometimes, you have to just live a little.”
Victor gently took Odette’s arm to steady her, guiding her toward the sofa. “Odette, come on. Let’s sit down. You need water, not more wine.”
Odette leaned into him, her eyes closing for a moment. Sammy helped her sit, and the room fell into an uneasy silence, broken only by Odette’s drunken giggles.
Birdy looked at her mother, a mixture of heartbreak and resolve in her eyes. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. Victor reached out and took her hand, offering silent support.
“Mom,” Birdy said softly, “we need to talk. When you’re sober. This isn’t the woman I know.”
Odette opened her eyes, blinking slowly. “Birdy, sweetheart,” she slurred, “I’m still here. Just… a little lost tonight.”
Victor gently pulled Birdy closer. “Let’s get her some water. And maybe some rest. We’ll talk more in the morning.”
As Sammy helped Odette settle onto the sofa, Birdy looked at Victor, her heart pounding. The shadows of the night had revealed more than she expected—secrets lurking beneath the surface of her family’s facade. But for now, she held onto Victor, seeking comfort in his presence amid the chaos.