I stood in awe of the drama Alicia was pulling off quite well. The sympathy from the maids and other solicited spectators, who had cameras rolling, taking in every action Alicia portrayed. I had to admit that her acting was superb, and believe it or not it was Oscar worthy.
She threw her hair to the side as she wiped her tears, taking Jeanette hands before adding, "This is my trustworthy friend who has stood with me all through this trying time" hugging Jeanette she went further to add, "Thank you for being there for me"
Wasn't it today that I heard Beatriz and her discussing her return? Then how the hell is she back this soon? I really don't like this one bit.
"Welcome back dear" Beatriz came out to hug her and kissed her forehead. "Regardless of the situation, you will forever be the daughter of this family and for that we the entire Prince family shall host a special homecoming event for you in three days time, first let get you settled" she ordered one of the bodyguards standing guard beside her to help with Alicia and Jeanette luggages.
The cameraman and reporter followed them into the mansion, even up to Alicia's old room. She paused there as she cried again, seeing her wedding gown still hung on display--- I looked into her room when I made my return and there was no wedding gown in it like it was displayed today.
"This bring back memories, I want to be alone for some time" she sat on the bed after ordering everyone to leave. I stood at her room door when everyone had left. "I already said you all should...." She paused when she saw me leg crossed at the door, I waved at her and she raised a brow.
Closing the door, I went closer to her. "Aren't you supposed to be crying or is it that you've cried so much your eye hole is all dried up, anyways I could get water to help wet them.... I mean they must be expecting a grand ending to this your lovely show"
Alicia laughed before her face got serious, "I see you already had your tongue sharpened up now that you are with a child..."
"With a child? Come on Alicia I know you meant Damon's child, look it's growing" I said showing off belly even though there was no bump yet. From her facial expression I could see her burning up inside but she hid it with a smile, she must be pained that I achieved what she couldn't in two and a half years of being close to Damon not that now it is something worth being proud of, "Get your facts right" I said smiling.
"Pardon my mistake" she got up and walked towards me, "You are carrying Damon's child, please accept my congratulations in due respect to your child..." Moving closer to my ear she whispered, "Just watch your mouth from now on when you are around, annony me and I might pull a stunt that will not only end your life but his...." She pointed my belly before laughing, "Where are my wipes?" She took the crumpled up tissue from the bed before adding, "Time to end this show and let the real one start, don't you agree with me?" She didn't wait for me to reply as she tapped my shoulders before leaving.
I was a bit dumfounded at her response as I tried to recover by telling myself Alicia won't dare to hurt my child, she couldn't even harm Liliana and was a little happy when she was born but all things went sour when Elizabeth came back. As of this point things were different, the wedding blows Alicia had received this past few years would've made her want to destry anybody that was in her path and that includes me.
If she loathes me this much then there is a tendency my unborn baby was already made an enemy but for me right now backing out wasn't an option. I will face her till the very end, even if she turns to the devil himself.
I stepped outside to see another performance worthy of recognition, only that the spotlight wasn't on Alicia but on Damon. As he returned, there was this frown on his face when he saw that his mansion was now a stage for a melodramatic monologue movie, where Alicia was the main cast starring in her own movie called, "The great Performance".
Normally I know Alicia would've been dying to throw her hands around him but I saw as she restrained herself from going close to him, she did say she wasn't here for love but for her business with Beatriz.
"What's going on here?" Damon inquired as he took off his coat and gave it to the maid, looking at his mother he dragged her to the side and they spoke for sometime and for a reason unknown to me, Damon flared up Immediately.
"You made that surrogate return back, so tell me why can't Alicia return?" Beatriz said aloud with caught the attention of others that weren't aware they were arguing.
Taking a brief look around, his eyes fell on me and then for a minute we both stared at each other before he turned away to say something to his mother, then taking a flight upstairs to where I was. "Do you have a minute?" He asked and I said yes, there was nothing I was doing and we did have to talk about the kiss we both shared, I can't lie to myself that I wasn't starting to feel again because I was so much it hurts.
I want to be close to him, each day I wished things could be different between us but as days passes it only got harder.
We had our conversation in his room. He unbutton his jacket and pulled down his tie that was nutted to the neck. Holding both my upper arm, Damon stared into my eyes as he wanted me to believe what he said next, he said, "I want you to know that I had nothing to do with Alicia returning, she is...."
"You don't have to explain to me, save it for Elizabeth" I said calmly, taking away his hands from my arm. "If this is all you had to say then I guess I should take my leave before your wife return"
" Wife? Are you referring to Elizabeth?"
" Who else? Or are you married to someone else that none of us are aware of "
"I am yet to renew my vows, Liliana I have been stalling, do you think I would want to go on ahead with a loveless marriage when I feel something....."
"You feel something... Damon what you feel is it love or do you want to mock me again, I mean you already acclaimed at the vineyard that I was greedy and was only with you because I felt pity for you, have you now realize that everything I gave you was nothing but love..... Damon at that period my mom had died, rather than mourning her properly I fled away with you only to get my heart broken again in a span of two weeks" I grabbed his shirt collar, gripping on it strongly, I added "What the hell do you want from me?" I asked to his face, hitting my hand on his chest.
"Marry me" he said abruptly with no sign of emotion on his face, like it was a command.
I became confused and dumbstruck at his proposal to me, tears rolling, there were several questions that ran through my head and all of them boiled down to the fact that he wasn't being sincere.
Having no response to give him, I reached out for the door but then he caught my arm and Immediately knelt on one knee. "I know this is soon and I personally didn't even know if I wanted to do this until I passed a jewelry store on my way to meet you at the hospital" he took a pause, as he brought out a box shaped case which probably had a ring in it, sighing he added, "Three weeks was enough to tell me that I couldn't live without you, I hate myself for letting you go...." He breathed out.
I stood there hoping that this was all real and if indeed he does pop the question what will my answer be....
Opening the case to show off a dazzling, shiny, extravagant, elegant.... above all it was a ring. This was all real but why am I so scared.
"This wasn't how I wanted the proposal to go about, I hope you forgive me... It's my first time" he admitted before continuing, "Priscilla Liliana Castillo, will you marry me?" He popped the question and it felt like my heart stopped breathing, infact the whole world held it's breathe as it waited for my response.
I allowed him wait on my response for another thirty seconds before I said "Yes", there was this look of joy on his face as he slide the ring on my finger, I helped him up as he moved to kiss but I tilted my head to the side and then it fell on my cheeks.
I was happy the moment the ring came on my finger, only then I had remembered his mother had my mum killed and all I could think of was to hurt him. I left him staring as I went to the window and lifted my finger to it as the ring shone brightly through the sunlight dashing into the room.
"How much does it worth?" I asked looking at it on my finger from different angles.
"Does it matter?" He asked and I nodded, "Twenty million" he went on to reply despite being shock.
"What currency? Is it dollars... Euros... Pounds... Yen... Won... Naira, which is it?" I turned to him to see that he was getting disgusted by my reaction, which is what I want. "Come on, don't keep me waiting, one of these currencies are stronger than the other so which of which are my worth to you? You got me a twenty million dollars ring, that reminds me isn't it the same amount Beatriz used to send Rachel away or are my wrong"
"Why are you doing this?"
"Why? The problem is I am not greedy and am not interested in you" I took off the ring from my left ring finger and threw it on the floor, "Go find someone who fit in that description, not me" I walked out of the room leaving him crushed, I was able to still myself from crying until I was in my room and it was firmly locked in before I cried my eyes out.
It was painful but then again there is nothing I can do. I want a revenge and he was an obstruction. It was hard... Believe me it was really hard, even now I just couldn't stop crying, I wondered if I had made a rash decision without thinking of the consequence.
For the next couple of days I just wasn't myself, I didn't even have the appetite to eat nor did I skip my meals, even though I didn't want to someone in me needs it. Ever since I rejected him, Damon had left the mansion and hasn't returned though was in touch with everyone except from me.
Link had been the one who uplifted my soul, he was a funny guy and nice too, though I was getting close to him to see if I could get a glimpse of his handwriting to see if it correlate with the one on the note.
We've had a great relationship so far.
I got up from my bed to open the door to Jeanette who had been knocking non-stop, what came out from her mouth was nothing but grim news as she teared up, "The lawyers are here.... We just got a news" she bit her lip as she let out, "Damon is dead"