Selena, still maintaining the Olivia persona, strolled through the upscale shopping mall, enjoying the anonymity afforded by the bustling crowds. The carefully constructed façade of Olivia, the wealthy fiancée, felt almost second nature now, but the ever-present tension remained. She was acutely aware of the risks, the potential for exposure. The Birmingham family's influence stretched far and wide, and she knew that even in this seemingly innocuous setting, the danger lurked.
Rounding a corner, she collided with someone, a small gasp escaping her lips as she stumbled back. She looked up to see Valerie, her face contorted in a mask of fury. The carefully crafted composure Selena had cultivated began to crumble. Valerie's eyes blazed with a mixture of hatred and jealousy, her fists clenched at her sides. The unexpected encounter had shattered the illusion of safety, plunging Selena into a sudden, terrifying confrontation.
Before Selena could react, Valerie unleashed a torrent of verbal abuse, her words sharp and venomous. Then, with a horrifying swiftness, Valerie lunged, her nails raking across Selena's arm, drawing blood. The sudden assault, the unexpected violence, left Selena reeling. The carefully constructed Olivia persona shattered, replaced by a raw, primal fear. She found herself trapped in a desperate struggle, her carefully crafted image crumbling around her.
"You… you… slut! You stole him! You stole Ezra!" Valerie started lashing out on Olivia.
"Valerie, stop! What are you doing?" Olivia tries to break herself free from Valerie's tight grip.
"I'll show you what I'm doing! You think you can just waltz into our lives and take everything?" Valerie stated, her voice thick with rage
Valerie pulls Selena's hair, her nails digging into her scalp...
Selena/Olivia started crying out because of the pain.
"Let go of me! Someone help!" she begged other people in the mall to help her.
"You'll pay for this! You'll pay for everything!" Valerie continues to scream at her.
A security guard intervenes, pulling Valerie away from Selena/Olivia. She clutches her arm, her face pale, her carefully constructed composure completely shattered.
"Ma'am, are you alright? Do you need medical attention?" the guard asked her, while looking genuinely concerned.
"I'm alright... I just need to get out of here." Selena/Olivia responded, her voice trembling.
Selena/Olivia her arm all bruised and hurting, her face stained with tears, manages to escape the scene, the shock and humiliation leaving her breathless and shaken. The carefully constructed persona of Olivia is gone, leaving only Selena, vulnerable and exposed...
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A few moments have passed.
Selena is alone in her apartment. She examines her injuries, her emotions a chaotic mix of anger, fear, and profound disappointment.
"Valerie looked like she was possessed by an evil spirit a while ago! She could kill anyone in one snap of a finger!" she unbelievably said to herself.
Selena snapped out from her reverie when she heard soft knocks on the door. She stood up to open the door, and she was taken by a pleasant surprise when she saw Ezra standing at the doorway...
"Ezra! What are you doing here?" she asked him.
"I heard about what happened... How are you feeling?" Ezra immediately asked her.
Ezra stood frozen, his gaze fixed on Selena's face, his breath catching in his throat. The sight of the bruises – angry purple and red discolorations marring her delicate skin – ignited a firestorm of rage within him. He’d seen Selena’s resilience, her composure, her ability to maintain her carefully constructed facade. But the raw, visceral evidence of Valerie’s attack shattered the illusion, revealing the vulnerability beneath.
His heart pounded in his chest, a mixture of fury, protectiveness, and a deep, gnawing fear. He wanted to lash out, to unleash the torrent of anger that threatened to consume him. But he knew he had to control himself, to remain calm, to provide Selena with the support she desperately needed. He had to understand what had happened, to assess the situation, to plan their next move. The attack wasn't just a personal assault; it was a direct threat, a blatant attempt to undermine their carefully laid plans.
Selena looks away, her eyes filled with a mixture of shame and fear.
"Well, it was… an accident. I ran into Valerie at the mall."
"An accident? Those aren't accidental bruises, Selena! What happened? Tell me." Ezra encouraged Selena to speak.
Selena takes a deep breath, recounting the events, her voice trembling at times.
"She… she attacked me. She was furious. She said… she said I stole you."
Ezra's jaw clenched, as he is seething in anger.
"Valerie… that… that vicious little…"
He stops, controlling his anger with a visible effort.
"Are you okay? Do you need medical attention?" Ezra asked another follow-up question.
"Look, I'm fine. Just… shaken. But it's more than just the physical injuries, Ezra. It's... the implications." relayed Selena.
"What implications?" Ezra asked in return.
"It's obviously clear that Victoria and Valerie are dangerous, Ezra. We should really be careful of them." Selena told Ezra what's going on her mind.
"Yeah. I can agree with you on that." Ezra nodded in agreement.
"And that's why we need to think of a new strategy, Ezra. Our original plan won't work anymore." Selena enunciated.
"If that's the case, there's only one thing left to do..." Ezra mysteriously stated.
"What do you have in mind?"
Ezra stared straight into Selena's eyes without even blinking.
"We should get married rightaway."
Selena's eyes widened, and her jaw almost dropped halfway to the floor because of shock...
==============================
The air crackled with unspoken tension, the silence punctuated only by the erratic thump-thump-thump of Selena's heart against her ribs. Ezra's proposal, sprung so unexpectedly, hung between them like a fragile, yet potentially explosive, piece of ordnance. The suggestion, born from a place of both desperate urgency and profound love, was a radical departure from their meticulously planned escape. It was a gamble, a high-stakes bet on a future uncertain, yet undeniably alluring.
Selena's initial shock slowly gave way to a complex mix of emotions: fear, excitement, a dawning realization of the implications of Ezra's impulsive decision. Getting married immediately wasn't part of the plan. It was a drastic measure, a bold stroke that could either solidify their bond and protect them from Victoria's wrath, or irrevocably jeopardize everything they'd worked for. The risks were immense, the potential consequences far-reaching. Yet, in the depths of her apprehension, a spark of exhilaration ignited. Ezra's unwavering faith in her, his willingness to commit himself completely, was a powerful testament to the strength of their connection.