Chapter 24

<Victoria Grayson>

It's been 3 days since I walked out on Gavin and told him to move on. When I was sitting out in front of his apartment I honestly didn't think that's how the night would end.

I thought Carter had been lying about it, as he usually does about everything, but when Gavin told me that it was true, I didn't know what to do or how to react. I just went numb and my brain couldn't comprehend the rest of the conversation.

I've been holed up in my bedroom for the last 3 days and thankfully, nobody's come to bother me. I just sit in my room and scrutinize every detail of the night I left him.

I remember how he every chance he got, he told me that he was never going to go through with it and that he loved me too much to ever take my life from me. I want to believe him and deep down in my heart I think I do but there's still the fact that he lied to me about being assigned to kill me. More tears well up in my eyes as it think about everything he'd told me.

I believe he loves me and I believe that he would never have gone through with killing me but with everything else that was going on in my life, how could he not tell me that he was in on the plot to murder me, especially since there'd already been an attempt on my life? My phone dings and I pick it up as a distraction from my thoughts. It's another text from Gavin.

He's been sending me the same message all weekend. He tells me he's sorry and that he loves me. My part in this back and forth is kindly not responding because see if I respond then he'll think I've forgiven him and that's something I just can't do. Every time I come close to forgiving him, I remember the things he kept from me and I think that I'm doing the right thing by ignoring him.

I push back my covers and go open up the shade. Sunlight pours into my room and I feel my mood instantly lift. I brush the hair out of my eyes and stare at my reflection in the mirror on my vanity.

I look like crap in all honesty. My eyes are red and puffy from crying and there are bags under them the size of Texas. My hair hasn't been washed in a few days and I'm pretty sure I've lived in the same pair of sweatpants since the morning I came home. I decide I need to freshen up so I head off to my bathroom to shower.

I turn the faucet all the way on hot and I strip out of my dirty outfit. I slip under the faucet and run my fingers through my hair. Thoughts of Gavin come back to my mind as I wash myself. I mean he's an assassin and with all the opportunity he had, why didn't he just kill me? We were alone for weeks together yet it never crossed his mind to kill me.

Shouldn't that tell me something?

That night I could see the pain behind his eyes. He looked at me like he knew he'd screwed everything up. Everything he said that night sounded sincere. It was almost like it was before. Even when I was seething mad at him that night, I felt like every word he said was the truth.

That night, I would've been crazy to accept his apology. He lied to me and he didn't deserve me giving into him just like that. However, now that I've thought over it, maybe forgiving him isn't that crazy.

He was assigned to murder you...Forgiving him would be like forgiving the plague for wiping out half of Europe.

I finish washing my hair and turn off the faucet. I grab a towel and dry myself off fast before rushing into my room to get some clothes. I pull on a pair of jeans and a frumpy sweater I'm pretty sure my grandmother knitted for me. I comb my hair and zip up my leather boots. I grab my phone and car keys before opening my bedroom door. I walk down the stairs practically 2 at a time and artfully avoid my parents who are having a serious conversation at the breakfast table.

"Don't forget your rehearsal dinner tonight!" My mother shouts without looking away from my father.

Damn it, is that really tonight?

"Love you!" I shout back and rush out of the house.

I slam the front door and wave to the policemen my dad assigned to guard the house. There are at least 5 police cars parked in front of the house and at least a dozen more around back. There are 2 policemen for every entrance into the house and a few lining the perimeter. This is my dad's way of protecting me from whoever tried to murder. Sadly for him, the person who tried to murder me is welcome in his house and is allowed to kiss his daughter. Thankfully, said person has been getting wasted all weekend and hasn't come home.

Maybe he'll forget about the rehearsal dinner and I can finally convince my parents to let me out of the engagement.

"Ms. Grayson, where do you think you're going?" One of the policemen standing by the front door says with a smile.

"I need to get out of that house. I promise I'll be back in like an hour." I plead with a slight pout.

They're technically not supposed to let me leave the property but they've let it slide multiple times, it just usually takes some convincing on my part.

"This isn't some stint to get out of your rehearsal dinner plans, is it?" The policeman gives me a knowing look.

"I'm going to be spending enough time around my parents tonight. I just need to get out of the house for a little while." I chuckle as I walk backwards towards my car.

"Okay, sweetheart, just be back in one hour." The policeman waves to me as I unlock my car.

I slip into the driver's seat and drive away as fast as I can from my parent's house. I continue driving until my muscle memory brings me back to Gavin's apartment building. I pull the key out of my ignition and sit silently in the front seat, not moving and barely breathing.

What the hell am I doing here?

I look out at the half full parking lot and realize that maybe, somewhere deep in my soul, I want to find a way to work things out with Gavin. I want him and only him, despite everything that he's done. I know he was being sincere when he said that he was not going to go through with it. I could see the fierce look in his eyes, almost like he wanted me to believe him more than he's ever wanted anything. I know I'm being stupid but I love him and I wouldn't've spent 3 days crying over leaving him if I didn't.

He deserves a second chance. I doubt anyone in their right mind would give their almost assassin a second chance but love makes people insane. I sit quietly and close my eyes, trying to make my final decision. If I sit really still and clear my mind, I can almost feel his arms around me and his lips on my cheek. That's how I know that I'm in the right place, about to do the right thing for once because leaving him was the biggest mistake I think I've made up until now.

~~~~~

I press the elevator button for the 3rd floor and the doors close with a slight groan. They open again within a few seconds and I walk down the hallway towards his apartment. I take a deep breath and close my eyes when I reach it.

With my eyes closed, I knock a few times on the door. I wait for the door to open so, I can fall into his arms but it never does. I knock again thinking he can't hear me and when he doesn't answer, tears begin to fall again. I hear the door next to me open and an old man comes out of the apartment next door.

"Sweetheart, I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this but Mr. Forrester skipped town about 3 days ago." The old man pats my shoulder and then pulls his overcoat tighter as he walks down the hallway.

I race down the hallway towards him and we both reach the elevator at the same time.

"Was he carrying a bag or anything?" I ask, trying to control the cracking in my voice.

"Yes, he looked like he only had enough stuff for a few days though so, I don't think he moved away or anything. You two were having quite a screaming match last night, what was going on?" The old man chuckles as he steps into the elevator with me following close behind.

"He kept something from me that was extremely important. I got really mad and broke up with him even though he probably didn't deserve it as much as I thought he did." I don't know why I'm admitting things like this to a stranger who probably couldn't care less.

"Do you believe in your heart that you made the right decision leaving him?" The old man says in a thoughtful tone.

His question catches me completely off guard.

"I mean you probably don't since you came back here for him." A smile breaks across his face and I realize something.

There is a reason I came back here and that reason is because no matter how hard I try to stay away from him, I love him too much to give him up. I hate him, I'm mad at him but no matter what I do, I can't help but love him. I came back here, not because I wanted to, but because I needed to, because I needed him.

The doors open and we both step out. I thank him and shake his hand. He smiles, tips his hat and then walks off towards his car. I walk off towards mine and slip inside. I turn the key in the ignition and feel a smile spread across my face. Forgiving Gavin is stupid and apparently so am I because that's exactly what I plan to do.

~~~~~

I drive home and the cops have switched out so, there are 2 new policemen guarding the front door. I greet them as I park and walk up to my front door. I unlock it and almost run into my dad, who looks to be on his way out.

"Hey, baby girl...I'll be back in time for the rehearsal dinner, something just came up at work." My dad kisses my forehead and walks out the door before I can say anything.

I shrug as I walk into the kitchen where my mom is seated. She looks up and gives me a smile.

"Hey, Victoria...You have a few hours until we need to get to the hotel for your dinner." Her eyes light up as she thinks about my wedding.

Funny how she's more excited than I am...

"Yay...I'm so excited!" I roll my eyes sarcastically and sit down at the breakfast table.

"What's wrong? Aren't you excited to marry Carter?" My mom pats my hand and tilts her head in confusion.

Gosh she's so delusional...

"I'm about as excited as a deer during hunting season...in an open field." I narrow my eyes and look away from her.

"I know you think I'm forcing you to marry him but I just want you to be happy and well taken care of..."

"Mom, he was videotaping me, everything I was doing for months and you made me go back to him...I'm scared of him, I don't want to spend the rest of my life with him..." I stand up, my tears spilling over onto my cheeks.

"Sweetheart, don't get cold feet now. You'll feel better once you go through with it." My mom tries to pat my hand but I move away too fast.

"He's the one who stabbed me in the alleyway." I shout, surprising even myself.

"The policemen never found the weapon or who did it..." My mom narrows her eyes and stands up.

"When I was in the hospital, he came in to visit me and he told me that he stabbed me and wasn't sorry about it...He said he was only sorry that I lived." I pound my fist on the table and walk out of the room without letting my mother respond.

"Victoria, you were on like 6 different drugs, sweetheart...You probably dreamed it up."

"I can't believe you just said that to me! You are so damn obsessed with money and prestige that you don't even care that your daughter's own fiancée tried to murder her. I know what I heard and you better damn well hope that I show up at the altar tomorrow because right now I'm thinking running away is my better option." I glare at her and then stomp up the stairs to my room where the dress I'm wearing tonight is already set out on my bed.

Tears continue to sting my cheeks with hot anger as I stare at the dress. I throw it across the room and collapse onto my bed. I really need Gavin right now. I need someone who understands how terrible Carter is and agrees with me that I need to leave him. I need to feel the arms of someone who loves me and I need someone who will listen and comfort me when I need it most.

Gavin, why did I ever walk out on you?

~~~~~

It's about an hour before my rehearsal dinner is set to begin. I roll my eyes and get up off my bed, walking unwillingly towards my vanity. I plug in my curling iron and set out some makeup so I look at least presentable.

I apply some light foundation and then put on a light eye shadow. I line my eyes and put on some thickening mascara. My curling iron is still warming up so I decide to put on my dress.

I pick it up from where it's still lying in a heap on the floor. It's an annoying dress in an absolutely appalling color. It's what I lovingly refer to as puke green. My mom, however, refers to it as Chartreuse. I still think, no matter what the name is, it's vomit inducing.

I slip it on and stare at myself in the mirror. I honestly look like a yellow Gatorade bottle. It's mid-thigh length, tight and is made of this grandmother style lace. There are long sleeves to cover all the bruises Carter gave me however the dress lies a bit off my shoulders so the few bruises on my back are revealed.

I put on a diamond necklace and slip my engagement onto my finger. With my curling iron finally warm, I begin to twist my hair around it until my hair has transformed from straight and limp to voluminous ringlets. I pin back a few in the front and apply some red lipstick before I grab my phone to check the time.

30 minutes 'till hell...

I slip into a pair of lilac heels and walk downstairs to see my mother correcting my dad's bow tie for him. They look so in love and something inside of my heart breaks because I know I'll never have moments like that if I say 'I do' tomorrow. I brush a curl that I didn't pin back out of my face and finish walking down the stairs. My mom smiles and mouths her thanks that I decided to actually go through with everything.

It's not like I have much choice...

"You look beautiful, baby girl." My dad kisses my forehead and offers me his arm.

I take it and don't even look back at my mother because I'm still mad at her. My dad leads me out to his car and I slip into shotgun. He slips into the driver's seat and my mom comes around to my side.

She kisses my forehead and then says that she is going to let us ride alone over to the hotel where my dinner is. I watch her walk over to a dark truck and get inside. I catch a glimpse of a man in dark sunglasses sitting in the driver's seat before the car drives off.

"You ready, Victoria?" My dad pats my leg as he backs out of the driveway.

A few police cars follow behind us and I roll my eyes.

"Dad, what's your opinion of Carter?" I ask, turning away from the police escort and facing him.

"Are you not as enamored with him as your mother seems to be?" he chuckles and keeps his eyes on the road.

"Dad, he installed cameras in my apartment and mom still forced me to go back to him. There is nothing I loathe more than Carter Jacobson." I cross my arms and wait for his response.

"Let's just say I can see his true self more than your mother seems able to. I don't like that my little girl is going to be spending the rest of her life with a drunk ass like him but there's not much we can now. I honestly would much rather us pawn your engagement ring and use the money to get away from this corrupt town but your mother is all bent up on you marrying someone rich so you'll be taken care of. I've tried my hardest to convince her that there's a better person out there for you but you can see how far my logic got with her."

He gives me a sad look as we pull into the parking lot of some fancy hotel whose name I've forgotten.

"What would you do if I told you I wanted to run away from the wedding?" I ask in a serious tone.

"I'd hand you the car keys." My dad's downturned lips become a smirk as he takes the keys out of the ignition for the valet.

"Thanks, daddy...Now hand me the car keys." I wink and hold out my hand.

"At least stay for the dinner since we're paying for quality food." My dad grabs my hand and rubs comforting circles over the top of it. "I'll get you through this, baby, that's a promise."

I nod and get out of the car, taking his arm as we walk into the lobby of the hotel.