The atmosphere at the office had changed dramatically. Elena's frequent visits were becoming unbearable. She would show up unannounced, often during meetings, and always managed to position herself near Alexander. It was clear that Vivian Blackwood was orchestrating these encounters.
One afternoon, as I was discussing project details with Alexander, Elena walked in. She smiled sweetly, but her presence felt like a calculated move to undermine me.
As Elena walked in, a chill ran down my spine. Her presence was like a dark cloud, casting a shadow over our meeting. I felt Alexander's gaze on me, but I couldn't meet his eyes. I was too busy trying to quell the storm brewing inside me.
Why was she here? Again. Didn't she have anything better to do than to constantly insert herself into our lives? The questions swirled in my mind like a vortex, each one fueling my growing unease. Elena's smile was like a knife, twisting in my gut. She thought she was so charming, so innocent, but I saw right through her. She was a pawn in Vivian's game, a game designed to tear Alexander and me apart.
"Alexander, I thought we could grab lunch together," she said, her voice dripping with charm and sweetness. I felt a surge of jealousy, my heart racing with anxiety. When would this stop? When would she leave us alone?
I saw the flicker of annoyance in Alexander's eyes, but he kept his tone polite. "Elena, I'm in a meeting right now."
She glanced at me, her expression unreadable. "Oh, I didn't realize. I'll wait" and then she just smiled, her eyes never leaving mine.
Wait? Wait for what? For Alexander to change his mind? For me to disappear? The thought sent a shiver down my spine. I couldn't take this anymore. The constant questioning, the endless doubts. When would Alexander stand up to his mother? When would he choose me?
I tried to focus on the project, but her constant presence was a reminder of the precarious position I was in. My mind was a jumble of emotions. Hurt, jealousy, anger - they all swirled together, making it hard to breathe. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of uncertainty, with no lifeline in sight.
And then, there were the whispers. The constant whispers in my ear. "You're not good enough." "You'll never be enough." Vivian's words, echoing in my mind, fueling my deepest fears.
I knew I had to push them away, to focus on the present. But it was hard, so hard, when the past kept haunting me. When would this stop? When would I be free from this toxic cycle of doubt and fear?
Alexander
My mother’s persistence in bringing Elena into my life was infuriating. Elena was kind-hearted and meant well, but she was being manipulated by my mother. It became evident that her frequent visits were orchestrated to drive a wedge between Scarlett and me.
During a board meeting, Elena walked in with documents that didn’t require her presence. It was clear that she was being used as a pawn in my mother’s game.
"Elena, this is a private meeting," I said, my patience wearing thin.
She looked genuinely confused. "Your mother asked me to bring these to you."
Scarlett, who was presenting a report, looked visibly uncomfortable. The tension was palpable, and I knew I had to address it.
As I looked at Scarlett, I could see the doubt creeping into her eyes. She was losing trust in me, and I couldn't blame her. If I were in her shoes, I'd feel the same way. Constantly seeing the love of my life wrapped around someone else, even if it was just a ruse, would be unbearable.
I felt a pang of guilt and frustration. Why couldn't my mother see what she was doing? Why couldn't she understand that her meddling was tearing us apart?
"Elena, please leave," I said firmly, trying to keep my cool. "This is a private meeting."
Elena looked hurt, but she nodded and left. The tension in the room was still palpable, and I knew I had to address it.
"Scarlett, can I talk to you for a minute?" I asked, my voice low and urgent.
She nodded, her eyes never leaving mine. I could see the questions swirling in her mind, the doubts and fears that were slowly dripping apart our relationship.
As we stepped outside, I took her hand, trying to reassure her. "Scarlett, I know what this looks like, but I promise you, it's not what you think. My mother is manipulating Elena, using her to try and break us apart."
Scarlett looked up at me, her eyes searching for answers. "Why?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why would she do that?"
I sighed, feeling the weight of my family's drama bearing down on me. "Because she doesn't want us to be together. She thinks you're not good enough for me, that you're not worthy of the Blackwood name."
Scarlett's eyes flashed with anger, and I knew I had to tread carefully. "I know it's not fair," I said. "But I promise you, Scarlett, I will do everything in my power to make this right. I love you, and I won't let my mother come between us."
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
