Lydia

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“To post or not to post?” I asked, “You have three seconds, and it starts now.” She fiddled with her finger at the same time, ring at me. I don’t care, her re means nothing.

“One.” I began, she said nothing, “two.” Well, I guess I’ll be posting it, “thre-” I began, but she interrupted, “stop.” She roared.

“Fine, don’t post it.” Mason and I exchanged a nce. She knew the result posting it would bring. “What do you want from me?” She asked. “What should I do?”

I smile, crossing one leg over the other casually, “Now you’re talking.” I said. She squirmed under my gaze. This was a hard decision for her to make, but that had nothing to do with me because I didn’t care.

“What I want is simple. It’s not something you can’t do.”

“Just get it over with.” She snapped.

“Correct your wrong, tell the truth,” Mason said, mming hisptop shut. Victoria’s eyes widened, she could already tell what this meant, “hold a press conference and tell the truth. Everything, leave one part out, and I’ll post the record I have of you.” Mason said in a dark voice.

He walked over to me and sat beside me, draping one hand over my shoulder and pulling me to himself. My heart skipped a beat as he held me. I still couldn’t get used to being this close to him.

“That’s not possible.” Victoria’s outburst was enough to remind me of the matter at hand.

I shift my gaze towards her, my eyes turning cold with each second that passes. “No?” I asked in a cold voice.

“Why would I do that? It’s the same thing as you posting that recording of me, what’s the difference?” She inquired. I scoffed. Was she seriously asking me that?

“You get to protect Zoe. That’s the difference. I don’t trust myself not to talk about your bad parenting if I were ever to hold a conference.” I said, I can hold conferences too. Besides, posting the record won’t clear my name fully.

She shook her head, “Victoria, don’t make this harder than it already is,” Mason said, his hand trailing my shoulders. “Left to Zoe and me, we’d have held the conference, but Lydia here keeps saying she doesn’t want to. You should really be grateful to her.” Mason said tly.

Victoria stood rooted to the ground, eyes wide with disbelief.

“I’m not doing it for you, it’s for Zoe.” I stated firmly, “But if you decide to push me, then I will cross whatever line I want to make sure you get buried underneath my feet, for good.”

“And you have my support.” Mason quickly chimed in.

Victoria looked at him with disappointment written all over her face. “You are my son, and you are on her side? bI /bcarried you for nine months, and she did nothing. How can yo-”

26

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“Leave if you understand what you’ve been asked to do, preaching here won’t change things,” Mason said, cutting her off. “He pointed to the door. “See yourself out,” He said

Victoria’s chest heaved up and down. A triumphant smile found its way to my lips, and I didn’t itry /ito hide it. Clutching her purse, she turned, but Mason stopped her before she got to the door.

“You should take your baskets too. I don’t want anything from you.” He gestured to the basket with his chin.

“Lydia, you won’t get away with this, I promise you, you are a mother too, one day, you’d get a taste of your own medicine,” she said in a malicious voice.

“I am not like you. I’m not selfish. My children’s happinesses first.” I fire back, “Your words mean nothing.” I stated. “You have 24 hours to make things right, and your time starts now.”

We watched her retreating figure. I ced my hand over Mason’s, giving him a light squeeze. Even if he tried to pretend like he was fine, a part of me believes he was broken. She is, after all, his mother.

“Do you want to have a drink? I’m sorry I spoke that way to your mom, she just… I just.” I turned to exin, but he stopped me, cing one finger on my lips. He shook his head slowly.

“You don’t have to exin,” his voice was raspy as he spoke. “She caused all she’s receiving, you are doing what you have to do to protect yourself.” He paused and cupped my face, “she stopped being my mother the moment she tried to kill my kids. I could’ve forgiven her for that, but the fact that she never showed remorse and is hell bent on separating us while prioritising her own happiness, is proof that she doesn’t deserve my love or pity.”

I inhaled sharply, cing my hands on his, “You and the twins are more important to me.” He nted a kiss on my lips.

It was supposed to be a small peck. But I just couldn’t let go of the taste, so I deepened the kiss, tasting his lips and wrapping my hand around his neck.

His hands moved from my face to the back of my head, and I passed my hand through his hair. Nibbling on his lower lip.

His phone beeped, ruining the moment, and we pulled apart. He smiled and ced his head on mine. “Maybe we should have a drink.” He said. He didn’t pick up his phone; instead, he rose to his feet, “I’ll be back.”

Mason returned with a bottle of wine and two sses, and we drank and chatted all night, while counting down Victoria’s time.

***

Victoria’s POV

My phone beeped for the second time that day, and my already beating heart elerated. I reluctantly opened the message and snuck a peek at the content.

It was the same as thest one. A reminder of what I was supposed to do. It had been over 12 hours since I spoke to Mason and Lydia.

16:16 bMon/bb, /bbSep /bb29 /bB

??

I had 12 hours more, I threw my phone on the bed, biting my nails. This wasn’t right, I can’t go back on my own words, what would people think?

What would they say?

I paced around. I needed toe up with a n. The door pushed open after a soft knock, and Julia stepped into the room, looking all dolled up. She isn’t aware of our predicament yet.

“Why are you pacing around?” She asked, walking towards me. I stopped to look at her, “What’s wrong you look nervous? Everything is going ording to n.” She said.

“It wasn’t until yesterday.” I snapped at her. This was all because of her stupidity. What was she thinking when she had Lydia arrested?

“Why did you meet with her behind my back?”

“Is this about her arrest?” She asked, and I fought the urge to scream at her. She could really be slow sometimes, “I thought you’d be proud of me. Even if it’s for a few hours, I had her locked up. I ced the woman who killed your husband where she’s meant to be.” She said, with a sense of pride.

I face–palmed myself mentally. How did I forget that she didn’t know the truth? I inhaled a scent of breath. She pursed her lips as she stared at me.

“We’re holding a press conference, invite a few reporters,” I ordered. She adjusted in the bed, moving closer to me. Her eyes darted around, and she leaned forward, “But why do we need a conference for? bIs /bthere more stuff to reveal?” She asked, and I shook my head, wishing there was more stuff to reveal.

I closed my eyes, “We are clearing Lydia’s name.” I stated.

“What?” I didn’t need to open my eyes to see that her jaws were dropped. “Why? Everything is going smoothly. Herpany is in a mess. Netizens are still bashing her, and some are demanding her arrest. We are almost at our goal. Why should we turn back at this point?” fn27cd ?????? ???? Find?Novel/fn27cd

My eyes flickered open, “Just listen to me.” Something went off in my head. A n on how to make this situation better, “We have no option at this point.” I couldn’t tell her about the record they had of me.

“But we always have an-”

“Julia, just listen to me,” I said harshly, and she pressed her lips shut. “Do what I asked, don’t ask me questions.” My lips set into a firm line, and I stood.

“We hold a conference and clear her name, but in reality, what we are doing is plunging her deeper into the pit. What would people think if the same people who ratted her out cleared her name?”

“They’d think we lied.”

“The truth is what we wantizens to believe. If we want them to think this second conference was forced, they will.” My lips curved up in a sly smile.

If Lydia wants a second conference, then I’d give her that. But let’s see how she’d crawl out of that pit after thisb. /b

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