Chapter 184: Unfaithful [4]
Victoria covered her mouth with her hands, fearing what would happen to her and Cole.
Benedict was never one to let anyone toy with Rosalie and get away with it. Already, he was able to cast aside all the good moments he had with Cole and was ready to kill him.
Victoria looked at the only person who could save her from dying or being tortured. "Rosalie," she cried, hoping Rosalie still cared for her.
Rosalie drowned out the sound of Victoria’s voice as she didn’t want to miss her father forcing Cole out of the dining chamber.
Cole deserved all that was coming to him now.
Once Cole was escorted out of the chamber, Rosalie turned her attention to Victoria.
"We are no longer friends. I hope my husband was worth losing our friendship over. Do you think he would change for you? That he won’t have an affair when by your side? For years, we both spoke of why we wouldn’t accept cheating, and then you make yourself the mistress," Rosalie said as she stood up.
"I was going to be cruel to get even with you. I would have made him think that our marriage was well and kept him from seeing your child if you were pregnant, but that’s not me," Rosalie said, not wanting to stoop so low. "I am not going to keep this hate in my heart."
Rosalie stared at the rings on her finger. "It is hard to fathom that I will be having a divorce, but I prefer to be alone than to entertain a man who cheats on me with my friend. I shall be fine," she said, certain she could marry again. "True love is waiting for me somewhere."
Cole hurting her wouldn’t make Rosalie think marriage was all so awful. She had merely chosen the wrong man.
"Rosalie, I truly did not mean for this to happen. Yes, I am responsible for my actions, and I should have told you when it happened the first time," Victoria admitted, unable to ignore her part. "It was not done out of love. We both thought you were going to die."
"You thought I was going to die, and while I was fighting for my life, you turned to each other. Making love to each other in my home and then coming to my face to tell me that all is well. That you are both wishing well for me," Rosalie said, every memory of them at her bedside angering her.
"It pains me that as my marriage comes to a fast end, the one person I want to turn to for comfort is you, but you are part of the trouble. Apologise all you want, but we can never be friends again," Rosalie confidently spoke. "I can’t trust you."
"Rosalie, please," Victoria pleaded, her tears running down her cheek, dropping onto her dress. "I won’t do it again. I apologise for what I did. If I could turn back time-"
"But you can’t, and I don’t want to hear this now. I won’t go after your parents since I love them dearly," Rosalie said, willing to spare the innocent. "And I ask that you don’t send them to me, asking me to forgive you, as I will be forced to say how much of a cheating whore you are."
"Do not speak my name, do not come near my home, do not introduce yourself as my friend, and when the town finds out about what you did, do not expect me to shield you. You brought this upon yourself, so find a way to face it without me," Rosalie said, severing all ties she had with Victoria.
Rosalie’s eyes lingered on Victoria’s belly, unable to shake the little envy that lingered from Victoria possibly having it so easy to have a child.
Instead of focusing on the negative, Rosalie tried to think positively.
If it were that Rosalie were unable to have a child, then she was thankful not to be pregnant now to bring a child into this mess. She could leave her marriage and never have to think of Cole since they wouldn’t share a child.
Rosalie looked down at the untouched food on the table. "Leave my home at once. There is a chance you might be pregnant, and I am certain you know you are. My father will not harm a pregnant woman, and neither shall I. A time will come when you are not with child, and you will be dealt with."
Victoria had nothing to say since she was in the wrong. She had once thought that if all of this was revealed, then Rosalie would likely forgive her. Rosalie was always so kind and never held on to petty disagreements they had.
Seeing that Victoria didn’t want to go, Rosalie decided to move first. She walked away from the table, but then something struck her.
Rosalie turned around to face Victoria. "Before, the town guards couldn’t find any motive for why anyone would want to kill Faye. I’m sure learning that my husband had an affair with you and Faye was your maid would interest them."
"I am most certain now that she found out what you two were doing and confronted you. Cole fired her behind my back and killed her. Then you tried to frame her as a thief. It scares me that I was so unaware of the evil in my home," Rosalie said, realising just how much she didn’t know Victoria.
"I didn’t tell him to kill her," Victoria swore.
"But you had some idea that he killed her to bury the secret. It doesn’t matter that you did little in comparison to Cole. You stayed silent. That makes you almost just as guilty. You should leave to enjoy what time you have left with your family. Goodbye Victoria," Rosalie said, leaving Victoria alone in the chamber.
Rosalie left the dining chamber wanting to see what plans her father had in store for Cole.
Benedict returned before Rosalie could reach the door.
Rosalie first noticed her father’s carriage was not present. "Where is he?" She inquired.
"Being dealt with. I’ve sent word to your mother that I will stay here for the night. We mustn’t worry her just yet. All will be well," Benedict said, pulling Rosalie towards him for a hug. "You did well to not ignore it and to send for me."
Rosalie rested her head on her father’s chest. "You were right, father. I shouldn’t have married him," her tears spilling onto her father’s coat.
"We cannot change the past. Think only of yourself from this moment on. I shall deal with them both," Benedict said, looking ahead at Victoria, who came into view.
