Chapter 97: Chapter 97

CHAPTER TWELVE

The party had begun. Guests had started arriving, and people were already socializing.

"Thank you for coming, how are you?" I walk across the tables beside the pool. My eyes are fixated on the entrance, waiting to see Rose and Luke arrive.

"Natalie Devaux Richardson." I hear a deep voice call me from behind. I turn around.

"Judge Lahey," I respond, surprised. I hadn't invited him here.

"You didn't. I'm here as a plus one." He states. I giggle nervously.

"Heh." I take a glass of Dom as the waitress passes. I continue, "What a pleasant surprise, still."

"I'm your ally, Natalie. It just seems awfully familiar to me, I mean, in four whole years and after that, you never threw such a huge party and merely a few days after Lucas or his doppelgänger appears, you suddenly throw a party and invite London's high and mighty, including your ex husband or his look alike."

I sip my champagne, wondering what the hell he was getting at.

He continues, "Now, these other people here may not know, but I know you're merely using them. What do you have up your sleeve, Natalie? If you must know, I'm no longer a judge, so there's hardly a lot that I can do for you."

"Are you threatening me right now?"

"I could never. I simply want you to know that I know all your moves are calculated. I might not be threatening you now, but be careful so you don't leave footprints behind that can be used against you."

I turn to watch him leave. My mind replays the moment where he had warmed me about becoming his enemy. What if he became a thorn in my path? I wanted nothing to do with the judge again. My days being scorned and vengeful were over.

"Mommy!" I hear, and I bend to level with my son. "Hi, love." We share a hug. Ashley's standing behind him.

"Where's aunt Ruth?"

"She dropped Louis and left not too long after." She responds. I'd thought aunt would wait, considering how there was a party at home. Shit. I completely forgot to tell aunt about the party. Maybe that's why she left without waiting for me.

"Baby, it's past your bedtime, now, will you go in with aunt Ashley?"

"But I want to sleep in your bed mommy."

"Of course. You can, Louis. Can you please tuck him in there?" I say to Ashley.

"Mommy!" Louis calls again. He continues, "Will you read me a bedtime story?"

"Of course, darling. I'll do that. Take him inside, Ashley, please."

***

"Your husband must be really busy, but I understand." I assure Camille, wife, and majority owner of the hospital.

"It's so wonderful you thought to invite me here," She giggles excitedly. "I've never really been invited to a lot of parties."

I sip my wine as I chuckle. "Well, you are now, and you can do something for me if you'd like access to all of this. It's every woman's dream in London to attend such gatherings, and have access to these people." I state, gesturing to the crowd.

Camille was swayed by the status and the types of people that were gathered at my party. She wanted to be one of the elites. She wanted influence, and I had it. Surely, she would be ready to give something in exchange for the connections she wanted.

"I asked what you meant."

"Oh," I respond. I smile. "Camille, what is it you want? Tell me."

"I don't quite understand you."

I roll my eyes, I could tell the alcohol was beginning to get to me. "You know what? I'll see you some other time. Goodnight." I say to her, trying to find my way inside. I pause. There are a group of teenagers talking amongst themselves.

"What did you say?" I ask, as I try to grasp the words I'd heard a few seconds ago.

"Huh?" One of the girls asks.

"That's Natalie." One whispers.

"I heard you say something about Rose, which rose and what happened to her?"

"She's throwing a party but not a lot of people showed up." The girl responds, giggling. I turn around, enraged. So this was it. This was why they didn't show up, because she'd tried to sabotage my party. I scoff. She's failed woefully at it.

I can hear people call out my name, but I ignore them and head outside my house. Thankfully, my sedan was parked outside the house. "Shit!" I realize that I don't have the keys. I dial Ashley's number.

"Hi, please I need the key to my Sedan. It's in the kitchen, and I'm outside."

****

"Thank you." I respond to Ashley as she brings me the key.

"Where are you off to? Are you drunk, Ms. Natalie?"

"Go inside, Ashley. I'm fine." I say, getting into the car, I drive off. I take out my phone from my purse. I dial Diane.

"Yes, ma'am?" The loud speaker rings.

"Find out where Rose's party is at. Rose and Lucas— Rose Barnes and Richard Barnes. I need it right away."

"How do—

"I don't know! Do whatever the bloody hell you can!" I bark at her. I was filled with so much anger. How dare Rose ignore my invitation and try to sabotage my party? I expected to see Lucas at my party. I'd put in so much effort to expose him for who really was.

"Find out and text it to me." I state and end the call. I drive to Louis' school. I park the car. I come out of the car. I walk to the school gate and hit the gates.

"Is anybody, here?!" I yell. I continue banging the gate, even though deep down, I knew no one would come attending to me. I sit down on the floor, and I break down, crying.

At this moment, I wanted to disappear. My heart was hurting too much. I was exhausted physically, mentally and emotionally. My life had taken a turn for the worse ever since the first day Lucas came to my house. I'd undoubtedly spent majority of my happiest moments with him, but I couldn't deny the fact that Luke had been a big contributor to my sadness and unhappiness in life.

My concentration is shifted as I see a young child run towards me. I clean my eyes, confused. The girl looks at me. "Hi." I say to her.

"Hi." She responds.

"Why are you here alone? Where's your mother?" I ask.

"We're playing hide and seek." She states sharply. I want to chuckle, but I do not.

"Honey, you shouldn't play around in the dark like this, okay?" If Luke and I were to have a daughter, she'd grow up to be just as the little girl was.

"Wendy!" A woman screams. "You scared me, I was looking for you everywhe— Hi. . ."

"Hi," I respond. "Don't mind me, please go on." I say. She holds her child, hugging her as she looks at me.

"But, are you okay? I was heading home, but would you like to talk? You look quite familiar."

I give a small smile. "Have a good evening." I say, as I get up. The woman turns around and begins walking off with her daughter as I approach my car.

"Was she at the party?" I hear her whisper to herself. I pause. "Party?" I whisper. She couldn't have been at my party.

"Excuse me!" I call, running to her.

"You startled me."

"Please. What party? Where's the party?" I ask, anxious.

She points forward, "Roset— why would you want to know?" She asks in her Australian accent. I ignore her and find my way forward. She'd given me all the confirmation I needed. Their house was around, and I would find it.

Combing through the crowd, I search for Lucas and Rose. My head is spinning, but somehow, they are nowhere to be found.

"Mm?" I respond, as someone grabs my arm.

"Aren't you Natalie Richardson?" The stranger asks.

I remove my arm, "Yeah, where's Rose and Luke?" I ask.

"Shouldn't you be at your own party?"

"Shut up." I respond, unsure of what exactly was happening around me. I keep walking and turning, hoping to see Lucas or Rose even. I find my way into the house.

"Hello?" I call, scanning the house. I walk to the side table, and I take a photo of Lucas and Rose. I want to cry as I hold up the photo. It is a picture of both of them, supposedly taken on their wedding day. This couldn't be real. Luke couldn't have really gotten married to Rose, right? I had thought it was all a show, a useless sham. I drop the photo back on the table, as a migraine hits me.

I find my way up the stairs, and I begin to open all the doors I can find. "Hello? Lucas?" I call, but there's no response. I walk out of the room, and I continue to head down the hallway, when I hear voices. I pause, and approach the voices. As I reach the door of the room, I pause, listening in on their conversation.

"For goodness sake, Richard! I just might go mad! If you walk out that door without giving me what it is I want, I'll end it all."

"What?"

"Don't you want a child? Do you hate children?"

"Of course, I want a child Rose, but not now— not like this!" Although I know who they are, I turn properly, so I can confirm. I wanted to be wrong. I look at them, and my jaw falls wide open as I see Luke go in for a kiss, undressing her. I cover my mouth in shock, tears, rolling down my eyes. I watch them as they keep at it, Rose, unbuttoning Luke's shirt. He carries her, and drops her on the bed, and I turn around, rushing out. In a matter of seconds, I'm downstairs, finding my way outside and through the crowd. My head is a mess, and my mind, disoriented. I can tell I'm shaking, as I feel my body go hot. I begin to sob as I run to my car. The keys fall on the floor, and I punch the car door, frustrated. I bend down to look for the keys, still sobbing. I find them, and I open the car door. I start the car, and drive as the scene replays in my head over, and over again. "Stop!" I yell, hitting the steering wheel. As I'm driving, I hear a loud honk, and it's followed by complete darkness.

*****

Richard's POV

"It's your party, I want no parts in it." I tell Rose, as I head in, a cup of bourbon in my hand. I adjust my turtleneck as I go up the stairs.

"People already ditched my party for hers. The last thing you're going to do is abandon me, for some stupid book!"

"So what do you want me to do, really, huh? Go say hello and smile while holding your arm with a bunch of people I barely know?"

"You're finally here, Richard. You initiated this!" She yells. She continues, "You made my family and I invest here and create a branch here, in London. It was your doing. So why are you avoiding socializing with people?!"

"I've told you, I don't want to do anything right now. I'll do things at my own pace, Rose. It's not so hard to understand."

"What do you ever want to do, Richard?" She asks. I was tired of this woman. With everyday, something new came up. "I'll have my father seize all the money you have. It seems that's the only time you'll answer me."

"What? You're threatening me with money?"

"For goodness sake, Richard! I just might go mad! If you walk out that door without giving me what it is I want, I'll end it all."

"What?"

"Don't you want a child? Do you hate children?"

"Of course, I want a child Rose, but not now— not like this!" Not with you. Because, I already have a child. A child with Natalie. I try not to gasp as I see Natalie's reflection on the mirror. With everything in me, I try to not turn back to look at her, or to run into her arms. I swoop in and kiss Rose. Natalie had to believe that I was Richard, for her own safety. Internally, I break down as Rose begins unbuttoning my shirt. I look into the mirror as I see the horrific look on Natalie's face. I squirm. I want to shove Rose away, and I do, as Natalie moves away.

"What?" Rose asks, her face red. She was embarrassed.

"I'm sorry." I say, as I rush into the bathroom. I lock the door. I felt as though a thousand daggers were being pierced into every part of my body, same way I had felt the day I'd seen Natalie married to Rocket. My decisions thus far had been the hardest decisions  I'd ever made in my life.

Four years ago, I'd faked my death in order to keep the ones I cared about safe. Shortly after I'd rushed Natalie to the hospital, I'd gone back to the manor to pick up my son, Louis. However, a phone call from Rocket had saved my life.

Caleb had placed explosives in my car, in a bid to get rid of me. He had planned the same for Alexander, Natalie, and I. We were the three major targets. As for Natalie, her life was spared thanks to Laurel's mistake. If Laurel hadn't shot Natalie that evening, Natalie might've been dead. Caleb had only spared her because she'd lost her legs. As for Alex, he was declared mentally unstable and locked up in a psychiatric ward because Caleb just couldn't get rid of him— Caleb needed Alex alive, as PRJ and CI were already merged. If he could get CI for himself, there was a good chance he could also get his hands on Petra Robinson Jewelers.

I was the only one who had managed to escape, thanks to Rocket. Rocket knew all too well that I was alive, and we'd agreed upon the fact that he would look after my family in my absence, however, he broke the agreement the day he married the woman I love.

I'd had enough evidence to prove myself innocent in the human trafficking case alongside the Senator and David. I'd only agreed to be apart owner of a club, not a trafficking syndicate. I could easily prove myself innocent, but I couldn't do that just yet. I needed evidence against Caleb, and something I could hold over his head, and returning to London was the best way to fight back, protect my family, and exact my revenge on those who had wronged me. The day of reckoning was near, and my final revenge, would begin soon.