"Can I know your name, Lady?"
I inhaled faintly at how deep his voice is and how imposing he is.
Beatrice and aunt Victoria were shocked. I was also taken aback when he asked my name. I could see in Beatrice's face the dislike and couldn't believe it while looking at the man named Ash Gray.
"Ash Gray are you stupid?" Beatrice asked him with scrutinized eyes.
"I'm not talking to you." Ash Gray answered quickly with a deep voice.
His name is Ash Gray Ventura.
Why is he asking my name?
"I'm sorry but I have to leave." That's all I said before turning around to leave when Beatrice spoke again.
"Bitch, how dare you leave like that? You sickening woman!" Beatrice shouted angrily so I faced her and saw that she was going to slap me.
I close my eyes and didn't even care if she will hit me. I waited, but I couldn't feel anything that hurt my cheeks. I decided to open my eyes to why Beatrice stopped herself to slap me because I know she loves doing this kind of movement.
I was shocked by what I saw.
He restrained Beatrice's hand from slapping me. The emotionless Ash Gray Ventura did it. I was just surprised why he did it. Even Beatrice couldn't believe it and she seems confused as well as nervous because of Ash Gray's stony face. He shouldn't care if Beatrice will slap me. Why does he have to interfere in someone's business?
"Ash Gray are you out of your mind? Why did you stop me from slapping this disgusting woman?" Beatrice asked with an annoying look.
Before they could speak again I suddenly felt the figure of the man behind me.
"What's going on here?" Viktor's firm voice lingered in the areas.
We're all shocked by the way he suddenly appeared except for Ash Gray who seems doesn't hear Viktor's voice. There's a long silence after Viktor cut it. I decided to look at Viktor and the seriousness and uncertainty are visible on his face. He looked back and forth at Beatrice and her mother with deep stares but his gaze stayed longer on the man next to me. His stares became more emotionless when Ash Gray did the same thing. It's like they were crossing swords with each other through stares.
I saw the uneasiness in Beatrice's face while aunt Victoria goes to Viktor and hugs him lovely. I turned my eyes away from them because somehow they become my past.
"Mom, what happened here?" Viktor asked as someone having a little patience left.
"Oh come on Viktor, obviously I and aunt Viktoria are here to visit you so that no one will dare to come and pester your day. You shouldn't allow worthless people to come here they will just embarrass you and..." Beatrice stop her words after she met Viktor's furious face.
"Shut up Beatrice! You should be the one doing that." Viktor said arrogantly.
I don't know why he needs to become like my savior every time her dramatic queen does her pretentious acts. Oh come on Viktor, I don't need your help and I will never mind being a bitch as well if the person I'm going to clash with is Beatrice Altagracia.
"Viktor Danillo! Why are you saying this to Beatrice? She comes here to see you and she has the right to do everything she wants besides you and Beatrice will tie the knot soon..." Aunt Victoria couldn't continue her words when he looks at Viktor looking irritated.
I want to go now. Why do I need to be stuck here? I didn't even mind if they soon brought up the rumors of his wedding with Beatrice. I had enough and what I want to achieve in life is freedom.
"Mom, I'm asking what did that woman do?" Viktor is so determined to know the details even if it's useless to talk about.
"What are you saying Viktor? You're so unbelievable. Why are you so angry? I'm not doing anything if you only know I was the one being insulted last time because of that girl!" Beatrice suddenly complains exaggeratingly.
Seriously? This two-faced bitch knows to act well. I don't know what happened to them why until now she and Viktor were not married. Viktor left me because of this woman then he's being reluctant to settle down with Beatrice Altagracia?
"I don't fucking care with your nonsense rants just tell me what did you do. I saw you planning to slap Maryam. Didn't I tell you that leave her alone? You should be thankful that your filthy hands didn't reach her face. No one can hurt her not even me so try to do it again maybe you will regret standing in my place." Viktor stated in a very calm way while his eyes are closed.
His face gets colder making me look at his protruding veins. Why are you doing this Viktor? I wanted to scream it loud but I realized I'm done thinking these things. I couldn't feel him anymore compared to the person he is in the past. No matter how genuine and pure his intentions are will never be enough reason for me to open the last door I left in myself.
"What happened to you Viktor? Why are you defending that bitch when he doesn't even care about you?" Beatrice asked and seems to cry.
"Shut up! Don't you dare teach me with your worthless bits of advice? Beatrice, how long will you accept the fact huh?" Viktor's smirked looking at Beatrice who looks nervous.
"Oh come on son, stop talking like that to Beatrice. Both of you shouldn't act like this. This is not healthy for your relationship. Beatrice stops giving attention to that woman, you're just wasting your time." Aunt Viktoria said modestly while shifting her sophisticated eyes directed to me.
My breathing became weaker when I heard those hurtful words from aunt Victoria, pretending like she never liked me and treated me like her own daughter. If I will think about the happenings when we're still good to each other, then what about now? Why it is so easy for her to replace me with Beatrice? Why is she acting like I never existed in her life and to his son? We looked at each other intensely but then she was the first who looked away.
"Mom, how could you say that in front of Maryam? I can't believe you participate in Beatrice's activities." Viktor shook his head while asking her mother.
"Viktor please...listen to me. That woman deserves any humiliation and the slap yet you..." Beatrice trying to get Viktor's sympathy.
"Leave!" Viktor shouted which makes all of us terrified except for Ash Gray who seems to have fun looking at Viktor.
"Viktor what..." Beatrice couldn't accept what was happening.
"I said leave! Don't you ever come back here!"
I looked at them without interest in the drama they are showing. I accidentally averted my gaze only to find out that someone is already staring at me giving his overall attention. I was the first who avoided him because it seems like he will never leave looking at me for something I couldn't explain why he was acting this way. I find it strange although my feelings for him remain the same from our first encounter until now.
"Viktor? You can't do that to Beatrice. She has the right to stay here and she doesn't deserve all these treatments that coming from you. If there's someone who needs to leave that would be the other woman you kept." Aunt Victoria stated looking at Viktor implausibly.
The atmosphere is almost killing me when this time aunt Victoria looks at me indignantly. I couldn't deny the fact that despite the pain she had caused and the things she did to me to be someone who doesn't deserve to be treated well, I still respect her as I do in the past even if we're no longer like mother and daughter relationship. I slowly turn around to leave because I cannot withstand this. I cannot look at her eyes with so much anger aside from that I cannot ignore her presence.
"You stay Maryam Amira"
I stopped in my track when I heard Viktor's voice. He said it with so much care and gentleness which makes me breathe composedly. I don't want to complicate things or add fuel to Viktor's anger that's why I chose to stay no matter how hard it is for me to see her being frustrated with me.
"Mom, I only say once. If you want you can escort Beatrice. I don't know why you're doing this to Maryam Mom. Beatrice doesn't deserve all of this yet what about the woman I love? Mom, even you can't stop me. You knew that all aces are already mine." Viktor seemed to test the patience of everyone.
"Fix this Viktor! Don't let Altagracia's will turn us down because of that woman." Aunt Victoria said ragingly looking at each of us.
"I'm waiting for that Mom. I'm not afraid and please stop trusting them. I will cut our connections with them." Viktor smirked dully.
"Viktor!" Beatrice shouted like a desperate dramatic queen.
"Beatrice, come on. I'll talk to him later but for now, we have to go somewhere without the presence of that woman." Aunt Victoria stated plainly like I wasn't here standing in front of her.
I noticed Viktor's stare checking on my expressions. I acted like a masochist pretending that those words are just normal for me.
"Mr. Ventura"
Viktor's talking to the man next to me who is Ash Gray after Beatrice and aunt Victoria leave.
"Do you know how long you keep me waiting? You're 45 minutes late. I'm now doubting if you are professional." Viktor grinned audaciously.
I'm also doubting if these two are holding a grudge against each other because of the tension they are bringing in.
"Only to find out that you're just here?"
Viktor then swiftly moved his eyes to look at me eagerly as if I were the one he is referring to in his question that was supposed for Ash Gray Ventura.
Under the chaos of emotions, the dismay has gone and I never predicted that these happenings would bring us close. To make up for everything that happened disapprovingly, I acknowledge all the unfavorable treatment. If this is the only way that could redeem the unpleasant sentiment to the people I've caused then it's better to live in lines and contours of faults than to live happily that could bring hatred to someone. Things never change in the way how Aunt Victoria loses her temper because of my presence although Beatrice is no longer going to the mansion.
After that incident, Viktor seem to be strange in the way he treated me the past few days. He never allows me to go anymore at his company and I'll never get a chance to meet Ash Gray Ventura not that I wish to but I'm just curious because I know it has something to do with Viktor. I often visited my favorite spot again and thankfully Viktor didn't make it hard for me. He's the one who pushes me to wander to the places I want without his permission. I don't why he acted this way. I know in myself that although we've gone through a lot of pain, he still has a place in my heart until the end.
I was sitting again outside the Notre Dame cathedral but this time with the company of amber sky. I'm still not over the questions that appear repeatedly on my mind. I want to guess what's Viktor planning to do when he emphasized the word announcement. I guess will never be in my hands as long as the doors and storms still exist. How I wish that my life could be like this beautiful amber sky. If I get a chance to pursue my career then maybe I'm now a great historian. Maybe the reason why I'm still lucky up to now is that God never abandons me amid perilous life decisions.