We go to the company from the show. Chris is unusually silent along the way, I let him be. I've got a lot on my mind too.
Mikayla Druid's hostility... what is Sebastian telling her to make her this hostile or is Chris' assumptions right? I don't know which case I'd prefer, stalker or jealous wife. They're both volatile, my options aren't promising at all. My life is really difficult...
You agree, don't you?
"Okay, stop sulking. Didn't you say there's been noise I'm too quiet? How about I attend some event?" I can't stand a silent Chris... it's scary. What if he abandons me for the love of money?
"Yes, a gala this weekend. Steven has been looking for you for his new collection too, it'll be perfect. Just the slap in the face for that woman." Trust Chris to bear a grudge, I bet from now on he'll scoff whenever he sees the Druids. You can't help but feel warm and fuzzy... although, he's enmity might stem from losing an opportunity. I'll take what I can get.
It's a pity though, Fin is rushing back because of the fashion show, if I'm not part of it - will Mr Merwe be gone for long? I didn't think about that.
Sigh. I miss my husband...
"Who's hosting?"
It won't do to dwell...I can't even surprise him. Where does his family stay in Country C? Would he like the surprise if I could somehow find out? Yeah, let's not dwell on it, it makes me feel horrible. I don't know my husband's home...
If he's still my husband...wait, he's going to be back, won't he? What the hell am I thinking..!
"The Smiths are hosting. I hear they're celebrating the opening of that new hotel." Huh? Oh, the gala... My mind is wandering...
"The Smiths, you mean Michael's family?" No no no...
"Yeah, you know him? I heard he's the one in charge of the hotel." Dammit. I spoke too soon. Can I back out now?
"What, what's wrong? You have to attend. Everyone who's anyone is going to be there, especially those from your circle and I heard that actress who's just announced her retirement will also be there."
That's what I'm afraid of, everyone from my circle will be there. Michaelson Smith, Sebastian's best friend and an ex friend of mine. We went to school, uni together and when Sebastian and I split, he split from me too. Not to mention Margaret's also going to be there. Face all of them in my lonesome? I'd rather not. I really don't want to.
The awkwardness...
"Do you even have an invitation?" He wouldn't invite me, right? He and Sebastian are the best of pals, I'm not..
"Yes, I do. I got the invitation weeks ago." I'm cursed, aren't I? Someone cast a spell on me to go through the most drama this year...
"To Trent Dion, you're sure?" Don't blame me, I can't put it past Chris to not pull strings and embarass me.
"Yes, to Trent Dion. Want to see it?" No, not really.
Why would he invite me? I mean I don't bring the big bucks, my dad does that - no way! My father's going to be at this kind of event, my mother too. Not only will I have to deal with ex acquaintances but my parents too? Would they bring Lydia? The horror! This gala screams trouble for Trent no matter how you look at it, he really wants me to go?
SOS: My manage is trying to thrust me into the most ominous situation, someone rescue me...
Has Chris lost it?
"You're not seriously making me attend that disaster waiting to happen, are you?" Come on...he knows the delicacy of the relationships I have with most of the people going to be there.
"Normally, I wouldn't but this is the only appropriate one in a while. You can't not attend. Pull up your big girl socks and make an appearance, you don't have to be there long."
I really need a new manager. The current one isn't looking out for my best interests! I was blind in the past...
"Don't walk away from me young lady, you're going whether you like it or not."
༎ຶ‿༎ຶ
He can even bear to scold me as I'm leaving, I need a new manager. What I would do for a little quiet in my life...
That seems to be my life's wish now, I know what you're thinking... life's nice problems but I don't care, they're a headache and I want a hussle free life. That'll be nice. Picket fence and club memberships, I'd really like that - though, I seem to have married the wrong man for that wish?
I haven't had ice cream in a while... Ice cream will cool me down. Yes, what's a little ex acquaintance? I'm tougher than that - right..? I hope. I don't do well in my own company though... I miss Margaret.
"Why won't you open a trust for our child?" Greets me as I step inside my house. Can I turn back? I seem to have come at a wrong time...
"Because we don't know the gender yet." My father answers a furious looking Lydia, definitely wrong timing.
"Why does that matter?" So she's not only timid, I don't know if it's good for her to reveal it though,
"Because our family will have a fit if he opened a trust for a boy. I've told you this already..." Comes my mother's not so patient response.
Hmmm. I was surprised she lasted this long. My parents don't do well with company. I know it's contradictory given the nature of their relationship but those people are usually flings and Lydia- well, being pregnant and all can't be discarded like they usually do. But what's this new trick, she wants my father to open a trust for the baby, the baby that is not six months formed? She's impatient...
"Then, then..." I happen to move closer and her eyes land on me,
"Have Trent change hers to the baby's and we'll turn it back when you open one."
"What?"
"What?"
"WHAT!" Mine is the loudest of them all. Do what now? My mother is in agreement with me because she looks furious...so her parental instincts work. Go figure!
Why is she involving me in her squabble?
"It's guarantee for me, me and my baby." Ha. Use my trust as a safety net for her? She must think I got her pregnant.
"Have you lost it?" My mother beats me to it, I'd like to know too. Has she lost it?
"Trent is big now, she doesn't need it." Yes, she's lost it. Who doesn't need money because they're big? She's standing there asking for some and looks quite big to me. Insane-money-grabbing opportunist.
"That's TT's. Why are you in a hurry, we'll wait till we know the baby's gender."
Good, because there's no way I'd agree to this insanity. Dammit, all I wanted was ice cream and now my trust is in danger of being snatched? This developed drastically, no? I might have to give that curse thought a closer look, it's too coincidental that I'm getting charged at again and again. My psyche is about to collapse, what's God getting at? Not my money... I'll fight to the death, no way - no!
"You know my family's cut ties with me after finding out about us, I have nowhere to go. Can't you give me this sense of security?" I shouldn't be hearing all this, right? I go to withdraw but I'm stopped midway,
"I'm not saying it'll be forever, until we find the baby's gender like you say. We can do that, I'm sure Trent won't mind." Like hell I wouldn't. Again, this woman must think I got her pregnant. My money as proxy?
"Lydia, that's not going to happen. You're only a month away until you know the baby's gender and if you need money, we'll give it to you. Don't involve Trent." Thanks mom, what you said.
Is she aware how much money is in my trust? To use it like that, what a joke and one that isn't funny, not funny at all.
"Sister..."
"Stop. No one is touching Trent's trust. No one can touch Trent's trust except Trent. Forget it." You tell her mom. I'm that close to cheering. My mother has a bottom line, who would've thought?
I'm noticing maybe my parents are aware of their faults and just don't know how to go about treating me differently? I'm touched, I didn't have to say anything... My money is safe. I can have that ice cream now..
Until I hear her soft cries. Honestly...
"Sister, you don't understand how I feel. I'm nothing to any of you, you could get rid of me and the baby anytime, all I'm asking is to feel like a Dion too, that my baby will be welcomed here." Huh?
She's good. Hit them where it stings the most. Her, a Dion? I'm lost... I really shouldn't be part of this conversation. Their mess, their problem. But, what did she expect in the first place?
Lydia is way younger than dad, I mean she can be his daughter yet she's imitating my mother's style, call her sister and in a relationship with her husband. Dion - in this life? She's dreaming.
"Lydia..."
"I won't touch it. I'm just asking for security." Their hearts are melting, I can tell. All that parental instincts wiped away by tears from a mistress. It's too cliche, I can't scoff enough.
"Let's do this, we'll use a quarter of Trent's trust. How's that?" What? He's kidding...
A quarter of my trust? How much is that...one fifty million? He wants to use my money - well, his - to appease his lover's crocodile tears?
And I was beginning to view him in a different light. I should have known - really, I should have known.
My sarcastic laugh brings their attention to me. So much disappointment, I can't bear it. If anything, money's the only support I've ever received from them and he wants to take a quarter of it. I haven't touched a single cent of that trust, to me - it's the only love I've gotten from them and he would take it back?
When will it stop?
"You'd do that, you'd take a quarter of my trust for your unborn child?" It stings, it's horrible. I can't mask the hurt in my voice even if I tried. What am I to him?
He has to know - right? He has to know I've never touched a single penny of that trust yet... he's considering this woman's insanity?
"TT..." I'm the fool. He really would, his voice says that much. I turn to my mother, I see her hands are trembling and her eyes are red. Yeah, it's disappointing, of the two, I thought my mother was the most unreliable...go figure. I was wrong.
"Forget it. It's not happening. If she wants money that badly, you have enough to stuff her full. Leave my trust alone."
I could really use that ice cream now...