Chapter 32 - Regrets

Wren Austin has never felt more infuriated and humiliated than she was when she left ‘paradise on earth. She stood in one corner and cried until her body was psychically weak. As if she didn’t feel humiliated enough, she was stranded. Her phone died and making it impossible for the blonde to contact a cab.
The workers of ‘paradise on earth had all retreated to their home and so, Wren stood outside alongside the security guide who had approached her severally to ask if she needed help.
Then, the blonde was still hurt and boiling with anger that a single stare from her had pushed the young man away. But now that she had calmed down, she realized she will need his help if she ever wanted to make it back to her apartment.
“Hi” she waved at him warily, and when the older man turned to her, he was frowning.
“I’m sorry to bother you but I’m stranded. My battery died and I need to get a cab back home” she spoke warily.
“Oh, dang. That sucks” the man murmured mostly to himself. He fished in his pocket for his phone and just as he was about to hand it to Wren, he spoke up.
“Wait. Aren’t you the infamous Wren Austin? The one who’s famous for you know….” the older man started but trailed with his thoughts as the blonde gave him a life-threatening stare.
“You know what, never mind me” he finalized handing his phone to her.
“Thank you, kind sir” the blonde didn’t mean to sound sarcastic, but given what she had endured, it was understandable.
Wren Austin handed the phone to its rightful owner and showed her appreciation before standing at a reasonable distance from him.
As if her night couldn’t get worse, someone had recognized her, and Wren Austin knew too darn well that the events of tonight will spread through the town of Craigsburg fasted than a cheetah. After all her attempt at keeping it a secret, it was finally going to spread.
It wasn’t long before the cab appeared before Wren and she waved at the older man who kept her company before getting into the car.
“Melrose Avenue, please” the blonde announced as she slammed the door of the car.
The ride for the first few minutes was quiet. Wren rested her head against the window frame of the car, hoping that staring at the trees as they drove past it will take her mind off the embarrassment she had just endured, but even that didn’t seem to do the trick.
Although Wren was upset at Giovanni for standing her up, there was still a major part of her that sought to find out his reasons for not showing up.
The rational part of her made her believe she was doing so because she didn’t want to conclude without giving the young man a chance to justify his actions. When in reality, she just needed something to prove to her that she didn’t make the wrong choice by giving him another shot.
“Driver, take me to the Watford Mansion. I’ll leave a good tip” Wren announced out of the blue.
She had suddenly decided it was best to find out tonight. Hit the nail whilst it was too hot. Rather than return home, feel pitiful about her entire being and cry herself to sleep.
**********
After the wake keep in honour of Mr Arthur O’Connell, Wren Austin never believed she will set foot in the Watford Mansion. Yet, here she was, with a heavy heart, walking into the unknown. Once she paid the cab driver, the blonde stepped out of the car and held tightly to her clutched purse.
Wren Austin couldn’t realize why her palms had suddenly become sweaty and her heart was pounding, threatening to fall out. She swallowed a lump and gracefully marched forward.
With every step she took towards the mansion, she became antsier. The same feeling of wariness she felt back at the dinner resurfaced, but this time with more force.
It felt like she was having a moment of déjà vu, like six years ago when she walked up to the porch of the mansion and was hit with news of Giovanni’s departure. Only this time, she felt like whatever she was about to find will be worse.
Wren Austin didn’t bother knocking and pushed the huge mahogany door open. At once, she was met with an empty hallway, but she could however hear banter and laughter at a distance. So, as quietly as possible, she followed the direction of the banter and it led her to the backyard, where a huge pool stood in the middle.
The closer she got, Wren Austin could easily make out all the faces. Nana Denise was seated next to Topaz, and Unika sat next to them. Opposite Unika, sat Giovanni. Wren recognized him from his black tapered wavy hair.
Wren recognized everyone before her. Except for the lady with long curls of auburn hair who was apparently sitting on Giovanni’s leg.
The blonde began to wonder to herself. Why did her ask her out on a date if he wasn’t going to show up? Wren didn’t know what to expect when she decided to come to the Watford Mansion, but it certainly wasn’t finding him laughing over silly things.
Just as the blonde was about to announce herself, Unika’s question shut her up.
“So, Sierra. Uncle Giovanni didn’t tell us he had a girlfriend, and neither did he mention she will be coming into town today. Tell me, how long have you two been dating?”
She felt a slap on her face. Literally.
Everything that was said after Unika’s question never got to the blonde as her surrounding gradually faded as she tried to process what she had just heard, and when she did, her breathing became rasp.
She was dumbfounded. She understood why he didn’t show up for the date. He had made a fool out of her.
No. she made a fool out of herself. For thinking, she could trust him again. For thinking, he was worth another shot. For letting one night of ecstasy cloud her reasoning.
She was to blame for the pain she felt.
No one else but her.
Wren didn’t realize how long she zoned out, but it was the sound of Nany Denise’s voice that made her snap out of her daydream, and when she did, she realized that all eyes were on her.
Including Giovanni’s.
“Wren” he called out, but the blonde had only one thing in mind.
She needed to leave.
“Wren. Hold on” Giovanni called out again, but Wren ignored him.
She fastened her pace until her steps gradually turned into jogging.
She should never have trusted him.
She should have ignored him.
Because now the pain she felt was ten times worse.

_______