Accident

Sierra Eleanor Clifford held her cheeks, her mouth wide open from the shock of the slap she had just received. She was flabbergasted, as well as everyone else in the room. Well except for Gwendolyn Jefferson who carried a big smile on her face, expressing the pride she had for her friend.
“I have tolerated your arrogance long enough and this is where I draw the line. You have no right to call out the wrongdoings in my life when you have zero idea of what I’ve gone through. You do not get to condescend my life the way you just did” Wren Austin spoke with fury in her voice, taking steps closer to Sierra who still looked flabbergasted over the hard slap she had received.
“You slapped me” was all she said.
“And I will gladly do it a thousand more fucking times” she added more firmly and sternly, making the brunette shiver.
“I’m out of here,” she said and as she turned to leave, she felt someone brag her arm, and that was when she heard her voice.
“Hold up Wren,” he said.
As if Sierra’s words weren’t enough to piss her off, Giovanni’s silence all through the dinner, and right until when the brunette began to throw shades at her. Wren felt hurt and betrayed by him. Hurt in the sense that she never thought he would let another person speak ill of her, and betrayed because. Well, just betrayed.
And now he wanted her to stay back? For whatever fucking reason?
“I’m sure Sierra didn’t mean it like that” he uttered.
Well now, she had a reason to feel betrayed.
Wren Austin didn’t believe her ears. As she turned, she blinked several times trying to digest what he had said. And when her gaze landed on him, she was met with a face that held a lot of guilt.
Guilt Wren wasn’t sure was directed towards her or the brunette.
Suddenly, Wren Austin burst into a fit of laughter. She laughed uncontrollably, repeatedly clapping her hands.
“Oh, my world. This is rich” Wren uttered as she tried to die down her laughter, and by the time she had calmed down, she realize arguing with him wasn’t worth it.
“You know what? Fuck you Giovanni fucking O’Connell” Wren spat and began to walk away, but once again, Giovanni caught up with her and held her arms.
“Wren, come on don’t be like that,” he said in a nonchalant tone that made Wren want to factory reset his brain with a hard blow.
“I should not like this? Are you being for real now Giovanni? Did you honestly hear what just left your mouth? You sat there and allowed someone else to disrespect me and you have the fucking audacity to defend her? Who the hell are you? You are nothing like the Giovanni I used to know. You would have defended me, you would have spoken up for me. But no, you’re taking sides with a spoiled rich brat simply because you don’t want her daddy cutting you off from his company” Wren Austin was breathing harshly by the time she finished speaking.
By now, Nana Denise, Unika as well as some other personnel who worked in the mansion had gathered around to witness what was happening.
“You have changed. For the worse” and with that, Wren Austin walked away.
Her movements were frantic and her strides larger. She wanted, no need to get the hell away from here. Away from her life in Craigsburg and away from everything. She was in dying need of a change of scenery.
As Wren Austin abruptly pushed the gates of the Watford mansion open, she began to run, ignoring Gwendolyn who called after her.
She ran as far and as fast as her legs could take her. She didn’t stop, not when she felt a stinging pain in her heart and not when her legs felt like they were going to give up on her. She had no idea where she was going and she didn’t care.
All that mattered to her right now is getting far away from Craigsburg.
Seconds, perhaps minutes passed and Wren Austin had slowed down from running. She was mentally and physically exhausted. She had no idea about her whereabouts as she was surrounded with nothing but trees on both sides and very few street lights.
Even though she felt pain in her chest from running, it didn’t match the pain she felt as her mind drifted back to the encounter at the Watford mansion.
She should never have accepted that invitation. She should never have called Gwen for advice. She should have stood her ground when Gwen rang the doorbell. Maybe if she had done all of that, she wouldn’t be feeling the disappointment and betrayal she felt.
Because now, Sierra’s words didn’t hurt anymore.
It was Giovanni’s reaction to it all that hurt. It was the fact that he sided with her that hurt.
The bloody fucker knew that despite her wish to stay away from him, what he thought of her meant the world. And to be humiliated like that?
Wren Austin has told herself several times to never allow a single drop of tears roll down her cheek when it came to him. But her heart and her head were two separate entities that refused to work together.
Her mind is willing but her heart is weak. Her heart keeps putting her in situations with him that always end in tears. Not for him, but for her.
The blonde had no idea how long she walked, but it was only when she saw headlamps emanating from a heavy-duty truck that she realized she was standing in the middle of the road and was frozen on the spot.
The loud honking didn’t make her flinch.
The only thing running through her mind was, maybe this was the end of her pain.
And so, the closer the lorry got, the louder it honked and the more determined Wren Austin was.
And then the headlamp went off.
And so did Wren Austin’s legs.
She dropped to the ground slowly.
And she heard the words ‘ma’am, are you alright?’ before she drifted off.

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