six hours

18: Black out

The moment I woke up, I could feel the weight of the past few days pressing down on me. Every inch of my body ached, a reminder that I had been holding in more than just emotions. Something told me that going to the party was a mistake, but as much as I resisted, I had no choice. The day was already spiraling out of my control.

I sat up in bed, the sheets slipping off my body as I rubbed my eyes. Eddy was sitting on the couch, a cup of coffee in hand. I blinked, still dazed. After everything that happened—after how he'd stormed off last night, after the condom incident—here he was, sitting like everything was fine. Had he forgotten? Was he pretending? The confusion in my head spun like a tornado.

"Bonjour, chérie. Slept well, I hope?" he asked with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

I wanted to say something—anything—but the words got stuck in my throat. How was I supposed to react to this? Was I angry, confused, or just numb?

"I know what you must be thinking," he said, standing up and walking over to my bed. His fingers brushed lightly through my curls. It was almost too familiar, too normal.

But it wasn't normal. Nothing was normal.

"We'll talk about it tonight at the party," he said softly, "I have a surprise for you."

A surprise? What surprise?

His smile, warm and unassuming, was breaking me down. My heart was torn between wanting to know what he meant and just wanting to shut it all out. But I couldn't back down now. I had to see this through, no matter how much I wanted to scream.

The rest of the morning moved like a slow-motion train wreck. As I went downstairs, I was greeted by Tante Marie, who was bustling around the kitchen like a whirlwind. Ash was already seated at the table, a plate full of food in front of her.

"Bonjour, ma belle!" Tante Marie smiled brightly, but her eyes told a different story. I had the strangest feeling she knew everything. She knew about the secrets, the lies, and yet she said nothing.

"Did you see the dress yet?" Ash asked, but she couldn't help talking with her mouth full.

"Hey! Don't talk with your mouth full!" Tante Marie scolded, causing everyone to burst into laughter. Ash's face turned bright red.

"Maman!!" Ash groaned, her cheeks flushed. She was so adorable that I had to smile despite everything.

Ash, the ever-optimistic one, was the light in my otherwise dark world. And I hated lying to her.

We spent the rest of the morning in the house, Tante Marie cooking up a storm while Ash played with different hairstyles on me, making me feel like a doll, and the twins did what they always did—being the boys.

The time came.

Ash called out, "Come out, Nora! We're going to be late!!"

I was already feeling the tension in my stomach. My gut screamed at me to stop. But I couldn't. I was already in too deep.

I stepped out, my red strapless dress hugging every curve, my curly hair falling to my shoulders like a soft cascade. The black pencil heels made me feel like a stranger in my own skin, and the diamond choker around my neck felt suffocating, even though it sparkled like the stars.

Ash was a vision in a blue dress, her long hair tied up in a sleek Kardashian ponytail. We looked like sisters, but in the worst way possible.

Tante Marie snapped pictures of us, capturing the fake smiles, and then the boys arrived. The twins, tall and imposing in their Italian tuxedos, looked like they belonged on the cover of a fashion magazine.

I couldn't help but notice Roberto Cavalli standing in the distance, his sharp gaze directed at me, but I pushed the thought aside.

"Here are your masks, ladies." Cris grinned as he handed us each a butterfly mask.

"I want my daughters back before midnight. No excuses," Tante Marie said, her voice full of authority.

I felt a pang in my chest as I followed the twins into the limo. My mind kept racing, but the party was already calling.

The mansion was a spectacle of luxury—gold, diamonds, crystal chandeliers, and fancy guests everywhere. High-end aristocrats, ministers, and celebrities crowded the lavish ballroom. I felt out of place in a sea of false smiles.

Drinks flowed like rivers, and dancers twisted and turned, their bodies almost breaking in half. The whole place was a dream, but for me, it felt like a nightmare waiting to happen.

The music was deafening, the laughter hollow. And I couldn't shake the feeling that everything was wrong. I danced, I laughed, I mingled, but I could feel it in my bones—something was about to explode.

Then, Linda, one of the Romano servants, came up to me. "Ma'am, young master Eddy wants to meet you on the terrace."

Every muscle in my body screamed at me to walk away, to run, to just leave. But I didn't. I walked towards the terrace, each step a heavy burden on my heart.

When I reached the terrace, Eddy stood with his back to me. The night air was cool, but my skin was burning. The warning bells in my mind grew louder, but I walked toward him anyway. I couldn't turn back now.

"Eddy, before you start talking, I have something to tell you." My voice was shaky, but I was determined to speak. It had to come out.

"I've been a bad girlfriend to you, a bad sister-in-law to your brother Cris, and I'm still messing up." I took a deep breath, feeling tears already stinging my eyes. "I want to come clean. Don't say anything—just listen."

"I've been spending time with Kevin. Not in a cheating way, but he's been supporting me when you weren't here. It started when we went away for our six-day getaway, and since then, he's always been around. He's the one who put the condoms in my bag," I said, each word like a knife in my chest.

"To keep the peace, I started lying to everyone, even to myself. I'm sorry, babe, I'm so sorry," I said through my sobs, my chest tightening.

Eddy was silent. Too silent. I couldn't tell if he was angry, disappointed, or just plain hurt.

"I know you're mad, but silence won't help. Please, talk to me, Eddy." I reached for him, but the moment I touched his shoulder, a sharp pain shot through my head.

The world spun, and everything went black.

And just like that, everything went dark. What did I do? What was I saying? The questions blurred into nothingness.

The truth had finally come out, but was it too late? Was this the end for Eddy and me?

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Pple, I don't know anymore, even though I am the writer, this book suprise me😂😂😂.

Anyways what do you think of the chapter?

What do you think happened to Nora ?