Midnight Affair Side Story 1: Helena

Chapter 3

"Mom came back!"

Luciano jumped in excitement to see the carriage stopped in front of their door. Helena got off the carriage with a big smile on her face along with Anne.

"Lucian."

The mother sat herself down to hug her lovely little son.

"Mom, have a lot of fun?"

"Yes. What about Lucian? Was Lucian a good kid?"

"Yes! Lucian is!"

As she walked in, her parents looked at her with an anxious expression.

"Riftan is here. He wants to talk to you, Helena dear."

Her smile faded a little. Luciano continued from his grandmother.

"Daddy has something for mommy."

Helena tried to hide her displeasure in front of the kid. She gave him to the old Duke and went upstairs. Riftan waited for her in the guestroom.

As the door opened, the large figure turned his gaze. They met each other's eyes for a moment before she turned away.

"What is it that you want to talk about, your grace?"

Helena didn't want to waste any time so she asked about the business he had right away.

"I have something for you."

"..."

Riftan didn't approach her. He stood at the same place he did before she came in. Helena took a breath. Even when they stood far from each other like this, the scent he always had still lingeries her sense of smell. It made her uncomfortable and somehow.. her heart got heavy.

"It's a potion I got from a magician. You'll be okay after drinking it."

He placed the potion on the table. Helena looked at the small bottle for a while as he continued.

"Actually it wasn't me who got this potion. It's someone else. She asked for it from the magician for you."

At the end of his phrase, her heart sank. Helena hoped that it wasn't who she thought it was but the little hope she had shattered in an instant.

"It was Anita."

Helena grabbed her skirt so her hands wouldn't tremble. She had so many questions to ask. Riftan stayed silent too. After a while, Helena opened her mouth while lifting her gaze to look at him in the face.

"Do you.. get back with her?"

Her heart raced faster. She didn't know why she was so anxious after asking him this question. But if he really brought her back… that mortally means he did love that woman.

"Do you really want to hear my answer?"

Helena nodded. She wasn't ready but she held her breath in.

"She was pregnant before you."

Her heart ached.
Even though she had moved on..
It still hurts to think about how many nights he secretly took that woman to his bed behind her back that she even got pregnant before her, who was his wife…
Helena's hands trembled.

"I found out and brought the child with me. When she came to see the child, I asked her to stay too but she refused."

Helena looked at the man who stood mightily as her pupils shook. She couldn't help but ask.

"After all… Was that why you slept with her…? You loved her when I was also there.. did you not? Did you.. want to make her your second wife?"

Her voice trembled. If he answered yes… she knew that she would break down right on the spot.

What was the reason she forgave him if it wasn't for the thought that he loved her and that he was just really in need of someone to fulfill his body's desire.. because if Riftan really did love that woman…

"I'll be honest with you, Helena. I love you. I still do. However, I do want to be with her after our divorce because I want to start my life over and Damian.. the son of her and I, needed complete parents."

"Lucian needs the same." She cried out.

"You are so thoughtless… and selfish…"

Helena covered her face.

"You want to start a family with the person who broke our home… how could you think like that.."

"Our divorce happened because of the misunderstanding from the drug incident…"

"No!"

"..."

"It happened because of what she had with you… I was scared. I was traumatized… I would have waited for you to explain if it wasn't because of what you did with her…"

"Helena. Calm down."

He finally took a step to approach the trembling woman. He was worried she'd faint. Helena shook her head.

"I'll never forgive that person.. I will never forgive her."

A hand reached her small shoulder.

"She walked all over me…"

"I'm sorry. It was my fault."

"How many months has it been… you never told me the exact amount of time.. the time you started it… your filthy affair."

"Why do you keep bringing it up, Helena? It won't do you good."

"Because I want to move on completely. I don't want to sit alone and think about all the times I've spent with that person just for her to sleep with my husband…"

"..."

"She grew up with me here. She lived with me here. Almost 20 years being together was nothing for her… but it means so much to me…"

Helena kept crying as the man held her face lightly.

"She means so much to me… she was my only friend…"

"..."

"..and I would never do that to her."

"I'll answer everything but let me carry you to your room after this."

"..."

"For 5 months she became my mistress. It was her who started it and I gave in.. I was addicted to her company. I'm sorry. I let my lust lead the way."

Riftan carried her in his arms.
Helena was right.
The divorce happened because of the past event.
It stained her heart.
Twice times, he slept with other women, even the second time was not his mistake but she only brought up the event with Anita.
That means it's still painful to her.

"Forget about me. I shouldn't have entered your life. I should've just agreed to marry the princesses. It was my mistake. I wanted you but I couldn't take care of you in the end. I stained your life with painful memories. I'm sorry, Helena."

"You don't have to forgive me. I wouldn't question it if you pray for my death every day."

"..."

"I will never reach out to you again until the day I die. So just think of me as if I'm dead and be happy, …sunshine."