Della and Jim

Della and Jim Part II

"Della... I..." Jim uttered with angst. 

Della's eyes widened to incredulity and the veins on her neck showed. 

"I... was manipulated! She seduced me! It was just a mistake, a moment of folly! Forgive me!"

"Would you be seduced if you were true to me? CEO of the company, yet you lied to me that you were retrenched. Now I know why you've been returning home later and later! You idiot!" Della screamed.

Jim pushed the woman (whose name was Bella) aside with a pretentious look of disgust, "I ... I know you were trying to cheat me of my money! How dare you! There you go, take this money and stop bothering me!"  Jim declared, casually fishing out fifty-dollar notes and throwing it towards Bella.

But it was too late. Della had raised her hand belligerently and struck a blow to Jim's face. 

Della's face was tear-streaked and her hair was extremely messed up. How could Jim betray her? Her father was right, she should have listened to him! Should she turn to him now? How would he react?

After much dilemma, she decided to look up her parents. Ignoring Jim's futile cries, she made her way to the aristocratic district, hoping that her parents would have forgiven her.

Soon, she arrived at the pavement, where large mansions lay. She walked to the familiar house and prodded the doorbell.

The door opened surprisingly. She recognized the familiar face—her governor, Betty! 

"Oh, dear Della, you are finally back! Why are your clothes so torn and tattered? Were you crying? What happened? What happened to your hair?" Betty bombarded Della. Della felt a pang of regret. Betty still remembered her and was so concerned about her!  

Betty led Della along the pathway which was had lit candles along them. She was finally back to her home, but would her parents accept her?

Then they arrived in front of a door. The teakwood door was her parents' room. Betty rapped on the door and exclaimed, "Della is back! Della is back!"

The door opened immediately and she saw her parents: her mother beautiful as ever, her father wise as ever. Unlike what she had expected, tears welled up in her mother's eyes as her mother, Sophia, ran up to her and embraced her. Her father, Timothy, did likewise. Theirs were tears of joy, but Della's were tears of regret and guilt. Her parents loved her so deeply and did everything for her benefit, yet she went against them just for Jim! How foolhardy she was!

After all that dramatic moments, she sat down on the sofa with her parents. Betty brought in some snacks on the fancy three-layered tray and tea. All her favourite deserts!

"Now tell me, my dear, what happened? What happened to your hair" Sophia asked tenderly.

Tears streaming down her face, she narrated every single detail.

"I told you already," Timothy muttered.

Sophia shot a glare towards Timothy and comforted Della. She exclaimed, "How could he do that! How he looked so decent, yet! Oh!"

Timothy was a man of few words and merely said, "No matter what happened, it's just good that you are finally back home."

Della, looking up in shock, "You... are not angry with me anymore?"

Timothy smiled and shook his head. Warmly, he said, "I've always left your room as it is. It is great to have you back."

Betty led her to her room. Her feet stepped onto the white marble tiling. The white leather sofa was still in place, in front of the glass coffee table that had a base that resembled a ring. The familiar large television screen greeted her. She walked on. Her white-framed bed, with the white bed sheet, was arranged neatly. She sat on the bed and ruminated at how familiar the silky bed sheet and soft mattress was. Glancing sideways, her white bedside table was still there. The intricately designed lamp was her 13th birthday gift from Betty. The same dressing room, with the endless rows of bags, jewelry and clothes in her walk-in closet, and the wide array of make-up, with the various nuances in colour of lipstick, even colours she did not remember existing. Her white marble bathtub was still in the bathroom, with the towels rolled up and placed in the same wooden tray, together with some sea salt as well as rose petals. She marveled at the number of luxury goods she had, and they were still here despite her father's fury 4 years ago.

After washing up, Della, in her baby-pink pajamas, sat on the sofa and switched on the television. Her parents came in, and they asked, "Is everything alright? Do you need anything? Are you used to this?"

She nodded and reassured her parents to go to bed. Worry still hung on their face as they, unconvinced that Della was all right, left the room.

Then, she dialled the kitchen and asked for a bottle of wine. That night, she sat at the balcony, gulping down glasses of wine as tears streamed down her face. She had given up everything she had just for her love for Jim, but it was futile! The pain of betrayal and regret racked her the whole night. Her phone had been beeping, with Jim messaging her continuously for her to return home, forgive him, and how it was all a moment's folly. She gritted her teeth and held back her tears and turned her phone to silent mode. (In a pub somewhere I Knew You were Trouble was playing)

Meanwhile, Jim was at the pub. He lay sprawled on the table at the pub, drinking cup after cup of vodka. Why did Della have to appear at the supermarket? If she did not would everything not have been fine? Why did Bella suggest going to the supermarket? They could have headed to the restaurant instead of having a simple celebration at home! Now he lost Bella, Della and most crucially, the large fortune he would have inherited when Della's father died! Reflecting on his relationship with Della, he did have a crush on her, but since he was in a relationship with Bella he did not court Della. But after knowing her identity, he had broken up with Bella. However, when Bella had reappeared into his life, he could not resist the temptation to cheat on Della. Hopefully, Della had not informed her parents about the incident, he mused.