Someone Competent

Chapter 15: Motherhood

AN: I'd like to offer my sincerest apologies for the delay. Life decided to be a bitch, and I got overwhelmed. Now that I'm back in school, I should be able to develop a schedule for updating. Thank you all for being patient with me. I appreciate all of the love and support! <3

Xoxo, Roses
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"Estella is my daughter.".

The entire room stills. Thick tension floods the air, suffocating any noise. Inhaling heavily, you try to wrap your head around Victoria's words. She watches as your facial features contort, ranging from shock and confusion to anger and betrayal. Victoria shivers, her mind clouded by unpleasant memories.

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Gasping as liquid gushed to the floor, Victoria's blue eyes widened, and she clutched her swollen abdomen. Nine months prior, Victoria had fallen pregnant to her abusive husband after he forced himself upon her. Groans of pain echoed throughout her office as her body prepared for childbirth.

When Victoria first learned of her condition, her actions were a blur. Her symptoms -nausea, tender breasts, change in appetite, and weight gain all triggered alarm. Many of her posh friends mentioned experiencing similar indicators before finding out they were expecting. In a panic, Victoria immediately called a doctor. Hastened by Victoria's status, a physician arrived at Hellman Hall shortly after she rang.

The doctor, albeit unsuccessfully, attempted to calm Victoria after informing her she was with child. Victoria's thoughts were incoherent. Betrayal, guilt, and hatred were incomparable to the pain and humiliation she felt. She couldn't be a mother. A child would alter her body, permanently damaging her hourglass figure. It would leech off of her, selfishly sucking all of her nutrients for itself. Motherhood would age her, causing her to lose respect in the fashion world. Her business and reputation would plummet. Everything she worked for would be ripped away by the sticky hands of an infant.

To calm her racing mind, Victoria took her emotions out on the objects around her. Goose feathers and glass shards flew across her chambers. Screams of anger and frustration resonated throughout the exquisitely decorated halls of the estate. The maids were unbothered by the shouting, well acquainted with their mistress' temper. The Baron, on the other hand, was not. Drunkenly, he stumbled into Victoria's chambers to confront her about the noise.

The pungent stench of alcohol reached Victoria's nostrils, and she flinched. Stilling her movements, she turned to her husband with a sickly-sweet smile. "I'm pregnant," she gritted, internally grimacing. She watched the Baron's reactions anxiously. Expecting an argument to ensue, Victoria took a deep breath to prepare. Panic burned through her veins when her husband's scowl turned into a malicious smile.

The Baron grabbed at his wife, pulling her into a rib-crushing embrace. Victoria froze. Her breathing quickened, and her eyes darted to the Baron's hands, preparing to flinch away if he attempted to strike her. Taking her jaw into his left hand, the Baron pressed his chapped lips against Victoria's ruby-red lips. Victoria gasped, and he forced his tongue into her mouth. Grimacing at the intrusion, Victoria placed her hands on her husband's shoulders, attempting to distance herself from the kiss. Offended by his wife's rejection, the Baron pulled away from Victoria with a frown.

A smack echoed through the room. Victoria's hands darted to her cheek, and tears formed in her eyes from the stinging sensation. Her ears rang, and a bright red mark in the shape of the Baron's right hand covered the left side of her face.

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Noticing Victoria's watery blue eyes and her left hand cupping her cheek, you stop talking. You tilt your head to the side, watching the Baroness with concern evident in your features. Her eyes glaze over, lost in thought. Gradually, you stand from your chair and approach Victoria.