The Misguided

Overdue Confession

Chapter 14- Overdue Confession

Lilian gradually approached the location, paying close attention to the GPS on the car screen as it led her to the middle of nowhere, encircled by dense forests, curvaceous hills, and an eerie but surreal feeling as if it were a place out of a fairy tale.

His neighbourhood resided beside a river- so vast you can't see the opposite side on level ground. The floor is splattered with coloured cement tiles, even on the road. The second Lilian's car pulled into the gated neighbourhood, she was greeted by a security guard asking her whereabouts.

"It's Lilian Woods, visiting Xavier Woods."

She was surprised to learn that despite all the unnecessary security installments, the neighbourhood has an abnormally high crime rate, topping the statistics for unsolved. You could say rich people are better at playing mind games, cheating the system. As Lilian pulled into the driveway, Xavier was already sitting in the front yard, anticipating her arrival. He opened the car door for her as she leaped out, grabbing her hand as his lips slightly brushed against it, scanning her from head to toe as he twirled her in the floral sundress.

"You look gorgeous as always, Lilian."

"Thank you, I'm flattered."

"Follow me inside. Do you want something to drink? Tea, coffee or a caramel latte, maybe?"

Lilian's lips curved up slightly and plummeted. "I'll take a cup of tea, please; thank you."

The second Lilian stepped inside the house, she was greeted with the ice-cold marble floor and an ocean breeze caressing her skin. The trees hovering over the windows gave the floor a luminous, viridescent speck of shadows. Waltz played in the background, making it seem like a ballroom venue; stairs in the centre of the house, diverging to 2 opposite sides with dark railing imitating roses. She only imagined how lonely this house feels with his solitude.

"Make yourself feel at home. I will be right back."

Lilian went to sit down at the coffee table beside the kitchen, resting her head on her palm. This encounter made her realize maybe her husband is a victim too, faced with uncanny circumstances causing him. Lilian still believes good is left in him after everything, but the pleasantries brought her nothing but pain. She turned on her phone to see a photo of her and Daniel as the wallpaper- he was so happy, a smile casting half of his face. She was drowning in his tight hug. Lilian turned off her phone, an overwhelming sense of forlornness bottled up inside her.

Xavier walked over momentarily with 2 cups of tea in his hand and sat across from Lilian, handing her the fuller cup.

"So, what did you want to talk about today? Keeps me curious all night, like you always do."

Lilian looked up from her lap, staring straight at the wall ahead, "Why did you do it, Xavier?" She inquired after a lengthy pause.

"Do what? What are you talking about?" Xavier's hands fiddled with the table mat, but his truth could not escape Lilian's demanding eyes.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. It was you, who laced my husband's bag with cynical tools, making it seem like he was plotting an unforgivable crime. And among lots of other things."

"Prove it was me."

Lilian displayed a zoomed-in screenshot of the malefactor on her phone while she rolled up Xavier's sleeves, placing her phone beside his wrist.

"I guess smart people aren't the smartest all the time."

Xavier scoffed, "Ah, I guess you found out." He knew better than to deny the truth further. "Maybe it was on purpose, so the investigation would lead you back to me."