Beautiful Betrayal

I Was Wrong

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"Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does. Love is a battle, love is a war; love is a growing up."

~James Baldwin
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V I C T O R I A
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"I asked you, what are you doing here?" my father repeated, his voice clearly furious and displeased.

"Dad, please," I said quickly, getting up and taking hurried steps toward him. His stern expression softened slightly as I took his hand in mine.

"Dad, can we talk?" I pleaded. "I know you just want to protect me, and I'm so grateful for that. But he's a father too. It was wrong of me to take his child away from him. Please let him dad. Please, forgive him." I pleaded with tear-filled eyes. My father took a deep breath, struggling to control his anger. I knew he was furious, and it was all my fault. Yes, he broke my heart, but I did the same to him.

Looking at him and our baby, I realized the rash decision I made in my selfishness. I was heartbroken and an emotional mess at the time, but that doesn't justify my actions. I have no right to take Asher away from his father. Just as much as he deserves motherly love, he deserves fatherly love too.

As I stood there, the weight of my mistakes became overwhelming. I couldn’t keep denying the truth. Asher’s innocent eyes looked up at me, and I knew I couldn’t rob him of the bond he was meant to have with his father.

“I was wrong, Dad,” I admitted, my voice trembling. “I let my pain cloud my judgment, and in trying to protect myself, I hurt the people I love the most.”

My father’s stern expression softened slightly as he listened. He had always been my protector, but this time, I had to face the consequences of my own choices.

“I can’t let my hurt dictate Asher’s future,” I continued, glancing at the man I once loved and cared deeply. “He deserves to know his son."

My father sighed deeply, his anger slowly melting away. He looked at Asher, and I saw the resolve in his eyes weaken. My father gently creased my head in a loving manner, then cast a warning glance at Dominic before leaving the room. I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of my hurt and despair. In my pain, I had wounded the very people I loved the most, and the guilt was eating me alive.

I wiped away my tears and was about to turn around to see my son with his father when Dominic stepped behind me, encircling an arm around my waist. In his other arm, he still held our son.

“Dominic,” I frowned, quickly breaking free from his embrace. I might have forgiven him, but that didn’t mean I had forgotten.

Seeing my expression, Dominic set our son down and whispered something in his ear. Our baby giggled and, with a cheerful “Okay,” ran out of the room, leaving me alone with the man I once loved more than anything.

“Victoria…” Dominic began.

“Dominic, don’t,” I interrupted, my voice tinged with pain. “Please. I’m sorry for keeping our son from you, and I regret it deeply. I hope, in time, you can find it in your heart to forgive me but that didn't change the fact you broke my heart.”

Silence fell between us as he gazed deeply into my eyes, a flicker of hurt flashing across his face.

“I still don’t understand, Dominic. Why did you even marry me? Was it just to win a bet? That was as foolish as my thinking you actually loved me. You ruined your life too, and you’re still doing it. I just don’t get it—why haven’t you signed the divorce papers yet?”

I shook my head, my voice trembling with frustration. “I’m not your type, Dominic. I never was. I was delusional to think otherwise. I’m simple and boring, and you… you admire beauty, excitement. Please, don’t make this harder than it already is. Let us both be free from this torment.”

He gave me a look full of hurt, then took a few steps back, his expression hardening into one of cold resolve.

"You and Asher are coming home," he said firmly.

"I'm not staying with you," I replied, my voice steady but my heart pounding.

"Okay," he said, his voice tinged with disappointment. "So you don’t want to stay with Asher? I understand that. But I’m taking my son home."

"Dominic…" I began, my voice pleading.

"Just for once, Victoria, stop making this hard for us," he interrupted, frustration clear in his tone. I fell silent, the weight of his words pressing down on me.

"Do you want to stay away from Asher?" he asked, his voice softer but still resolute.

"No," I whispered, the thought of being separated from my son unbearable.

"Then you don’t have a choice," he said, his voice leaving no room for argument.

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End of the chapter
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