𝐀𝐥𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐳 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: The Broken Vows

Chapter 8: Silent Goodbyes

The lingering aroma of Victoria's mother's delicious apple pie and the bittersweet scent of pine needles filled the air. It was time to go. As Victoria and Thiago packed their things and the final traces of their dreamy vacation faded into the distance, the unmistakable buzz of the Rolls-Royce filled the driveway.

Victoria's parents standing on the expansive flagstone patio, their faces etched with a mixture of sadness and joy. They were happy to see their daughter back in New York, but a part of them wished she could stay a little longer. Her siblings, Eduardo, Nicholas, and Azahara, waved from the patio, their faces a blur of love and sadness.

Victoria turned to her mother, a lump forming in her throat. “I'll call you when we get there, Mama. And thank you for everything.”

Her mother smiled, her eyes glistening. “We'll miss you, sweetie. But we're so happy you had a good time.”

Victoria realized Diana was still missing as she turned to bid her mother farewell with a kiss. During the entire vacation, she had remained distant, hardly spoke to Victoria and kept to herself. Victoria had hoped they could at least say farewell in a dignified manner, even though she knew Diana was still unhappy about the event with Thiago.

“Where's Diana?” Victoria asked, her voice laced with a touch of concern.

Her mother shrugged. “She's probably taking a shower. She's always the last one to get ready.”

Victoria frowned, her heart sinking. She knew Diana wasn't just showering. She was avoiding her. A deep, simmering resentment had been brewing inside Diana since the moment Thiago had arrived. It was a feeling of being overlooked, of her own life and feelings being pushed aside. She felt like a ghost in her own family, invisible to Victoria and Thiago, their happiness a constant reminder of her own loneliness.

“Alright, let's go,” Thiago said, placing a comforting hand on Victoria's shoulder. “We'll see her again soon.”

Victoria nodded, but her mind was racing. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Diana's silence was deafening.

As the Rolls-Royce pulled away from the house, Victoria turned one last time to look at her family standing on the patio. They waved goodbye, their faces a blur of love and sadness. But Victoria couldn't help but feel a nagging sense of unease. Something wasn't right. She knew Diana was still angry, but this was different. This was more than just a silent protest. This was something deeper, something that needed to be addressed.

The car sped down the highway, the road stretching out before them like a ribbon of uncertainty. Victoria's heart ached for Diana, and she couldn't help but wonder what was going on in her sister's mind. She knew she had to talk to her, to understand what was happening. But for now, all she could do was drive towards the unknown, carrying the weight of her sister's silence with her.