Green-minded (EDITING) ✔

F O R T Y - T W O: Betrayal

I've been on cloud nine ever since the wedding and never did it cross my mind that it'll change this fast. Trixie is not just my best friend, she's my half-sister. This pain I'm experiencing is beyond anybody's comprehension, not even my husband can grasp the severity of my hurt.

It makes sense. Tony's odd reaction yesterday was due to Trixie lending me $3 million. He must've noticed something about Trixie that made him think she's responsible for these happenings.

We're inside Tony's blue Camaro sports car, he insists on driving since I'm not in good shape to do that. The good thing is, he can still drive. I'm crying silently on the passenger seat.

He opens the conversation, "Babe, will it be all right if we discuss this now?"

I bob my head, "Yes, I've been meaning to ask you, how did you know that it's Trix?" He offers me a handkerchief which I accept and wipe my tears with.

He sighs exasperatedly, his eyes focus on the road while driving, "At the wedding, I saw a familiar tattoo on her wrist. It's the same half of a heart tattoo of the person who injected something on me during the cruise trip. I rid myself of the idea that it's her because it's unthinkable. Your bond with each other is so strong."

"Yeah. I've never imagined that she wants to harm me. Everything is making sense now. She's aware of my nut allergy. Ashton may have known her all along. He saved us when we were trapped on the well by her, Ashton's a good person, maybe he can't stomach Trixie killing us. Trixie might've also drugged me because she has to go to you, inject you, and set things up with Joan to destroy our relationship. She's also knowledgeable of my whereabouts, my current work. She must've told Manager Kim about my location. The question is why is she doing this? She doesn't like you."

"Maybe it's because of your father. She's jealous because your father loves you so much and wants to come back to you and Mom badly."

"I doubt that. My father neither loves me nor Mom. I heard it directly from him." My eyes start to water again.

"That's impossible, babe. Joan said that your father had attempted to go to you and Mom multiple times."

I shake my head in disagreement, "When I was fifteen, we flew to Florida to shoot a music video. I've escaped for a few hours without Manager Kim's permission to go to dad. I found him at their home and I heard him say that 'He doesn't want Mom and me any more and he regrets having us in his life.' Those words created a huge hole in my heart and I can never forgive him.",

Tony turns the car to an immediate halt on the side of the road, he unfastens his seatbelt to give me a hug, I bury my face to his neck and cry bucket of tears, "Hush, babe. I'll be here for you and I'll never leave you." He kisses my mouth passionately.

I release his lips to say, "Thank you, love. You're an amazing person. How could I survive without you? If you didn't discover the money stolen from me then I would've gone to court, worse, serve jail time after losing the case."

Manager Kim and President Rogers agreed to Tony's suggestion that I take over the Starlight talent agency as their payment. It's favorable on their end since the company is almost bankrupt and doesn't cost close to $40 million. Tony might have wanted the company's name who has been in the music industry for decades. I couldn't fathom his plan but I'm sure he also did it out of the goodness of his heart.

"The least I can do is help you using this brilliant mind of mine." He smiles. He's incredibly attractive plus he's a beautiful soul, too. Sorry girls, he's mine.

There was a moment of silence. He stares at me with intensity, "We've got to fly to Miami and confront Trixie about this." He runs a hand over his mouth pensively, "My shooting for Deep Waters is also in Florida in three days. Come with me, love."

"I'm not sure about that. I don't know how I'll face Trix. It hurts so much." Being in this fragile state is new to me and I've got to show Tony this side of me. I glance at him and he held my hand and kiss my forehead. I catch his scent and it calms me.

"Don't worry, I'm with you. Nothing will go wrong. I got your back." He assures me.

I bobble my head. "Yes."

*****

"Hey, we're here, wake up, babe." Tony's voice pulls me from my nap. Palm trees surround Trixie's house. Her place is situated beside the beach. The sound of the roaring waves fills my ears as I open the car door. My heart is thumping loudly inside my chest, extremely nervous about this confrontation.

Tony rang the doorbell five times but no one's answering, "Maybe she's not here."

"I agree. Let's just go back later."

We turn around, we're about to go back to his hotel when we hear the door click open.

"Oh my gosh! Ash? Tony? Can't believe that you're here in Miami!" We tilt our heads to see her eyes display genuine surprise and excitement. Her arms take me to a tight embrace and I respond, Tony waves hello.

"Why do you fucking look downcast? Both of you? Come in, before the waves swallow us whole. They're unusually big today that's why I kept myself inside the house." Her typical loud voice and laughter resound throughout her home as we enter inside.

"What's up? That's not how lovey-dovey honeymooners should look like!" She slaps both of our arms and then place her arms around our shoulders. Tony to her right and me to her left. Then, we sit on the couch, next to each other.

"Uh... We actually came here to ask you something." I let out an exhausted breath. Tony laces his fingers to mine.

"You're both scaring me. Why are you glaring at me as if I did something bad?" Trixie frowns and her eyebrows burrow.

"Were you really behind everything, Trixie? I can't believe it." I gaze outside the window and the dark clouds cover the sky, just great. It's going to rain.

"What the fuck is going on? Tell me already! This is killing me!" She stands up, her fists land on her hips. Her face paints an expression of impatience and anger.

"Did you plan to kill me during the cruise trip? Did you set up Joan and Tony together on the last night at the cruise? Did you also talk to Manager Kim to have a case filed against me?" My lips quiver as these queries spill out of my mouth.

Trixie walks back and forth in front of us, "You're kidding me, right? Where did these weird accusations come from?"

"Your tattoo.." Tony speaks, "I saw that wrist tattoo two years ago. You were the girl who injected something on me to make me sleep."

Trixie's mouth drops wide open then she shuts her eyes, "I didn't do it."

"We showed your photo to Manager Kim and she identified you as the person who talked her to filing a case against me." I say, barely a whisper.

She opens her eyes with tears flowing on her cheeks, "Fine! I did it! I planned everything. What do you fucking want to do with me now?"

She steps forward but the wailing of police sirens play on the background, "Bullshit!" She exclaims, "You want to put me in jail, huh?!"

"Your confession was recorded. The police heard everything." Tony answers.

The policemen enter the house and handcuff Trixie. We expected her to fight or flee but she didn't. She surrenders willingly to the authorities.

I cry as this dreaded scene unfolds before my very eyes. It's hard to watch my half-sister, my best friend in that situation. Tony hugs me, tapping my back to soothe the pain but sadly it didn't ease the hurt of her betrayal.