Leading Lady

CHAPTER 22

Clarice aimed the gun with a shaky hand towards Lucille. As she started to bring her finger to the trigger, she suddenly felt someone grab her wrist and get pulled back from the venue's entrance. Startled, Clarice turned and was surprised to see Valentina looking at her in horror.

"Mother!" she gasped in shock. Clarice burst into tears, turning back to look towards where the ceremony was taking place. She started towards the room, determined to finish what she had planned. "No, mom, no!"

"But I need to," Clarice sobbed, "I need to give her what she deserves."

Valentina grabbed ahold of her mother and managed to take the gun away from her. She looked at her with fear. She couldn't imagine the horror that would have unfolded had she not arrived in time.

"Please, Valentina," Clarice quietly begged her. "She needs to pay for everything she's done. Let me get revenge. Let me do it for us!"

Valentina looked down at the gun and quickly hid it in her purse before anyone showed up and saw them. She then put her arms around her mother and hugged her tightly before leading her away from there and out to the lobby where she sat Clarice down on a sofa. Valentina knelt down before her mother and looked at her.

"Mom, you were about to ruin your life forever! Do you realize that?"

Clarice shrugged, bringing her hands to her neck and scratching at her throat. It felt incredibly dry. "I don't care. My life is already ruined."

"No, it's not," Valentina answered with annoyance. "Why is it ruined? Because she broke your marriage? I'm sorry but you're probably better off without my dad. Last I checked he's an adult capable of making decisions. He chose to sleep with that snake."

"I need a drink, I need a drink so bad," Clarice choked. Valentina suddenly noticed the smell coming from her mother's breath. She'd clearly been drinking already and who knows for how long she'd been doing it for.

"You need help, mom," Valentina told her sadly. She brought her hands up and cupped her mother's face. When their eyes met, Valentina leaned in closer. "You're not alone, okay? You have me and Luke and we are ready to do anything we need to get you back on track."

"But it's too late," Clarice sobbed. She started to look away, but Valentina nudged her and forced Clarice to look at her in the eyes again.

"No, it's not," Valentina replied, "Not while Luke and I are around. We're going to make sure you get back to the wonderful woman you were after you got all this under control the first time."

"Is that even possible?" Clarice asked, unsure of anything anymore.

"I know it is," Valentina answered, "And you know why? Because if there is one thing I've never doubted, mom, is the love you have for me and Luke. It's what made you get better before and I know it'll be what helps you this time."

Clarice stared at her daughter and couldn't find the will to stop crying, "I do love you and Luke. More than anything in the world."

"Help me then," Valentina told her mother, "Help me get you the help you need. Do your part, mom, just like you did before, and show my dad and that little tramp that you are better off without either one of them. You want revenge? That's how you'll get it."

Clarice took a deep breath and nodded. Valentina smiled and kissed her on the forehead.

"I'm going to call Drake and ask him to meet us at his office," Valentina said, standing up. "Then we need to get out of here before anyone at that wedding sees us."

Valentina started to go when Clarice grabbed her hand and stopped her.

"Thank you," Clarice whispered, "You saved my life, Valentina. If you hadn't shown up, I really do think I would have gone through with it. I would have shot Lucille."