NARRATED BY ALEXANDER.
I woke up before the alarm went off, as I heard the notifications bombarding my phone one after another.
I barely grabbed my phone and an article with a picture of me and Rachel appeared, I didn't remember when that picture was taken, but seeing that it was in my room, the one I shared with Sarah, I knew it was the day she came to my house and I also confirmed that she had secretly put something in my drink without me realizing it. That was why I didn't remember anything from that night.
I was surprised to realize that Sarah had given her statements to Rousell Entertainment, the most prestigious media outlet in Paris and the rest of the world for the accuracy of its articles, and this was no exception.
"An affair has ended the two-year marriage of Sarah Petit and Alexander Lancaster, but it wasn't by Sarah's hand, but by that of renowned businessman, CEO of Lancaster Collection, Alexander Lancaster, who had a secret relationship with Sarah's best friend and former university classmate, Rachel Duncan. Want proof? We have proof!"
I had exposed myself to the whole world, that was Sarah's response after all the attacks against her. Although I ignored what was being said about me and read line by line looking for information that clarified her relationship with this guy called Dubois.
I didn't find it.
I threw my phone aside, feeling suddenly irritated, and it wasn't because of the attacks now directed at me after that article, but because I still had hope that Sarah would deny the alleged relationship with that man, and she didn't. She didn't speak about Paul. I didn't know what he had to do with her and that frustrated me, although I tried to deny it.
I didn't want to know anything more about the gossip we were involved in, but my mother's visit completely disrupted my plans.
"Alexander! That woman is shameless! How dare she spread false rumors about you with an obviously edited image? Can't you see the kind of woman you were married to? She's willing to harm you in order to protect her lover." My mother burst into my room, interrupting my attempt to meditate and calm my anger, without even greeting me.
Who the hell let her into the house without my permission?
I had made it clear that I didn't want to receive visitors or calls from anyone under any circumstances.
I let out a tired sigh as she moved the blanket aside and showed me the screen of her phone with the article from Rousell Entertainment.
Did she come here just to ruin my mood with that?
"Mother, that photo is real, it's Rachel with me, on this bed." My mother stayed still with her eyes wide open as if she were seeing a ghost.
Whatever, I prefer that she knows the truth and insult me rather than continue attacking Sarah as if she were the culprit of all our misfortunes.
"How dare that bitch upload such an intimate photo on social media? Do you realize she's harming your image? Didn't she learn her lesson with the article from NY Entertainment? I'll have to hit her even harder so she leaves the Lancaster family alone."
My mother spoke contemptuously about the woman who was once my wife, and I felt my blood boiling in my veins because she kept attacking her despite me telling her that I was the one who disrespected our marriage, but above all, realizing that NY Entertainment was involved in this and so was my mother.
So, she was the one who started this wave of gossip?
Was my own mother capable of inventing such a thing about Sarah?
With that discovery, I realized that everything was fake.
Sarah had nothing to do with Paul after all, it was just a simple hug, not a compromising photo like the one she used to defend herself, because that was what she did. She defended herself against what my own mother invented.
Did my mother despise Sarah so much that she would harm her image in that way?
"Amelia! Just shut up! It was you who started all of this! You yourself tarnished my image and Sarah's image by involving my name and that of my ex-wife in such a slander! I forbid you to speak ill of my wife, she is innocent! If you're going to speak ill of anyone, do that to me. I ruined my two years of marriage!"
I couldn't help but raise my voice as I got out of bed and looked disapprovingly at my mother. What kind of monster was my mother? How dare she attack Sarah like that after everything, when she had been so kind to everyone? And I could vouch for that.
Since when did my mother hate Sarah and why didn't I realize it before?
"Your wife? Don't make me laugh. I remind you that you are already divorced and it was the wisest thing that gold digger could do, she didn't fit into this family, she's not at our level. And if I was the one responsible for the gossip to open your eyes and realize the kind of woman you married. What do you plan to do? That poor woman's reputation is already ruined."
Despite everything I told my mother, she turned a deaf ear, badmouthing Sarah when it was obvious that I knew her much better than she did. I let out a loud snort and grabbed my mother by the shoulders, staring her in the eyes. I had to put a stop to Amelia.
"What you're going to do right now is contact Sarah and publicly apologize. You're going to clarify that it was you who started all this shit and that she is innocent." I spat out each word, resisting the urge to scream in her face, because after all she was still my mother.
Her surprised and ashamed gaze landed on my face. She didn't seem to agree with my order, but it was the least I could do for Sarah.
She didn't deserve this. She didn't deserve my mother's constant attacks just because of the difference in social classes or because of the little or nothing that was known about her background, and now she was also being attacked by public opinion because of my mother, being portrayed as a gold digger and that was far from the truth.
After a few seconds in which she seemed intimidated by my sudden reaction, she raised her head and smiled without grace. At this moment, I didn't recognize my mother. How could she let herself be carried away by the difference in social classes? It seemed absurd to me.
"Don't even think that I'm going to apologize to that woman, let alone publicly. If you want to redeem yourself for your infidelity, the only thing I can do is lower NY Entertainment's grades and that would be too much, I'm not going to lift a finger for that orphan." She pulled away from my grip with her arrogant attitude and it angered me even more.
"None of this would be happening if you hadn't invented gossip about her. I'm not redeeming myself, I just won't tolerate you attacking Sarah anymore. Did you want us to get divorced? We are already divorced. Don't interfere with her or my life anymore." I asked her this time in a more reasonable way, holding back the annoyance and the stab in my heart.
"Has your protective side come out after the divorce? You didn't even look at her the last few months of our marriage, that's very hypocritical of you. To be honest, I like Rachel more, she's the one who is at your level." My mother's words were like needles directly to my heart, they hurt because she was right.
The last few months I was so stressed because of Rachel's blackmail that I couldn't even hide it, I simply distanced myself from my wife when I was supposed to tell her everything from the beginning. She wouldn't judge me for my past and on the contrary, she would push away that woman who claimed to be her best friend.
But I was a victim of panic, the last thing I wanted was for the whole world to find out what Alexander Lancaster did in the past. Fear engulfed me and I fell like a lamb into Rachel's trap.