Victoria disappears again

Victoria tossed her head, not showing any concern that they had apparently heard a good part of what she said. As far as she was concerned, that was their goddamn problem. 

“Victoria, my dear. You sure have grown into a fine young woman.” Mr. James said, coming over to give her a hug and peck where she was standing. Victoria received them rigidly, her posture giving off ‘I don’t know you vibes.’ 

“Now, I know you may not remember me, but I used to be your father’s best friend.” Mr. James continued.

“Yes, yes. We are best friends, honey.” Their father put in, a tad too eagerly. Mr. James put up one finger to silence him and he snapped his mouth shut as though someone had used a remote button to control him. Carol watched in surprise, wondering what kind of hold this man had over her family that made everyone, including her usually feisty mother bend backward trying to obey him.

“Don’t interrupt me, Donald. Now, as I was saying, your father and I used to be best friends. That is why I want you to get married to my dear nephew here, so we can all be one big, happy family. That is what my dear sister and brother-in-law would have wanted, God rest their souls.”

“What about what I want? Why is nobody talking about that?”

“You’re going to be well taken care of and be free to do as you like, depending on what is in the contract.”

“Contract? Why is nobody telling me any of what is going on?” Carol quipped, feeling like an outsider in her own home, but that was how she had always felt.

Mr. James ignored her and dismissed everyone. “Get some rest everyone. Tomorrow is going to be really hectic. My aunties and sisters are coming in for the wedding, so everything has to go well.” He said and beckoned to his wife and Sebastian who was busy with something on his phone for them to leave.

“I hope you feel better, Victoria,” Sebastian said, the first words he had said to his supposed wife to be since meeting her in real life. The words sounded as though they were coming from a marble sculpture, totally devoid of emotion or meaning. Even his face was devoid of the sincerity that someone who had spoken words like that should have. Having said those words, he nodded coolly at the rest of them and walked out of the house after his uncle. There was a tense silence after they left, which was broken by Belinda.

“Alright, dears. Please go to bed now. It’s already late.” She said, pointing at the wall clock to show them how late it was, as though they did not know how late it was.

“Is anybody going to tell me what is going on?” Carol asked the room at large and was not at all surprised when they all walked away without answering her question.

Deciding that she could not force them to tell her anything if they did not want to do so, she went up to her room to sleep.

                      ****

Carol was shaken roughly awake the next morning by a frantic Belinda, who was babbling words that Carol could not understand. Her eyes were wild and her hair a mess, and she looked like she had just gotten out of bed. 

“What is it again, mum? It’s too early for you to wake me up. Christ, it's barely even eight and the wedding isn’t until eleven.” Carol complained, rubbing her eyes sleepily. She had found it difficult to sleep last night, so it wasn’t a surprise that she was still feeling so sleepy.

“I’ve been cursed with an ungrateful child. I’ve been cursed.” Belinda cried, sitting on Carol’s bed and giving way to loud, wracking sobs of self-pity. Carol watched her for a few minutes, not sure if she should console her or not. She and Belinda did not have that kind of relationship. 

“What’s going on?” She asked finally.

Belinda wailed for some more minutes, during which her husband came into the room and stood sheepishly by the door. Carol raised her eyes at him questioningly, but he looked away immediately. After some minutes, Belinda wiped at her eyes and said.

“Victoria has run away.”

“Oh,” Carol said, not sure what else to say.

“Yeah. Do you know where she could be? Did she confide in you or something?” Belinda asked angrily, although her eyes were still teary.

“No, she didn’t. In case you guys failed to notice, nobody in this house ever confides in me about anything, so I’m sorry, but I can’t help you. I don’t know anything about her running away.”

“Oh, really? You don’t know anything?”

“Um, yeah? That’s what I just said.”

“Okay, then. Do you care to explain this?” Belinda asked, flinging a piece of paper at her. It was a note from Victoria and Carol read it quickly.

Hey everyone. By the time you’ll be reading this, I’ll be long gone. I’m sorry, but I cannot be the sacrificial lamb for the family. I have my whole life ahead of me, so getting married to a stranger and having a child is not what I want for myself at all. You guys should sort out your issues with Sebastian’s family on your own and not involve me in any of it. Also, help me thank Carol for helping me realize that I don’t have to be anyone’s doormat, nor do I have to marry anyone unless I want to. For now, you won’t be able to reach me, but I’ll get in touch once everything has died down. However, be rest assured that I’m safe. I’m sorry for any embarrassment this might cause the family. I love you all.

Victoria. 

“Oh,” Carol said after she had finished reading the message. 

“Yeah, oh.” 

“Well, I don’t see what the big deal is. Sure, it’s going to be awfully embarrassing for both families, but from what I could see, there is no love lost between the two people who are supposed to be getting married. Sebastian looked bored with the whole thing, as though he was being forced, and so did Victoria. So maybe it is for the best.”

“He is a billionaire. No one can force him to do anything. Victoria just threw away a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“Are you sure about that? Something tells me there is more to this arranged marriage than meets the eye.”

“The pressing problem now is how we are going to find Victoria. James is not going to like this one bit.” Donald said nervously, still standing by the door.

As if on cue, someone knocked on the door of Victoria’s room. It was one of the maids. 

“Mr. James is here.” She informed them.

“Oh my God! This is terrible…really terrible. What on earth are we going to tell him? This is all your goddamn fault. Damn you, Donald!” Belinda yelled at her husband, who cringed and looked away.

“I’ll just go and tell him what’s going on myself,” Carol said, coming down from her bed at last and proceeding to walk out of the room in only her nightgown.

“You will do no such thing,” Belinda ordered, wiping at her eyes and beckoning to her husband for them to go and meet Mr. James.

Once they had left, Carol hurriedly changed into more presentable clothes and hurried downstairs to eavesdrop on them where they were in the study. It was high time she knew what was going on once and for all.