Chapter 8 Her Secret

Chapter 8 Her Secret

…

At The Villa. 

Inside her bedroom, Violet walked back and forth, her heart racing.

So many emotions overwhelmed her at once, and her heart felt like bursting. 

Was she dreaming?

No, this was a nightmare.

Clyde-

He was here!

Biting her fingernails rapidly, Violet shook her head. 

No! It wasn't Clyde. 

He wasn't that man she saw her daughter clinging onto. 

She must have seen wrong.

She must have imagined his face.

“Vi…” A knock came on the door. “Please open this door!” 

Freya!

No!

What if Violet opened the door and saw that man instead? 

Her brain must be making things up. 

She was having wild imaginations.

“Come out of the room, please, Vi…” Freya called out again. “Everyone's worried.”

Everyone was there when Violet ran back into the building, fleeing upstairs. 

As if she'd seen a ghost…

Well, Violet's shock and dread weren't any less than that of someone who'd seen a ghost.

But that man…

Violet would never mistake him even in her dreams.

Those features, his aura, and demeanor… the perfect description of her daughter's imagination.

He was Clyde!

What was he doing here?

Her family was downstairs… everyone was here.

No-no-no. This couldn't be happening. 

Sitting on the bed, Violet clutched her forehead, shutting her eyes. 

Why? 

Of all times, why did he appear now?

Hard footsteps echoed outside the bedroom. 

Someone else was here. 

Asher! 

“Vi… are you alright?” He joined Freya in knocking on the door.

Violet's heart sank, anxiety engulfing her chest. 

Oh, Goodness! 

She thought she knew all of Asher's friends.

Violet had done a clean check on his background. 

She'd left no stone unturned.

Asher told her he had invited only his close friends to this engagement.

Why would Clyde suddenly appear?

No one came to this Island without Asher's permission.

“Violet, unlock the door.” Asher's voice sounded again, low with worry. “Whatever's bothering you, we can talk about it.”

Would Violet be able to talk about it?

No, she couldn't!

How could she tell him that, Clyde, who was probably one of his friends was her ex-husband?

She thought they didn't know each other.

She hoped they never did.

“Please, Violet…” Asher went on. Then his sigh resounded. He spoke to Freya. “Do you know what happened to her?”

“No idea, Ash.”

“I fear Violet might cancel our engagement.”

“No way! Violet loves you a lot. Something else is bothering her.”

Their conversation traveled through the door, reaching Violet's ears.

She stood by the window, glancing at the wide empty space of the Island. 

Her cheeks were suddenly wet. 

Why was she crying?

But Violet was in a deep dilemma.

What if she hadn't suggested this Island?

What if they chose Asher's family home instead for the engagement?

“Mr. Sydney, your parents are here.” A third voice sounded. 

One of the servants. 

Asher's footsteps faded.  

And seconds later, Freya's voice sounded again. “Vi… Asher's gone… if it's a secret, we can talk about it.”

Violet sighed. 

Just standing in this room, worrying and doing nothing, wasn't the solution.

Indeed, she had shared every one of her secrets with her best friend.

Maybe she should speak with Freya about it. 

Freya might come up with a solution.

Making up her mind, Violet left the window, heading to the door. 

The loud cry of a tiny voice halted her movement as she tried to unlock the door. 

Violet stilled, stunned. 

Freya exclaimed in a worried voice. “Oh my gosh! Mimi, why're you crying?”

“Aunt Freya, where's my Mummy!” Mimi wailed.

“Your Mummy's inside. You can tell me what happened.”

“Daddy bullied me! I don't want a bad Daddy, Wah!”