Chapter 3 "The Divorce"

• After leaving a passionate night behind and a morning full of provocations, they managed to fall asleep in a perfect protective embrace, both in their favorite place.
• By 2 in the afternoon, with a radiant smile, Matt got out of bed quietly, wanting to let his girl sleep. He couldn't be happier, she loves him, she accepted him into her life, and that's all he wants from her. Very excited, he headed to the closet for underwear and went straight to the shower, that's what he needs, a refreshing shower after intense passion sessions.
• The smile doesn't leave his face, and it's an indescribable feeling for him. In front of the mirror finishing shaving, he is surprised by a sleepy Victoria, still with her eyes half closed she opened the door and upon seeing him, she stared at him with a certain panic in her eyes.
• "You turned into a wild one last night, Miss Victoria," he smirked teasingly through the mirror.
• "I... I..." she looks at him terrified, "I have to... go to the bathroom."
• "Can't I stay?" he says, suppressing a smile.
• "NO!!"
• Letting out a loud laugh, he dried his face and approached her seductively, enveloping her in a tender hug.
• "Matt, does it hurt?" she whispered.
• "Yes," he smiled.
• "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me," she tries to explain, a little embarrassed.
• "I like it," he cuts her off, still smiling.
• "How can you like it? Your back is horrible, full of scratches, I drew blood, damn it! Why didn't you tell me I was hurting you?"
• "Because it was exciting."
• "I feel bad," she looks at him through the mirror with anguish, his perfect back covered in marks from her own nails.
• "Don't be, it's a comforting pain, it reminds me of how well we spent last night."
• "Rothschild..."
• She tried to protest, but taking the initiative, he kissed her tenderly for a few seconds trying to make her forget about it.
• "Did you sleep well?" he asked while caressing her cheeks with both thumbs.
• "Yes."
• "What's wrong?" he asked, furrowing his brow.
• "I really need to go to the bathroom, can you leave?" she confesses, embarrassed.
• "If there's no other choice," he sighed, pretending to be serious.
• "Quick, please."
• Laughing, he gave her the privacy she needed. Nothing would ruin how happy he was. He waited for 15 minutes for her to come out, and when she finally opened the door and he saw her wrapped in a towel, his smile widened inevitably.
• "Ready to go down for lunch?" he asked as he approached slowly.
• "I'm not hungry," she avoided his gaze.
• "You have to eat something, then we can go back to bed," Matt suggested.
• "We can? When was the last time 'busy Mr. Rothschild' took such a lazy weekend?" she smirked mockingly.
• "I'm on vacation, remember? And... you just called me MISTER," he chuckled, containing the urge to smile at what that word provokes in him.
• "True," she sighed, holding back the urge to smile at the memory of what that word provokes in her.
• "Do you know what that word provokes in me? You're going to have to give me a good reason why I shouldn't rip that lucky towel off your body."
• "I don't have any," she shrugged playfully, provoking him.
• "Let's go eat... something, with my grandmother and then we can do whatever you want."
• "That lady is not to my liking, I don't want to see her " he retorted, taking a couple of steps back.
• "Please, Vic " he extended his hand and brought it back towards him.
• "Okay, but if she says something to me, I won't stop, make that clear."
• "With that threat, you only manage to make me even hotter."
• "You're crazy."
• "I could get used to this " he said, hugging her. "Rothschild, you're a pervert, who would have thought it? In fact, that part of me only comes out when you're around. And a chatterbox, how many of your princesses have you said that to?"
• He playfully pushed her and headed to the dressing room to look for clothes. She knew perfectly well that Matt would follow her, so she took everything she needed and locked herself in the bathroom.
• Impatiently, she waited for him to come out. When she had her in front of him, he couldn't resist the uncontrollable urge he felt every time he had her close. He kissed her passionately, causing the tension Victoria felt in her body to dissipate. She knew that the last thing she wanted was to see Elizabeth, but they couldn't be locked in the room all day, especially after the disastrous day before.
• Hand in hand, they arrived at the main dining room, where Elizabeth and George were already seated at the table. Without saying a word, Victoria let go of Matt's hand and took a seat in complete silence.
• "Good afternoon, grandmother, George," Matt greeted before taking his seat.
• "Good afternoon," Elizabeth responded, while observing Victoria.
• "When are you returning to London, grandmother?" Matt asked.
• "I'm not going back soon, Matt. There are some problems holding me here," she said, referring to Victoria.
• "What kind of problems, grandmother?"
• "Matt, I made a mistake and I won't leave until I correct it. You will have to resign yourself to having me at home, is that clear?" she concluded the topic with a firm and determined voice.
• "What does it matter what she says, you have already made your decision."
• "That's right. Victoria, can we talk later?"
• "No, thank you," she replied without looking at her.
• "Can I insist?"
• "No."
• "Maybe you can add me to your schedule," Elizabeth insisted.
• "No, I can't."
• To calm the atmosphere a bit, Doris and Kim entered the room. The housekeeper just wanted to make sure that Victoria was okay.
• "I'll visit you later, go rest that arm, please."
• "Okay, little one."
• With a kiss on the cheek, Doris said goodbye to Victoria and left them to continue their tense lunch.
• "You had me waiting for an hour, Matt."
• "Grandmother, you could have perfectly had lunch in George's company."
• "It's a lack of education, I am your guest, the host, you have to show respect for your guests," she said seriously.
• "If I'm not mistaken, guest and host are two very different words. You arrived here without notice," her grandson replied very seriously.
• "That's enough, lady. Yes, you messed up, take responsibility, stop blaming Matt. I refuse to talk to you, and your venomous tongue brings nothing good."
• As if the uncomfortable moment wasn't enough, Todd arrived in the room with a worried look that alerted both Matt and Victoria.
• "Is everything okay, Todd?" he directed his gaze towards him, authorizing him to speak.
• "I apologize for the interruption, but I have a call for Victoria from her brother Noel, it's urgent, sir."
• Without thinking or apologizing, she got up abruptly and followed Todd to the kitchen, immediately snatching the cordless phone from his hands.
• "Hello, Noel?"
• "Vic, I finally found you," he sighed in relief.
• "What's wrong, Noel? Todd told me it's urgent."
• "I talked to Evan a while ago, you weren't answering, I know something is wrong but now I need you to come home," he asked with a subdued voice.
• "You're scaring me, Noel, speak up, you're not telling me anything," she demanded, upset.
• "It's Cami, dad finally stood up for himself, he kicked Jamie out of the house and of course he didn't leave without causing a scene and throwing things in her face... well, to make it short, Jamie spoke ill of you, said horrible things, Cami tried to defend you and... the insensitive excuse we have for a 'mother' slapped her and she hasn't stopped crying since last night, she only wants to see you."
• "Forgive me... I'll be right there," she managed to say with a lump in her throat, her little sister had always been her priority.
• "Don't worry, it's not your fault, see you in a bit."
• Victoria stood in the kitchen with the phone pressed to her ear, she couldn't understand how that woman could be so cruel.
• "The car is ready whenever you're ready, Victoria," a concerned Todd tried to get her attention.
• "I..."
• "What's going on?" Matt asked, entering the kitchen.
• "Sir, we have bad news, we need to go to Mr. Lee"Smith's house now," Todd replied for Victoria, who was still lost in thought trying to digest the bad news."
• "Go get the car," Matt ordered.
• "Yes, sir."
• Seeing her there, standing by the phone, staring into space with that anguished expression, only made him more worried, so as soon as they were alone, a determined Matt approached her, took her face in his hands, and from her expression he could see the growing hatred towards her mother in her mind. Gently, he caressed her cheeks with his thumbs, tracing soft circles, trying to get her to look into his eyes.
• "Vic, what's wrong? Talk to me, don't just stand there," he demanded, taking her by the shoulders, trying to get her to look at him.
• "She hit Cami..." she finally whispered.
• "To your...?" he tried to ask, surprised.
• "Yes!! I have to..." finally the anger surfaced.
• "Calm down, let's go see her."
• Without breaking the constant contact, he guided her to the front entrance and in an uncomfortable silence they made their way to Victoria's parents' unfamiliar house, one she had never been to before. Getting out of the car and seeing the place for the first time, much larger than her old home, the first thought that came to her mind was "Jamie must have felt hurt leaving her castle." With a bitter smile, she took the hand that Matt offered and they walked to the entrance, there was no need to knock, Noel was waiting impatiently.
• "Hello," her brother said, and that was enough, he had dark circles and was pale, a result of the sleepless night he had.
• Victoria couldn't help but feel guilty in a way, everything started at Matt's house the night before. She knew there would be consequences, but she never expected her little sister to be one of them. After a long hug with Noel, she greeted Matt and invited them in
• " "Dad is in his room trying to get some sleep before meeting with a lawyer and Cami, she...""
• " "A lawyer?""
• " a surprised Victoria asked."
• " "They are getting a divorce," Matt sighed sadly."
• " "WHAT? How sure are you?""
• " Vic couldn't believe that her father was finally doing something. " "Where is your little sister Noel?"
• " Matt asked, trying to change the subject as he noticed how tense Victoria was since she found out everything."
• " "Hiding in the closet in my room, follow me." She led them to the second level and from there, they could hear a small and sad cry. Distressed to find her sister, Victoria ran to the last room in the hallway and entered. It was all lit up by a large window and the closet was closed. With a lump in her throat from the anguish caused by the sadness in her sister's cry, she approached the closet door and slowly opened it, finding her sister sitting on a pillow, curled up, hugging her knees tightly while crying non"stop. Seeing the little Camille so vulnerable only made her more sad. Carefully, she knelt next to her sister and spoke softly
• " "Cami, I'm here now..." The little one lifted her face and in seconds was clinging with arms and legs to her sister, who was trying to maintain balance while hugging her."
• " "Don't cry anymore, please Cami," she begged on the verge of tears."
• " "I don't want her to be my mommy anymore," she whispered hoarsely, almost losing her voice from crying so much."