Betrayed

Alex was putting on a pair of tight jeans and a black tank top that day, but she just couldn’t get anything to go on the right way.
She was far too nervous, because she had to meet Sean’s daughters for the first time today, and she was hoping that everything would go right.
When she had finished, she looked at her reflection into the mirror, an unhappy expression on her face, sighing deeply and passing one hand through her hair.
In that moment, Sean entered the room. "I‘m ready." he said while fastening his belt, but his smile faded when he raised his head to look at her.
"What troubles you?" he asked gently, studying her expression as he neared her.
“I’m horrible.” she murmured without looking at him. “They’ll never like me…”
"Nonsense." Sean smiled, drawing her within the warm circle of his arms. "They'll love you. And you're not horrible, but beautiful. Incredibly beautiful, my love."
“Sean...I just want…everything to go perfect today...I don’t want to ruin everything, but I’m not so good with children...” she murmured sadly, turning to embrace him and hide her face on his chest.
"I'll be there to advise and support you anyway." he said solemnly, and then chuckled: "The most important of all things is: only one ice cream a day, no matter how much they beg or complain. Remember that and you'll do just fine."
At his words, Alex couldn’t help but chuckle and took hold of his hand, kissing him sweetly and tenderly.
“Okay, I’m ready to go...”
"So am I."

When they got to the house, Sean rang the bell, and encouragingly took Alex's hand into his for a moment while they were waiting for Melanie to open the door. The woman gave them a weak smile and stepped aside, allowing them to enter the house, and only then did she greet Sean.
"How are you?" she asked, eyeing Alex, and then added: "Is there something I should know?"
"Possibly," he replied. "And how are you?"
"Still alive, as you can see." Melanie said matter-of-factly, and offered her hand to Alex with a smile. "Melanie Hill. And you are...?"
“Alessandra Corsi.” she greeted her, shaking her hand in a friendly way. “Nice to meet you”.
"Nice to meet you, too." Melanie replied gently, and then looked at Sean. "The girls are waiting for you."
"I know. Come on, Alex." he said, taking the girl's hand and leading her towards his daughters' room.
Lorna looked at her father when he opened the door, smiling at him and running to hug him tightly.
“Daddy! I’ve missed you a lot!”
"And I've missed you terribly, sweetie. I've missed the both of you." Sean replied, smiling when Molly joined her sister and flung herself into his arms. He kissed the one first and then the other, and looked at Alex. "I want you to meet someone..." he said to the little girls, gesturing towards his beloved.
Alex was smiling at the sweet part of Sean that she had never seen before.
It was evident that he loved his daughters and that he was an attentive father.
Lorna now looked at her as if noticing her presence for the first time, and then turned again her attention to her father.
“Who is she?”
"Her name is Alex." Sean smiled, sitting on Lorna's bed, all the while looking at his lover. Molly sat on his lap and stared at Alex, too, for long moments. She certainly hadn't missed the affectionate tone her dad had used when saying the girl's name, and they were also staring at each other in an odd way, so she eventually came to the conclusion that there was indeed some romance going on.
"Is she your girlfriend, daddy?"
"Aye." Sean nodded, shifting his gaze to the beloved little girl. "She is. But won't you introduce yourself?"
"My name is Molly Bean."
“And mine is Lorna Bean.” continued the other girl. “We’re sisters, you know”.
Alex couldn’t help but smile at the girls, shaking the little hand that Lorna was offering to her in a comic gesture.
“It’s lovely to meet you. Your father always talks about you. He said that you love to draw, to listen to the music, your dolls...” she started, eyeing their bewildered looks. “And especially ice cream...”
“Yes!” Lorna exclaimed. “You know everything about us!”
“So what do you think if we go for a walk and have some ice cream?” Alex offered after a while, smiling at Sean.
"I think it's a great idea!" Molly nodded enthusiastically, jumping off her father's knees and then running to the wardrobe to pick a coat, eager to spend some time with daddy and to claim her well-deserved ice cream.
Sean chuckled helplessly at the sight, flashing an amused glance at Alex and raising an eyebrow. "I’d say she welcomed the proposal."
“Okay, let’s go then!” Alex chuckled, looking affectionately at her beloved.
While waiting for them to be ready, she was left into the living room, sitting on a couch, when some moments later, Melanie entered the room.
"Would you like something to drink?" the woman asked kindly, stopping on the threshold. "A cup of tea?"
“No, thank you.” she smiled at her. “We’re going for a walk and I think I’ll have an ice cream with the girls...”
"Good." Melanie replied, nearing her to sit on the couch. "They do miss their father's presence very much, it'll be good for them to spend some time with him." she added after a while, and then turned to look at the younger woman. "Do you live together?"
Alex looked at her with a bewildered expression, trying to think clearly and understand what could she said to her.
“Well...I’m an interior decorator and I’m working on his house, so he offered me a room there, because I haven’t got a car here.” she told her evasively.
Melanie smiled at her words. "There is no need to...do this." she said bitterly, sighing. "It is over anyway, I'm just glad to see him that light-hearted. So please, do not worry."
"Worry about what?" Sean asked from the doorframe, eyeing curiously the two. Lorna and Molly were tugging at his sleeves, both impatient to leave, and he couldn't help but chuckle quietly at the sight.
"Oh, daddy, let's go!"
"All right, all right!" he smiled. "Are you coming with us, Mel?"
"No, I think I'll stay here and tidy up the house." she replied, standing. "Have fun."
Before turning to go out, Alex eyed the woman, shaking her head.
She would have to be blind to don’t notice how sad she was, and it was clear that she still cared deeply for him.
Once in the car, she fastened her seat belt, looking pensively outside the car window.
"What about a nice walk to the park?" Sean suggested, glancing at the little girls through the rear-view mirror. They nodded almost in sync in response, both smiling brightly, and Sean had to stifle a laugh.
"Anything is fine with you as long as you're going to have your ice cream, isn't it?"
"Quite so," Molly confirmed, giggling. "But we're also happy to spend some time with you, daddy!"
“May I have a huge ice cream, daddy?” asked Lorna after a while, trying to convince her father.
“Please, please, please! I’ll be good to mummy, I swear!”
"Mmmh, I don't know if you deserve a huge ice cream...a big one, maybe." Sean teased her, grinning. "What do you think, Molly, does she deserve a huge one?"
"Indeed she does!" the little girl replied, nodding energetically. "But I do too!"
"Have you two been really good then, as promised?"
Molly exchanged a look with her sister and then nodded again, with even more enthusiasm. "We did! And I'm studying a lot, daddy, honest!"
Sean chuckled at her last sentence, and glanced at Alex. "This is her first year at grade school." he explained. "She's a grown girl now."
“Indeed she is.” the girl smiled at her. “And I’m sure she’s big enough for a girl’s afternoon. One of those days we could pass a whole afternoon together, just for women, you know, no guys...”
"Really?" Molly asked, all agog to do such a new and exciting thing. "I can't wait!"
"Well, ladies, is it okay with you if we leave the car here and walk to the park?" Sean smiled, pointing to the parking sign in front of them. "You'll get your ice cream on the way, I promise."
“Sure!” exclaimed Lorna. “And I’ll remember that for you, just in case you could forget it, you know...”
Sean parked the car, and once on the sidewalk, he took Molly's hand, eyeing her and then the other two.
"Here they are." he chuckled. "All my women. Shall we, ladies?"
Alex took hold of Sean’s hand, and Lorna took hers, so when they were all ready, they started to walk quietly through the park, laughing and having fun.
Now and then, the girl looked at her beloved, smiling when she saw him so happy.
"Jeez!" Sean exclaimed suddenly, causing both Lorna and Molly to turn and look at him. "You won't believe what I just saw! Oh my!"
"What's that?" Molly asked, a little alarmed, and Sean pointed to an indefinite spot at his left.
"I saw...well...I think I saw..."
"What? What, daddy?"
"An ice cream stand. Because they’re interesting, eh?" he grinned, raising an eyebrow when the little girls giggled and exulted. "Whoever reaches it first gets the bigger ice cream! Ready...get set...go!"
Lorna was the fist to arrive, even if she was now panting and sweaty.
“I won!” she exclaimed, sitting on the grass, too tired to stay up.
“Well, maybe I ran too much...”
"Well, maybe we should rest for a while..." Sean panted, sitting next to his daughter and then laying back on the grass, looking at his Alex from there. He blew her a kiss and grinned, extending his arms towards her, silently inviting her to join him.
Amused by his behaviour, the girl sat next to him, giving him a quick kiss on his left cheek and smiling sweetly.

After they had accompanied the girls home, Sean and Alex were quietly walking to retrieve the car, when the girl suddenly stopped and looked at him.
Sighing, she hugged him tightly, nuzzling her face into his neck, her eyes closed and a content smile on her face.
“Do you know what I really need now?” she murmured after a while, inhaling his scent. “I really need to come back home, have an hot shower and...I need you to make love to me slowly and sensually...I wish it could last forever...”
"You have but to ask." he whispered, clinging to her and smiling softly. "I just need to buy a couple of things, then I'll be all yours. You could have your shower while I'm out, and wait for me in bed...sound good?"
“Yes...” she whispered, smiling wickedly and walking again to the car. “And I could wear one of those new babydolls, what do you think?”
"I'd love you to." he replied, grinning. "I swear I won't rip it apart..."
When they arrived home, Sean halted the car in front of the gates, and gave Alex the keys and a lingering kiss on the lips.
"I'll be back in no time, sweetie." he whispered when they parted. "Maybe I'll even join you in the shower."
“I’ll wait for you, love...” she whispered back, gently caressing his cheeks and walking away.

Once inside the driveway, Alex noticed Abigail’s car parked in front of the house, and sighed.
That woman meant trouble.
Trying to seem controlled and indifferent, the girl stepped inside and found Abigail sitting on the couch.
“What are you doing here?”
"I'd rather say what are you still doing here." Abigail replied curtly, standing to near her and crossing her arms across the chest. "I think you've finished your job. You should pick up the things you've left in his bedroom, go home and let us live our life, don't you think?"
“You should talk to him about such a matter!” Alex replied angrily, hoping that Sean would come back as soon as possible, for the situation required his presence.
“He told you clearly that he doesn’t want you. Sean deserves better, and not a screamer like you! Can you still remember how many times you hurt him? Or how many obscenities you screamed to him last time you were here?”
"And what's it to you?" Abigail retorted, seizing her arm and dragging her towards the stairs. "It is not your concern, you don't know him at all. Now pick up your things and get out of our house!"
Yeah, their house.
Who was she to go there and destroy their lives with a bunch of bullshit?
It would be better to leave her with Sean, and vanish without saying him anything.
It would have hurt both, and was a cowardly decision, but the best that she could find at the moment.
Massaging the arm the woman had hurt her, she walked to the bedroom she had shared with Sean, trying to fight the tears that were in her eyes, and packed her things as quickly as she could.
When she had finished, Alex walked downstairs, without looking at the other woman, taking her cell phone and putting her bags outside her home.
She sat on one of the bags and tried to ignore the pain at her arm, dialling Gwen’s number.
In that moment Sean was entering the driveway that led to the house, and his heart certainly skipped a beat when he noticed that Abigail's car was parked in the courtyard. But there was something even worse than that waiting for him. Alex sitting outside, with her things packed and apparently ready to leave.
No, it can't be happening.
He rushed out of the car and stalked towards her, his features expressing only confusion and bewilderment.
"Alex? What in the name of God are you doing out here?"
“I-I’m going away…” she just whispered, cringing her teeth in pain when he just touched her arm. “Let me go, Sean...please...you could be very happy, it’s for our sake...”
"Don't even say such nonsense! Where the hell is she?" he wanted to know, but even before Alex could reply, he was already storming into the house, and slamming the door behind him. After long minutes of shrieking and quarrelling, said door opened again and a wrathful Sean appeared, yanking Abigail out with him as she was a rag doll.
"Let go of me! You bloody bastard!" she almost screamed once outside, tugging to free her arm. And Sean actually did let go.
"Don't you dare come here again." he warned her then, his tone dangerously low and unhurried. "Understand?"
"Sure, my lord." Abigail replied mockingly, ignoring completely Alex's presence and nearing him. "Mark my words, Sean, for you'll regret this dearly someday. You don't need a fucking bobbysoxer!"
"The only thing I need right now is to have you out of here."
"You'll regret this." Abigail repeated, flashing Alex an icy glare and then turning around to walk towards her car, while Sean was picking up Alex's bags to take them back into the house.
Once inside the house, Alex took her bags from Sean’s hands, putting them on the floor.
“You will ask me to leave in a few moments...” she explained, gently caressing his cheek, the tears blurring her view.
“I’ve been a coward because I haven’t been able to tell you the truth, but I knew it would put an end to our love story...it’s just that...I love you so much and I can’t lie anymore...” she began, backing towards the door.
“I’ve lied to you from the first moment. I’m not an interior decorator. I don’t live with my aunt, but with a woman that was my parent’s friend. My father and my mother died in a car accident when I was just two, and my grandmother didn’t want to see me because it was too painful for her. I’ve never had any photos of my parents...until...until my grandmother died, and that old lady told me that she had a diary where she put all of my parents’ photos and wrote about them. It’s a piece of my past and I’ve been searching for it for years. One day, Gwen called me and told me that the diary was in this house. She and Mark convd med me to come there and say I’m an interior decorator to search for it. I should have gone a long time ago. I didn’t know you, and it wasn’t planned that...that I would have fallen for...you...I’m sorry, Sean...”
At those words Sean instinctively backed away, staring at her, plain distress written all over his features, eyes wide with dismay and stinging with unshed tears.
How could she have done this to him? How?
"You...you used me."
It wasn't a question. He shook his head as the exact meaning of her revelation sank in, and pain was quickly replaced by the utmost outrage.
"Damnit, you fucking used me!" he barked, before averting his gaze and pointing to the door. "Get out."
Without any word, the girl picked up her things and quietly walking away, stepping into Gwen’s car without ever turning back.
Just when they were far away from that home, she let her tears fall free, and embraced her friend tightly, muttering something about going home to Italy immediately and burning that damned diary.
Gwen took her home and arranged a hot bath, hoping that it would have helped her to relax at least a little bit. While Alex was in the tub, she called Mark, asking him to go home, and then made some herb tea for her friend. It was even worse that she'd expected.
The girl refused to talk to anyone, and went straight into the bed, when Mark had assured her that would have called the airplane company to buy a ticket for Rome.

When she was soundly asleep, Mark dialled Sean’s number, but he didn’t answer to the phone.
Sighing, the man tiredly ran a hand on his face, walking nervously along the room.
Christ, Christ!
What the hell am I supposed to do now?
A couple of hours later, he walked to Alex’s room and listened from behind the door, to know if she was well enough.
But the only sound was her sobbing, that she evidently was trying to muffle.
Climbing down the stairs, he hugged tightly his beloved Gwen and called to buy a ticket.
There was nothing left for her in England.

That night Sean didn't even get in bed, too restless to be able to sleep, too hurt to clear away the thought that Alex had betrayed him. Her confession had hit him hard. Hard indeed, for he spent almost all night sitting in the darkness of the lounge, thinking again and again that he'd lost her forever, unable to stop the tears from running down his cheeks.
When the first rays of the sun peered through the curtains he was still there, curled up on the sofa, feeling as though his very heart had been ripped off his chest.