My ex-husband's nightmare - Chapter 28: Chapter 28

MASON
Julia’s voice was quite loud. Way too loud and her words were getting more and more bold by the minute. Accusing me of cheating on her? Really? She seemed to be boiling in anger as she pointed her finger at me.
“You’re cheating on me, aren’t you?” she hissed. “With that woman, you spoke of on the call with your mom!”
I didn’t answer this time. She is so not entitled to an explanation, and I am so not willing to give it anyway.
My silence only made her angrier. She scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief. “You didn’t even deny it. Wow. After everything, Mason? I should have known.” She let out a bitter laugh, her face twisting in frustration.
“You know what? We’re done.” She turned on her heel, her expensive heels clicking against the marble floor as she stormed off.
I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling heavily. I didn’t go after her. I didn’t say a word as she stormed off either.
I just stood there staring at her retreating figure feeling nothing but exhaustion. It was all a drag. A fucking annoying one at that.
A few minutes later, my phone rang. I didn’t need to check the caller ID to guess who it was. I already anticipated this phone call the moment Julia turned on her heels.
I sighed before picking up.
“Mason Woods!” My mother’s voice was loud and angered. “What did you do to that poor girl?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Mother—”.
“She just called me in tears. Again! She said you refused to even give her an explanation!”
“She’s overreacting,” I muttered.
“Overreacting?” mother scoffed. “Mason, you need to fix this. You’re not getting any younger. Julia is the perfect woman for you and she comes from a respectable family, she’s elegant, well-mannered—”
“She’s suffocating.”
Mother went silent for a second before speaking again, her tone softer this time but all I could hear was the manipulation card she was trying to pull. “Darling, relationships take effort. You have to—”
“I don’t care,” I replied. My tone is void of any warmth this time. “I don’t care about fixing it.” She gasped. “Mason!”
“I’ll call you later, Mother.” Before she could give a counter back with her words, I hung up. I leaned against my desk, rubbing my temple. My head was a mess and I hadn’t been able to think straight since seeing Lydia.
Or whoever she was.
That woman looked like Lydia, sounded like Lydia, but she wasn’t Lydia. How is that possible? Could there really be such coincidences in the world?
My phone rang again. This time, I felt a bit of relief when I saw the caller ID. Zoe.
I answered. “My little sister finally remembered she had an older brother?.”
“Mason,” she greeted, her voice cheery and soft. “How’s my favorite brother?”
“I’m your only brother,” I muttered, sitting down.
She laughed. “Exactly.” I let out a small breath. “How’s school?”
“Good. I aced my exam last week,” she announced boldly. “That’s great.” I replied.
“I know.” She chuckled. “What about you? How’s work? Your love life?” I sighed, leaning back in my chair. “Work is work.”
“And your love life?” I hesitated not knowing if to give her the full details or a diplomatic answer. “Complicated.” The diplomatic answer wins.
Zoe let out a dramatic sigh. “Of course it is. Mother is still forcing that Julia girl on you, huh?” I smirked. “She called me five minutes ago about it.”
Zoe groaned. “That woman never quits.”
“No, she doesn’t.”
“I swear, Mason, the way she acts, you’d think she’s the one getting married.” she joked in a serious tone. “She might as well be,” I muttered.
Zoe laughed. Then, her voice softened. “I’m glad I left, you know?” I went quiet upon hearing the topic.
“After what happened to Lydia, I just… I couldn’t stay there. Not with mother and... I love you but I can't. I just can't.” I swallowed hard past the lump in my throat.
Zoe had refused to live with us after Lydia’s death. She packed her bags and left the country, choosing to study abroad instead. She called regularly, but she never visited.
I didn’t blame her. “I miss you,” I said. I couldn't see her as it was an audio call but I bet she smiled through the phone. “I miss you too, big brother.”
There was a short pause before she spoke again. “Have you been happy?” I hesitated for a long while.
Happy? No. I was, but not since Lydia....
But I didn’t say that. Instead, I forced a chuckle. “You sound like a therapist.”
“Ugh, don’t remind me. I have an essay due on psychology next week.” I smirked. “Better start early.”
“Yeah, yeah.” She yawned. “I should sleep soon. It’s late here.”
“Go to bed, Zoe.”
“I will.” she replied lazily. I heard a little bit of shuffling and could tell she really got into bed to sleep this time. Shocking. She must really not want to fail the psychology test.
“I love you, Mason.” I swallowed. “I love you too.” and with that, she hung up. I stared at my phone for a moment before setting it down.
I didn’t tell her about Lydia. I didn’t tell her that I had seen a woman that basically separated our family. She's basically supposed to be a ghost now. If Zoe remembers Lydia then would she recount the horror she was made to watch five years ago? Zoe sounded happy. She sounded okay.
I didn’t want to ruin that.
As soon as Zoe’s call ended, my phone started ringing again. I glanced at the screen. Mother.
I groaned loudly, almost immediately and set the phone aside. I let it ring.
Twice.
Three times.
Then silence.
I sighed in relief, rubbing my temple. But the peace didn’t last. Fifteen minutes later, my office door swung open without a knock.
Mother strode in like she owned the place. Technically, she does. She was dressed elegantly, as always, in a fitted navy dress and expensive pearls. Her heels clicked against the freshly mopped floor as she approached my desk.
“You didn’t take my call,” she said, sitting down without invitation. “I was busy.”
She scoffed. “Too busy for your mother?” I leaned back in my chair. “What do you want, Mother?”
She crossed her legs, adjusting her diamond bracelet. “I assume you know about the Billionaire Ladies' Club meeting tonight?” I nodded. “I heard.”
She smiled. “Good. I will be attending. And so will Julia.” I sighed. “Mother—”
“No.” She held up a manicured hand. “Listen to me, Mason. You are not getting any younger. Julia has waited long enough. It’s time.”
I clenched my jaw. “Time for what?”
She arched a brow. “To propose.” I let out a short laugh. “I’m not proposing to Julia.”
Her lips pressed into a thin line. “Mason, listen to me. If you don’t, you will lose her. A woman like that won’t wait forever. She has options.”
“Then she should take them,” I muttered.
Mother's expression darkened. “This is not a joke. Our families have been tied together for years. She is the perfect match for you. You can’t throw that away over childish hesitation.”
I exhaled slowly. “I’m not hesitating. I’m deciding.” She scoffed. “Deciding what?”
“If I even want this.” Her nails tapped against the armrest a bit too aggressively. “And what do you want?!”
I didn’t answer her. Because honestly, I didn’t know.
Mother studied me for a long moment before shaking her head. “You are making a mistake.” She stood, adjusting her purse. “If you don’t propose to her soon, she will move on. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” With that, she turned and walked out.
I sat there, jaw tight, hands clenched. I needed air. I grabbed my keys and left the office.
The drive to Lydia’s company felt like a blur. I wasn’t sure why I was going there. I told myself it was curiosity. I told myself I just wanted to confirm things I saw once more. Maybe if I found just one difference in appearance and body.
But deep down, I knew it was more than that. I parked across the street, hands gripping the steering wheel. Then I saw her.
Lydia. Or whoever she was.
She stepped out of the building, looking confident and poised. Dressed in black and white, her heels clicked against the pavement as she walked toward her car.
I reached for the car door handle. But just as I was about to step out, my phone rang. I frowned and checked the screen.
Daniel.
I answered. “What?” My tone was colder than intended. “You need to come back to the office. Now.”
My brows furrowed. “Why?”
“It’s urgent.” I glanced back at Lydia.
She was getting into her car now, completely unaware that I was watching her. I gritted my teeth feeling like a perverted stalker. “Fine. I’m on my way.”
I hung up.
Then, with one last look at Lydia, I started the car and drove away.