Chapter 107
Irene’s POV:
The comforting clatter of dishes and hum of quiet conversations filled the space as Delores and I sat across from each other at the usual corner of our favorite restaurant. The place was a small cozy spot with mismatched chairs and handwritten chalkboard menus.
Usually, I loved it here because it felt like a little haven away from everything. But not today because even the familiar. comfort couldn’t calm the storm inside me.
After Delores poured me a fresh cup of coffee, her gaze never leaving mine, she began gently, “So…you’re really going through it, huh?” She asked, her voice was like a soothing balm
I sighed, stirring my coffee absentmindedly.
“That’s putting it lightly.” I gave her a small humorless chuckle. “It’s like Eva knows exactly where to press to make everything hurt just a little bit more,” I told her.
“She’s a snake, Irene. Everyone knows that.” She said but I cut in and said, “Apparently, not everyone.”
“I know, babe. And that’s what makes it not fair that she gets to waltz in and mess everything up whenever she feels like it.” She said in a firm tone, but there was a softness in her eyes as she looked at me, a quiet, unyielding loyalty that had been with me since we met years ago. I managed a smile, happy to have her in my life even if her words didn’t take away the pressure on my heart.
“I don’t know how much more I can take, Delores,” I admitted in a whispery tone, “First, she faked her accident, then she pretended to be paralyzed, she then announced that she’s pregnant with Damien’s child, and now she’s creating a discord between me and Lenora. It’s like I’m drowning, and no one sees it.” I expressed in a frustrated tone.
Delores grabbed my hand and gave it a soft squeeze,
“You have every right to feel that way. She’s taken so much from you already. And now she’s trying to turn both Lenora and Damien against you?”
“She already has, in a way,” I said, my voice cracking despite my best efforts to hold it firm. “He may not want to, but I can feel him pulling away. Eva was able to get into his head to make him feel guilty about Lenora’s suffering. And then there’s Lenora herself…” My throat tightened, and I took a moment to calm myself from getting too emotional
Delores’s expression softened, and she waited patiently, to allow me to gather my thoughts.
“Lenora blames me for everything,” I continued, sadness seeping into my voice. “She thinks I’m the reason for what she’s going through, that I’m hurting her on purpose. And with Eva adding fuel to that fire, it’s like everything I say or do is twisted into something I never meant.” I almost broke into tears as I said those words that made me realize that once again everything was going bad.
“Irene,” Delores said softly, “you know Lenora’s only acting like this because of Eva’s influence. You know how manipulative Eva is.”
“I do,” I replied, staring down into my coffee. “But that doesn’t make it hurt any less. Hearing Lenora say those things, seeing the pain in her eyes–it’s like I’m losing her, piece by piece. And Damien… he’s caught in the middle, trying to keep everyone happy. But the more he tries, the more I feel like I’m the one who has to sacrifice.”
Delores nodded, her lips pressed together in a thin line. “So, what do you want to do about it? Are you going to keep fighting? Or…?”
Her question hung in the air, heavy and loaded. I knew what she was asking, but the answer wasn’t easy.
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Chapter 107
“I don’t know,” I confessed, feeling the truth settle into my bones. “Part of me wants to stay and fight for everything I’ve built, Damien, our family… I don’t want to lose that. But at the same time, maybe my presence is making things worse.”
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Delores’s brow furrowed, and she shook her head. “Don’t you dare think this is on you, Irene. This is all Eva. She’s the one stirring up trouble, the one who won’t let anyone find peace. You leaving would just give her exactly what she wants.”
“I know,” I said, the frustration mounting. “But I feel like there’s no winning with her. Every move I make, she has a countermove. And I’m exhausted, Delores. I feel like I’m fighting a battle that can’t be won.”
She looked at me, a mixture of sympathy and determination in her eyes. “If you leave, you’re letting her win. But if staying is hurting you this much… maybe some distance would give you a break. You could think things over without all the noise.”
The thought settled in me, both a relief and a source of dread. Leaving meant abandoning the field, leaving Damien, Lenora, and even the life I’d built behind. But maybe… maybe distance could give me clarity, a chance to breathe without constantly feeling like I was being torn in two.
“I don’t want to leave Damien,” I said quietly, more to myself than to Delores. “But I can’t stand being in a house that’s filled with so much anger, so much pain. Lenora’s always looking at me like I’m her enemy. Damien’s caught in the middle. And Eva…” I shuddered, the frustration and anger building within me. “She’s poisoning everything.”
Delores squeezed my hand again. “If you think a break would help you, give you some peace, then maybe that’s what you need. Maybe it’s not about giving up. It’s about finding a way to come back stronger, Irene.”
I took a deep breath, letting her words sink in. The thought of leaving, even temporarily, made my heart ache. But I couldn’t deny that the idea of space, of stepping away from the constant pressure, held an undeniable appeal. Maybe I needed to clear my head, to see things from a distance so I could figure out what was worth fighting for.
“What if…. what if I left for just a little while?” I asked, the words tasting strange on my tongue. “Maybe just a few days. I could visit my family or go somewhere nearby to get my thoughts straight.”
Delores smiled softly. “If that’s what you need, then do it. And if Eva tries to twist that, so what? You’re doing this for you, not for her.”
The resolve in her voice strengthened me, and I felt a glimmer of hope piercing through the exhaustion. It wasn’t about giving up. It was about finding a way to protect myself from the constant chaos, to regain a sense of control in a world that had spiraled far beyond my reach.
A part of me resisted the idea of leaving, worried that it would only make Eva’s victory seem complete. But maybe this was exactly what she didn’t expect–a move that allowed me to step back, clear my mind, and return with a renewed sense of
purpose.
I looked up at Delores, giving her a small, tentative smile. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe some time away would be good for
me.”
She squeezed my hand, her eyes warm with encouragement. “Do what you need to do, Irene. Don’t let her dictate your life. This is your decision, your chance to find some peace.”
I nodded, feeling the weight lift just a bit as the idea settled more comfortably within me. I didn’t have to let Eva control every aspect of my life. Maybe stepping away was the only way to find clarity, to figure out where I stood and what I wanted.
As we finished our breakfast, a sense of calm began to settle over me. For the first time in weeks, I felt like I was taking back a small piece of my life. I was still lost, still hurt by the distance with Lenora and the strain on my marriage, but perhaps a break would be the first step in reclaiming myself, in finding a way to heal.
And when I returned, I would face Eva and the chaos she had created with fresh eyes, a stronger heart, and a mind ready to stand firm.
Taking one last sip of coffee, I looked at Delores, grateful beyond words for her support. “Thank you,” I whispered, knowing she understood more than anyone what this decision meant to me.
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She smiled, her eyes bright. “You’re stronger than you know, Irene. Remember that.”
Chapter 107
