8- Porcelain Smiles, Broken Vows

POV Isabella:

Paula, Uncle Jorge's wife, welcomed us, and I don't know what annoyed me more, whether it was her fake smile or her hair full of hairspray that turned her head into a bizarre spaceship. The annoying woman led us into the living room, which was beautifully decorated - I had to admit - and started talking like a grotesque parrot, demonstrating how futile and ridiculous she was. I didn't stay with them, I moved away and sat in an armchair near the window, busy with my cell phone.

“Good evening!” My uncle came in. “What a pleasure to have you here in my humble home, beloved sister.”

Fuck! I rolled my eyes, sickened by the false modesty.

That house was far from humble. We had kilometers of well-used land, with an extensive garden, a swimming pool, a staff area, a sauna and much more that I can't even remember because I don't go there anymore. I wasn't humble now. The man greeted me with a kiss on the forehead, which I wiped off as he walked away to join the women, and they chatted about the lady of the evening until the unfortunate woman appeared.

“Good evening, everyone!” The voice sounded soft, almost cottony. Melissa was dressed in a beautiful black dress and high heels. “Did I take long?” She smiled and went to find her aunt, who was already standing up to hug her.

“You look beautiful, Mel.”

I almost threw up.

Looking at the picture, I bitterly regretted having gone. After all, what did I want to prove? That I'd forgotten everything? Fuck her having sex with that son of a bitch, Caio? That I didn't care? Who did I want to convince if I could still taste sour in my mouth? This pretense wasn't my style. The cow remained chatting with the elders, while I left without disguising my abandonment of the garden. I walked sluggishly through the mowed grass, breathing in the fresh air and begging God for an extra dose of patience. I had to endure the dinner, the arrogance, and leave like a fine lady.

Away from it all, it was easy to get over, but being back there, especially in that garden I played in many times as a child, it was impossible.

“Isabella...”

I turned to the entrance, and there she was. Cynical.

One step, two... I denied approaching, but the innocent girl wanted to meet me.

“Can we talk?”

“Talk, Melissa? What do you want to talk about? Nail polish?!” She squeezed her eyes shut and shied away.

Nothing that could be said could erase the revolt in my chest.

There were no words, no matter how sincere, that could overcome the image, the scene, the instant I stood still, immersed in the shock of the unfair scenario.

“I made a mistake, okay? I deluded myself with that asshole, but...”

“But...?”

Ah, the interest in the but stretched my lips, perhaps an illustrious reason explained why my cousin and friend had stabbed me in the back.

“I love you, Isabella. I miss you, and nothing is the same without your friendship.”

I held in my laughter and only smiled ironically, of course! Love... The girl reaffirmed my stupidity. Jesus! Did I think that the tears I was shedding could erase that night's fuck?

“Melissa, fuck you!”

“How can you be so hard?”

“How could you be such a cow?!”

Their gazes dueled, and the well-presented fury was about to overwhelm her.

“Girls, the guests have arrived.” Paula interrupted us, yet the eye contact remained burning. “Mel, Ruben's in the living room with his cousin, come and see him.”

She broke it off just in time for the shit not to splash on dinner. I tried to control my core, because crying wasn't what I wanted to do. Feeling fragile, hurt in front of them, was far from showing that I was over the betrayal. They'd ignored my feelings, trampled on my dignity as if I had to feel the knife wounding my heart.

I covered my mouth and swallowed my tears. No!

“Fuck it, I can't stand any of them, there's no point in me being there...”

I reached the room in record time, ready to tell everyone to fuck off and fight back against any protests, but fate, like a light-hearted man, disarmed whatever weapons I had in hand. My blood pulsed differently as soon as I recognized one of the guests.