My ex-husband’s nightmare (Lydia and Mason) novel Chapter 179

179 /187

**Chapter 179**

Lydia

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The thought had been gnawing at me, and I hesitated to voice it earlier, not wanting Mason to think I had any doubts about his mother. But deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling. The truth was, I did suspect her.

As we drove home, my mind was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and doubts. So many pieces of this puzzle just didn’t fit together. I found myself reflecting on the moments when Julia had tried to reach out to me, her urgency clear in her eyes.

I recalled vividly the day I had pushed her away, convinced that I was doing the right thing. She had stood there, waiting for me to listen, claiming that what she had to say was crucial. So crucial that she had resorted to pretending to be Zoe just to get me to come up to her room after the party had started.

“Please, Lydia, you have to stay alive,” she had pleaded, her voice trembling. She had revealed that Victoria was plotting something sinister, and I remembered catching a glimpse of someone who resembled Victoria at the event. Okay, maybe not Victoria herself, but certainly someone who looked strikingly like her.

“‘Victoria Woods’ wasn’t on the list. Are you sure?” I had asked, my heart racing. That was the crux of the issue; by the time I had decided to follow the figure I had seen, she had already vanished into the crowd.

“You saw Mom?” Zoe’s voice broke through my thoughts, her gaze darting between Mason and me. Mason’s expression remained stoic, and I found myself wishing for any sign of emotion from him regarding his mother. At least then, I could gauge whether he wanted to delve into this topic or if I should steer clear.

“I can’t say for certain it was her. I caught a fleeting glimpse of someone who looked just like her, but before I could get a better look, she was gone,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.

“I’m not claiming it was her, but the circumstances are too strange,” I added, locking my gaze onto Mason’s. I noticed his eyes narrowing, his focus shifting past me as if he were lost in thought. When his gaze finally met mine, it softened, and I felt a pang of longing to be sitting beside him on that couch, to feel the warmth of his presence.

“Everything unfolded so rapidly. No one called for an ambulance, yet the detective arrived just in time. It’s as if this whole scenario was orchestrated,” Mia interjected, her voice laced with concern.

“There were also numerous reports filed at the police station. I understand that news travels fast, but it felt like they were anticipating it,” she continued, her brow furrowed in thought.

I bit my lip, my mind racing with possibilities, and leaned back into the chair, tilting my head thoughtfully. “What if Vict—” Mia began, but then she hesitated, glancing over at Zoe.

Suddenly, all eyes were on Zoe, who seemed unbothered by the attention. “You don’t need to worry about me. I don’t see her as my mom anymore,” she stated firmly.

My gaze flickered to Mom, who was watching Zoe with an intensity that was hard to decipher. There was a depth of emotion in her eyes, a mixture of sorrow and understanding that made my heart ache. It reminded me of the way she had looked at the twins earlier. I didn’t have time to dwell on that thought, as Mia’s voice broke through again.

“What if all of this isn’t just a coincidence? What if she is…” Mia paused, inhaling sharply. Suddenly, her eyes lit up with realization, as if she had stumbled upon a vital piece of the puzzle. “Remember when Julia came to see you at the office a few days ago? What if she wanted to tell you something about all of this?”

“Julia came to see you?” Mason’s voice boomed, reverberating off the walls. I nodded, feeling the weight of his gaze. “What did she say?” he pressed, not waiting for my response. “She came to see me too at the penthouse?”

“At the penthouse? But I was always home, and I never saw her,” I replied, squinting in confusion.

Mason must have interpreted my reaction as jealousy, for he quickly added, “That’s because I sent her away. She warned me about Mom trying to harm you, Lydia. I knew it was just another trick—maybe a trap from her and Mom. You never know what they’re plotting.”

“I doubt she would risk her life for a trick,” Gloria chimed in, skepticism lacing her tone.

“I met her today,” I announced, and the moment my voice cut through the air, four pairs of eyes turned to me, surprise etched on their faces. Mom and Zoe looked taken aback. “It was before the fall,” I clarified, my heart racing.

“She was—” I nodded, recalling the urgency in her voice when she had called me. Mason’s eyes widened. “She called you?” he echoed, piecing the information together.

“What did she say?” Zoe asked, her curiosity piqued.

“That I was in danger,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

“It seems she was the one in danger; she just didn’t know it,” Mom said, a sad sigh escaping her lips. “Poor girl.” She reached out, resting a comforting hand on my shoulder, tucking a few stray strands of hair behind my ear with tenderness.

“It’s enough for tonight. There’s no way we can unravel everything in just one night,” Mom said, a bittersweet smile gracing her lips.

“You look exhausted, honey. Why don’t you go get some rest? I made dinner—” I cut her off.

“I don’t want to eat.” Mom nodded knowingly, placing both hands on my face, her touch warm and reassuring. “I thought so. You don’t have to eat; just rest.”

The others nodded in agreement, their expressions mirroring Mom’s understanding. The tightness in my chest didn’t dissipate, but the presence of these people around me made it a little more bearable.

“I know it’s incredibly hard to face this again, but remember, you are not the same Lydia you were before. Many will point fingers at you, but you need to know you have us. We’re the ones closest to you, and we believe in you,” she said, her eyes searching mine.