Camilla's heart dropped, her body frozen in shock and horror at his confession. The room felt oppressive, the atmosphere charged with an eerie energy.
Tears welled up in Charles's eyes as he continued to laugh, his grip tightening on Camilla's arm. "Oh, the look on her face when I took her last breath," he rasped, his voice laced with sadistic delight.
Camilla's mind raced, the gravity of the situation sinking in. She needed to find a way to escape, to get out of this nightmare before it was too late.
Charles's laughter finally faded, replaced by a deranged grin. "That slut...I killed her and if I had a time machine, I'd go back and do it again." He said gazing off to stare at nothing in particular.
•~•~•~•~•
Flashback
•~•~•~•~•
George Cena Jr., Alexander and Isabel's father, was celebrating his fiftieth birthday and the entire family had planned a grand celebration for him.
Gentle melodies floated in the air, emanating from the large speakers strategically positioned in the venue.
The color scheme of the party was an elegant combination of white and gold.
Prominent individuals from various parts of the world graced the occasion. Charles, eager to introduce his girlfriend to his family, had chosen this special day to bring her along.
With his hands on her waist, he gently led her to where the matriarch of the family, his Grandmother, Harriet, was seated.
"Grandma..." He called in a warm, affectionate voice. "I'd like you to meet someone very special to me. This is Mary...My fiancee."
The young lady with vibrant long shiny ginger hair smiled politely and extended her hand towards Harriet. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Cena. Charles has told me so much about you."
Harriet's eyes twinkled with joy as she took Mary's hand in her own. "Oh, how lovely to finally meet you, my dear."
She gave Charles a proud look before turning back to Mary. "Oh my goodness...you're so beautiful..."
Mary blushed slightly before she smiled shyly and shook her head. "Thank you, Ma'am,"
"How old are you, dear?" Harriet suddenly asked tilting her head to the side a bit.
"I'm twenty-eight," she answered, feeling a tinge of embarrassment as Harriet scrutinized her.
Harriet then turned to Charles, a puzzled expression on her face, silently communicating a conversation that had yet to be had.
"It's... it's just a few years difference." Mary chuckled nervously as she tried to downplay the age gap.
Charles quickly interjected, wanting to redirect the conversation away from their age difference.
"Yes, but what matters is how deeply we love each other," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "Age is just a number, Grandma."
Harriet's gaze softened as she looked at Charles, a mix of concern and fondness in her eyes. "I understand, my dear. Love can sometimes defy age barriers. As long as you both are happy, that's what matters."
"I mean look at you, you're a fine wine...you don't even look older than him," Harriet said with a playful wink, trying to lighten the mood.
Charles laughed lightly before looking back at his fiancee, a smirk playing on his lips.
Charles gazed at the young lady by his side, admiration evident in his eyes. "She's really beautiful, and that's one of the things that drew me to her," he confessed to Mary, who let out a slightly awkward laugh in response.
Charles sighed and refocused his attention on his grandmother, Harriet. "Well, Grandma, I still have a few more people I want to introduce Mary to," he said with a hint of anticipation in his voice.
"I make sure to bring her for a visit so you two can spend more time together." He said and Harriet smiled warmly at Charles, nodding. "That sounds wonderful, my dear. I would love to get to know her better."
Charles leaned down to give his grandmother a kiss on the cheek before turning to Mary, slipping his arm around her waist. "Come on, let's go meet the rest of the family."
As they made their way through the crowd, Charles introduced Mary to various family members, exchanging pleasantries and engaging in delightful conversations.
He remained by her side all through, beaming with pride as he showed her off to everyone.
Eventually, they found themselves in a quieter corner of the venue, away from the noise and commotion of the party. Charles leaned against a wall, pulling Mary closer to him.
"I'm sorry if my grandmother's comments made you uncomfortable," he said sincerely, his eyes filled with genuine concern.
Mary took a calming breath, gathering her composure. "No need to worry," she responded, her voice quivering ever so slightly.
"It was just a question, and it doesn't matter if I happen to be a bit older than you."
She continued, her voice filled with sincerity, "I love you, and that's the most important thing." Mary looked up at him, a gentle smile playing on her lips, her eyes brimming with warmth and affection.
Charles's smile widened, and he pulled her closer, planting a tender kiss on her lips. The embrace was filled with love and passion, their connection undeniable.
The world seemed to fade away as they lost themselves in each other, so much that Charles seemed to have forgotten that they were in public as his hand reached for her butt, squeezing it tenderly.
Her breath hitched, making him chuckle against her mouth. "You like that?" He questioned his voice hoarse as his lips traveled down her jaw, nibbling the skin softly before going for her neck.
"Hmm...yeah." She responded and arched into him, moaning softly as his fingers slid underneath her dress, caressing her thighs.
But just as the moment intensified, a voice interrupted them.
"Charles?" a male voice called out, breaking their embrace.
They both turned to see Alexander who had just arrived at the party not quite long
Charles quickly pulled away from Mary, both of them visibly flustered. "Alex!" Charles exclaimed, trying to compose himself. "I didn't expect to see you here."
Alexander looked at Charles and then at Mary, his expression changing from surprise to a mix of confusion and concern.
"Yeah, well, I decided to come last minute...Umm she?" he asked, gesturing towards Mary.
Charles cleared his throat, smoothing down his disheveled clothes. "This is Mary, my fiancee," he introduced, his voice slightly shaky.
Alexander's eyes widened in surprise. "Fiancee? Wow, congratulations," he said, though there was a hint of skepticism in his voice.
Mary smiled nervously, extending her hand towards Alexander. "Nice to meet you, Alexander," she said, trying to hide the flush on her cheeks.
Alexander shook her hand, his gaze fixed on her. "Likewise," he said, his tone still carrying a hint of suspicion.
Feeling the tension in the air, Charles quickly changed the subject. "So, why did you decide to come after all? I thought you were too busy with work," he asked, trying to divert Alexander's attention.
Alexander shrugged casually, a playful smile forming on his lips. "Well, I thought I'd come after all, considering it's my father's fiftieth birthday," he remarked, letting out a light chuckle.
His eyes briefly met Mary's, and he relished in the moment before refocusing on Charles.
"I'll leave you two lovebirds to enjoy the party. Catch you later, cousin," he said, raising his wine glass as a farewell gesture. With that, he turned around and made his way out.
As Alexander departed, Charles released a relieved sigh. "Phew, that was a close one. Imagine if someone like my grandmother caught us like that," he remarked with a hint of amusement.
However, Mary remained silent, her gaze fixated on Alexander's fading figure, a certain spark in her eyes.
"Mary?" He called as he gently nudged her.
She blinked, snapping out of her daze, and turned to face Charles with a forced smile. "Sorry, I was just lost in thought for a moment," she lied, hoping to hide any signs of her distraction. "What were you saying?"
Charles couldn't help but notice a slight unease in the air, but he chose to disregard it for the time being.
"Oh, it's nothing," he replied with a reassuring smile. "I just wanted to let you know that I've booked us a weekend getaway to Tokyo." Mary's excitement was palpable as she let out a joyful squeal and clapped her hands in anticipation.
"First class, right?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with delight.
Charles nodded affirmatively, thrilled by her enthusiasm. "Of course, my love. Only the best for you," he assured her, leaning in closer and whispering softly in her ear.
"I can't wait for our little escape, just the two of us, far away from everything."
Mary giggled, her eyes sparkling with joy. "It's going to be perfect," she said, wrapping her arms around him and giving him a tight embrace. "I'm so lucky to have you."
"We're both lucky," Charles replied, his voice filled with a mix of affection and possessiveness.
--------------
Charles and Mary were thoroughly enjoying their time in Tokyo, on their third night of the trip.
They immersed themselves in the vibrant nightlife, indulging in parties and letting loose with drinks. Their intimate moments were also filled with passion and desire.
Charles let out a groan finally collapsing on the bed as they both reached the peak of their pleasure.
Mary lay beside him, catching her breath as she looked over at Charles with a satisfied smile.
"I think we might be breaking the record for the most sex on a weekend getaway," she teased, her voice laced with playfulness.
Charles chuckled, rolling onto his side to face her. "We might just be," he replied, his voice filled with a mixture of exhaustion and contentment. "But I wouldn't have it any other way."
He reached out to brush a strand of hair away from her forehead, his touch gentle and affectionate. "I love you so much," he whispered, his voice filled with sincerity.
Mary returned his smile before abruptly standing up. "I'm going to take a quick shower," she announced, making her way towards the bathroom.
Charles remained in bed, still catching his breath from their earlier activities.
As time went by, Mary's phone began to buzz on the bedside drawer.
Intrigued, Charles picked it up, unable to resist the temptation of finding out who was trying to reach her.
The name "Sarah" appeared along with the message notification, stirring a sense of curiosity within him.
Though he knew it was wrong to invade her privacy, he couldn't help but give in to the temptation of opening the message.
"Hey, girl... wassup? Are you still with that dude?"
The message from Sarah caught Charles off guard, leaving him perplexed.
He found himself questioning who this mysterious "dude" was that Sarah was referring to.
Eager to uncover the truth, he decided to reply as Mary, typing, "What dude?"
Almost instantly, another message popped up. "You know, the guy you've been seeing. Charles, or whatever his name is," Sarah's response read.
Charles carefully read the message, his brows furrowed in confusion. He replied, "Yeah, so?"
Without wasting any time, Sarah fired back with another message that made Charles's heart skip a beat.
"What about... that Alexander guy? His cousin, the real heir. Have you managed to hook up with him again like you said?" The words pierced through Charles, leaving him stunned and filled with a sense of unease.
The real heir...
The realization hit Charles like a tidal wave, leaving him devastated.
The thought that Mary shared his personal, sensitive story he shared with her with someone else, and worse, her involvement with Alexander, felt like a betrayal he couldn't bear.
With trembling hands and tears welling up in his eyes, Charles minimized Sarah's chat and searched for Mary's message box.
His heart sank as he saw Alexander's name at the top, accompanied by affectionate emojis.
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he clicked on their conversation, feeling a mixture of dread and heartbreak.
Every message and media shared felt like a knife through his heart.
Sarah's explicit pictures and videos, accompanied by provocative captions, intensified the pain, fueling a sense of betrayal he never anticipated.
Tears streamed down Charles's face as he scrolled through the messages, his hands shaking with a combination of anger and anguish.
The room seemed to spin as a deep rage built within him, clouding his vision with a haze of red.
His fists clenched tightly, a mix of emotions overwhelming him. He yearned to confront Mary, to demand an explanation for her actions and why she would betray him with his own cousin.
The sound of the bathroom door opening caught his attention, and his eyes focused on Mary as she emerged, clad in a towel, steam swirling behind her.
A look of surprise crossed her face as she noticed the tears in his eyes and the anger radiating from him.
"Babe, what's wrong?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine concern.
Attempting to collect himself, he took a deep breath before speaking, his voice trembling with a mix of hurt and accusation.
"Why are you sexting my cousin?" he demanded, presenting her with the evidence on her phone's screen.
Mary's eyes widened, her mouth opening and closing as she tried to find the right words. "I...I can explain," she stammered, her voice trembling.
Charles threw Mary's phone onto the bed, the anger bubbling inside him threatening to explode.
"Explain? Explain why you've been cheating on me with my own cousin?!" he spat, his voice echoing through the room.
Mary's face turned pale, her eyes filling with fear and guilt. "No...I didn't cheat on you with Alexander, we were together only once and that was before you and I...It was just a fling between us." she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Charles's anger surged, the hurt and betrayal overwhelming him. "A fling?" he scoffed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Then why are you sending him your nudes?...those videos of you."
Charles stared at her for a while and when she didn't speak he grew impatient and yelled, "Answer me!'" He said and she flinched.
"Fine!" Mary yelled back, breathing heavily. She took some moments before continuing, "Some months back before you and I met, I met Alexander at the club where I worked as a waitress... something led to another and we had a one-night stand."
Mary's response flabbergasted Charles. There was no trace of remorse in her voice as she started to explain herself.
"Knowing who he was, I thought that after our night together, he would take an interest in me and maybe we could have something more than just a one-night stand."
"But your cousin, that jerk, simply gave me a dollar bill and vanished," she spoke bitterly.
She continued, her tone filled with resentment and disappointment. "So when you approached me, I knew who you were. I thought that if he saw us together, he would get jealous and react as expected."
"But that asshole acted like he had no idea who I was when we met again at the party," she revealed.
"You can check the pictures and videos I sent him, he didn't even acknowledge any of them."
Charles listened to her words, a mix of anger and hurt still coursing through his veins. The betrayal cut deep, leaving him torn between his emotions.
Charles's voice quivered with emotion, "Was any of what we had real?" he asked, his heart heavy with uncertainty.
Mary licked her lips, a hint of hesitation in her expression, before slowly approaching him.
She let out a sigh and gently placed her hand on his cheek. "Charles... you're an amazing man, but between you and Alexander... I'm sorry, but he's simply a better catch," she replied, removing her hand and shrugging nonchalantly.
She continued, her tone matter-of-fact. "I do like you, but he is the true first grandchild of the family, as you yourself have told me."
"A girl like me, I just go for the top dog, the best of the best. It's a shame that your cousin doesn't see me as his type, so..." She paused, taking a breath and letting her words hang in the air.
"...Why don't we just forget all of this? I'll delete his number from my phone, and we can pretend that none of this ever happened, okay?" Mary suggested, giving Charles a quick peck on the lips as she awaited his response.
As Charles stared back at her, his mind raced with a whirlwind of thoughts. "Just me and you, huh?" he repeated, questioning her proposal. Mary simply nodded in agreement.
A slow, calculated smile formed on Charles's lips. "Fine... I forgive you. Let's move past this. After all... I love you," he said, masking the wickedness behind his words.
Mary, unaware of the hidden agenda, returned his smile, believing that everything could indeed go back to the way it was.