Chapter 39: More Heartache

"Oh, God! It's all my fault, I agreed to leave her up there."

"It's not your fault, Alice...It's mine I should've followed my instinct. I'm so sorry,..I deviated the bullet...I never thought..."

Graham couldn't find the strength to continue. It had all happened so quickly and yet, it kept playing over and over in his mind in slow motion. A cop came to bring him in another room for questioning.

"Start at the beginning when you saw Victoria."

"Well, she was on stage."

"Do you know why was she on stage and who let her in?" asked Detective Welber.

"I'm not sure who let her in. Once she was on stage, she asked for five minutes of our time and my fiancée, Alice, said it was ok."

"Alright, go on."

"I heard the end of her sentence..."If I can't have him...nobody will." Only Victoria wasn't aiming at me, she was aiming Alice and I had to stop her. I remember getting on stage fighting to take the gun off Vicky hands when it went off."

"Who fired?"

"I'm not sure, I was trying to take the gun off Vicky's hands"

"What did you do after?"

"I punched her and she lost consciousness. I gave the gun to a security guard. Then, I looked around to see if Alice or anyone else was hurt. I saw Alice close to the door with Keshia, Gary and Mandy. Keshia was on bended knees trying to help someone and crying, Mandy yelled for someone to call the police and an ambulance. Gary and Alice where trying to assist Keshia."

"What did you do next?"

"I went close to the door to see who was hurt and how bad it was and I saw Keshia's husband lying on the floor covered with blood. A couple of minutes later, you arrived."

"Alright and what was your relationship with Victoria Lane?"

"She's my ex-fiancée"

"Oh, messy love triangle."

"That was NOT a love triangle. Vicky and I have been over for months. Last I heard of her she was dating a much older man, not that I really cared. For her to show up at my engagement party like that! And trying to kill Alice?"

Gary was mad and sad. He was also tired, worried and felt guilty for the events of the night.

"How is Nathan? Will he make it?"

"We don't know yet. I have no more questions for you but please don't leave town. Whenever there is a struggle, it's always hard to determine who fired the gun. Unfortunately, it may be you. I'll be in touch."

Chapter 38: A Not So Pleasant Surprise

"The invitation was kind of unexpected."

"Not really! Being the best friend of Gary Sloane's girlfriend does come with some perks."

Mandy laughed.

"Anyways, Keshia, you probably would've been invited without me in the picture. Graham and Nathan get along great so do you and Alice. Speaking about him, isn't Nathan coming?"

"Yes, he'll join us later."

"Great! Let's get to the engagement party everyone will be talking about!"


Graham made sure everything was perfect. In just a few months, Alice and him would be husband and wife. He had been persistent and she finally forgave him. No man in the world could've been happier than he was when she accepted his wedding proposal.

A lot had changed. He felt much more ready to commit for life than he did when he was engaged to Victoria. This was true love; Alice was his life, he knew he couldn't make it without her.

Every guest was handpicked by himself. Nothing would ruin the night he made sure of it. Graham went back to Alice who was on the dance floor. Security was meant to be flawless; this was their night, he shouldn't worry.


"I know I'm definitely not welcomed here but I just have a few words to say..."

"Security!!!"


Graham was furious. On the stage, right before him, was standing Victoria Lane. Of all people. What could've happened and how she got in was less important to him than having her thrown out.


"Please, Graham, I ask you all to hear me out for just five minutes, maybe even less..."

"You have exactly five minutes, Victoria."

Graham turned to Alice and then deported his attention back to Vicky. He approached the stage in order to be close in case he'd have to stop her before her time was up. He didn't trust her at all.

The woman who was standing on stage looked tired, older. She had dyed her blond hair brown which made her less stunning. Victoria seemed less than ordinary. A pale shadow of the woman she used to be.


"I owe an apology to so many people here tonight, I don't even know where to start...Keshia, Mandy, Gary and Alice can you approach the stage? I notice Nathan isn't here so Keshy, you'll be the messenger.

I only have five minutes therefor, I'll get right into it. Keshia, I heard about Nathan and you. Congratulations, I wish you all the best. I apologize for all the heartaches I caused both of you. I've been cruel and selfish when you were sweet and selfless.

Mandy, losing your friendship as well as Keshia's served as a lesson. I'm hoping you can forgive me for going after Gary knowing you wanted to be with him. That was so wrong.

Gary...to think I had forgotten...I put you in a drawer that I closed a long time ago. I never made the connection until a couple of days. You must hate me. I don't blame you. I guess you got your revenge. I still want to apologize.

Last but not least; Graham. I love you with all my heart, always will. I played you, manipulated you, took you for granted...I lost you and my world fell apart. I'm so sorry; sorry for what I've done and what I'm about to do...If I can't have you..."


Gary was on stage before Victoria had pulled the gun out of her purse. He ran towards her trying to stop her as she was pointing it towards Alice. Trying to grab the gun from Vicky's hands, Graham heard a shot and screams. Despite his best effort, he was too late. She had already hurt someone.

Recap Chapter 26 to 31

Chapter 26 to 28

Vicky asks Gary about Graham's feelings towards Alice. She feels Alice will always be in the way of their relationship. She is less than pleased with the answer especially since Gary refuses to speak to Graham. She doesn't know how to get Graham to care anymore.

Keshia admits to Mandy that she slept with Graham. Out of spite for Victoria who had already messed up two of her relationships. She also reveals to Mandy she knows how Vicky found out and got Graham to take her back. Keshia apologizes to her friend and tells her she wants nothing less than to destroy the girl who's poisoned her life and so many others for many years.

Alcie comes out of her coma to find Graham by her side, He pours his heart out to her but she has doubts. She wants to move on and tells him it's too late.

Chapter 29 to 31

Keshia confronts Vicky about the past. Keshia tells her she was the reason her engagement to Nathan fell apart. Vicky asks if she would agree on a truce. Neither one really believes it's going to work out.

Mandy puts a plan in motion for Graham to know Vicky found out about his sleeping with Keshia by reading her diary. Keshia is more than happy to volunteer a confirmation when he calls to inquire about what Mandy told him "innocently".

Gary meets Victoria for diner; he tells her he knows she went through Keshia's diary. That he thought she had changed but she lied her way back in his life. Vicky cries and tells him she's sorry; Gary leaves her for good.