Clouds in paradise
Murilo
I clutched Virginia to my chest, still unable to believe the scene I had just witnessed in the living room of my grandmother's mansion. I would never have expected such an attitude coming from my grandmother or anyone in my family because we were always taught to treat all people as equals. After all, that's how everyone was, equal.
My parents, just like Aquiles' parents, lived only to help the noblest causes, often using their resources to help those in need, and my grandmother always supported them in everything.
They gave up the company and lived only on income from their investments, which they used to finance the cause they were fighting for, and we were taught that this was something fair and admirable.
So how could my grandmother suddenly treat Virginia in such a way, without even knowing her? There was no explanation!
" I will never abandon you, Virginia," I said while keeping her body close to mine and my chin on her hair "And that didn't change.”
I pushed her far enough away so that I could look directly into her eyes and I could see that they were watering, which brought an ache to my chest, knowing that I was to blame for the tears that wanted to jump out of her eyes.
" Then take me away from here," She said, and her tone of voice gave away that she was about to cry.
" I will take you away, but first I want to say it one more time," I said, looking into her eyes so that she would understand how sincere I was. "That Dinorá who is there in that living room is not the same Dinorá I always knew as my grandmother. There is something strange going on.”
" It seems that we have some clouds in paradise " Lavinia's sarcastic voice approached us once more.
I looked in the direction she and Aquiles were coming from, staring at her with a slight distrust, which soon took shape as I saw her victorious look and how pleased she seemed to be with something.
" It was you! " I said, pointing my finger in the actress's direction.
" What about me, darling? " she asked, playing dumb.
" Don't you try to act like a fool, and it doesn't suit you at all, Lavinia " I said, feeling disgusted just looking at her face "By the way, you are a terrible actress and I don't understand how you can be so successful.”
" What are you getting at, Murilo? " Aquiles asked, looking confused.
But of course, he wouldn't know what that venomous girlfriend he had chosen for himself had done.
" Lavinia certainly went and talked a lot of nonsense about Virginia to our grandmother, and she treated my girlfriend very badly," I said what I had deduced rather quickly.
" I am sure that Lavinia would not be capable of that, Murilo " Aquiles defended his girlfriend, looking very confident and innocent.
" Well, you are wrong, brother " Artemis also arrived where we were gathered, still in the wide corridor.
" What are you saying, Artemis? " Aquiles asked before anyone else did.
" You should stay out of our business, Artemis " Lavinia dared to say so.
Artemis was not intimidated, however, and went on with what she had to say.
"It was Lavinia who set our grandmother against your girlfriend, Murilo. She told her that you were always running after Virgínia everywhere, and she only despised you and made a fool of you for months.”
Three pairs of accusing eyes turned in Lavinia's direction, except for her boyfriend, who only looked disappointed.
" She also said that you met at a nightclub where Virginia worked making... um…”
My cousin turned completely red, without even saying a word, and I soon understood what she was talking about.
" I can't believe you made up such a slander, Lavinia! " I said, feeling angry now.
" I didn't make it up! " Lavinia protested, holding her hands up in defense, "Aquiles told me that you two met at a nightclub where she worked! " I sighed, feeling betrayed now.
It wasn't possible that my cousin had done this to me when I begged him not to tell anyone about it! Now I stared at Aquiles and let out all my resentment that he had told Lavinia about it.
Virginia also looked at him hurt and sad, I would say a little embarrassed too, and that was even more painful.
" Lavinia kept insisting on knowing how you met Virginia and I told her it was at the club I used to go to, by chance, the first time you, and she went there " Aquiles explained, begging me for forgiveness with just a look "I didn't say anything more than that, cousin. Believe me.”
" I don't understand what all the fuss is about, " Shameless Lavinia said, not caring about other people's feelings.
Virginia didn't say anything else, she just let go of my grip and started walking through the same place we arrived, and I followed her, walking behind her, not waiting to hear anything else my family had to say at that moment.
She only slowed her pace when she reached the place where I had parked my car and, despite the crazy urge to ask her to slow down and be careful, I restrained myself because knowing her as I did, she would be possessed if I brought up the pregnancy now.
" You should stay with your family," She said, opening the car door and sitting down in the seat beside the driver.
I got into the car as well, sitting down and slamming the door with a bang, wanting to somehow vent all the anger I was feeling at that moment.
" My grandmother is not a snob or whatever you're thinking about her right now, Virginia " I felt obligated to defend her "She was only manipulated by Lavinia.”
" She proved that she is a snob! " Virginia insisted, speaking loudly and gesticulating with the same intensity "And if I worked in a nightclub, what would be the problem? Would I be unfit for a relationship with her grandson?”
I sighed tiredly, and it was not even eleven o'clock in the morning.
"The most important thing in this whole story was Lavinia saying that you made a fool of me. Believe me.”
I knew that Grandma was afraid that I was getting involved again with a woman like Bruna and that I would get hurt, as had happened with my exfiancée.
But there was no use trying to put that into Virginia's hot head now. The best thing would be to go away and cool down, on both sides.
