Chapter 8

Mom has a scandal? Impossible! 'M-Mom…?" Melissa's eyes widened as she heard the familiar voice from behind her. She quickly jumped from the embrace of the man with her and turned back to see the one who called her name. It was her daughter. 'R-Roxanne…" Her mother's jaw dropped as she uttered those words. She didn't expect Roxanne to be back home at the time. There were still a couple of hours more before she would close from her gym. Unknown to Melissa, Roxanne didn't do any practice because of what transpired between her and her coach. Roxanne's widened eyes slowly brought out tears, streaming down her cheek to her jaw as they dripped. She was still in shock, unable to fully grasp what had just happened. She knew one thing, though. Her mother was definitely making out with the man in front of her. 'Roxanne… I can explain. It's not what you think…" Melissa said, leaving the man and rushing to meet her daughter. She quickly buttoned up the parts of her shirt that were opened and exposed a portion of her breasts and underwear. 'Stay away from me!" Roxanne screamed. Her mother was taken aback by this sudden change of pace. She showed a guilty, yet sad look in her eyes. However, she had something she had to say to her daughter so she would understand. She just had to… 'H-How could you…" Roxanne muttered. More tears dropped from her eyes. She was hurt, her heart ached her so much that she felt like ripping it out. Her body felt hot and her hands were beginning to hurt from her having clenched them for too long. 'Roxanne, please just listen to me… Let me explain-' Melissa pleaded 'Shut up!" Roxanne screamed once again. The pain from earlier in the gym was also beginning to resurface. The feeling of betrayal, her mentor and now her mother… It was too much for her to bear as the weight seemed to crush her whole. 'Roxanne, calm yourself" A deep, masculine voice came from behind her mother. Roxanne's hurt and tear filled eyes darted from her mother's apologetic face went to the man she was with, who stood up from where he sat and made out with her mother. He had already put on his shirt while she was focused on her mom and he seemed somewhat intimidating to her. He had salty brown hair and a cleanly cut beard. He was at least 6ft tall, with a finely toned body and great muscles the size of a veteran athlete. Roxanne found it strange for someone who looked like that to be found hooking up with a widow like her mom. '… You should listen to your mother." The man continued in a calm and amicable way. 'Who the hell is this bastard?!" Roxanne's thoughts screamed with rage. He looked so calm and casual, as if nothing had happened. His expression was too clear, devoid of guilt or shame. He had a form of understanding as he gazed upon her, almost as if… He was pitying her. 'Who the hell are you? Are you crazy?! You dare talk to me like that after messing around with my mother?!" Roxanne yelled with anger as she moved toward his location with a fierce look. The man didn't seem fazed as he still maintained his mature demeanour, even as Melissa continued to appeal to Roxanne. Her mother touched her hand, placing it in between hers. Roxanne glanced over at her mother with pure annoyance as she looked at her saddened expression. 'Roxanne… I didn't want you to find out this way. I'm sorry, but… Please just listen to me." Melissa clasped her hands in between hers as she smiled softly. Roxanne's seething anger and rage seemed to double as she witnessed this gesture. What was there to explain? While she was off at school or practice, her mother was busy having escapades with the man in front of her? 'Let me go…" Roxanne started with a menacing tone. 'Roxanne… Just list-' 'I said let me go!" Roxanne said, dragging her hand away from her mother as her second one moved to hit her mom in the face. Suddenly, a firm hand gripped Roxanne, holding her hand away from her mother's cheek. 'That's enough," The man said with a slight frown. 'You… Don't touch me!" Roxanne said, using her free hand to launch a powerful jab at the man. 'Don't…" The man sighed. He easily caught her fist and then twisted her hand in a reversing degree, making her lose her balance and step back. He released her hands after this, causing her to move away from himself and her mother. 'Damien… Stop" Melissa said, using her palm to rub his arm, causing him to lighten up his already frowning face. The sight of this display of intimacy and affection caused Roxanne to get even angrier. 'The both of you are shameless, aren't you? Caught messing around together, and you can't help but continue your shameless acts" Roxanne glared at them as she spoke. 'Kid, that's going too far…" The man spoke up, attempting to walk up to Roxanne. 'No Damien" Melissa cautioned him, still holding onto his large arm. He stopped moving as he sighed, turning toward her as he expressed dissatisfaction. 'You're both disgusting! How can you side with him over your own daughter, what's with that? He hurt me and all you can do is stand by him while clinging unto him like that" Roxanne said, not caring anymore about consequences. She was going to break down in her room, but now seemed like a good enough place to do so. 'That's enough Roxanne. You're lucky you're getting off with just that. Just calm yourself" Melissa said, already feeling annoyed by her daughter's behaviour and terrible attitude. 'Oh? Am I lucky? Me? Lucky to have my mother sleeping around with men and thinking it's okay just because dad isn't around anymore? Sure I'm lucky indeed!" 'Roxanne, that isn't what is happening. Just listen to me…" Melissa said, still holding Damien from taking action. 'So these are your ‘dissatisfied clients'? That makes sense. So this is what my mother does now? You're an embarrassment to dad. I'm sure you're happy he's dead, so now you can have fun with other men!" A slapping sound resounded all over the room. It echoed as the flesh of one hit the cheek of the other. There was silence after the sound, and the next one followed that. Two slaps within a moment. Roxanne's eyes bulged with surprise as her reddened cheeks stung with pain. In front of her was her mother, who slapped her. She had a frowning expression, the first she had seen since the start of the entire scenario. 'That's enough!" She said with a threatening and angered tone. Roxanne slowly used her hand to rub her cheeks, and her face still depicted disbelief. 'You… Hit me?" Roxanne muttered. Damien still maintained his normal position and looked satisfied at what Melissa did, folding his arms in approval. 'Roxanne… I…" Melissa immediately recoiled, regaining her composure as a look of regret appeared on her face. 'You can both go to hell then!" Roxanne cried as she left the parlour and went to her room, shutting it behind immediately. Melissa stood, petrified where she was. Damien moved closer to her and embraced her from behind. She weakly tried to resist, trying to pull his arm away from her body, but she had no strength left in her. 'I'm sorry it had to come to this…" Damien whispered. Melissa's face clouded over as she bit her lip. Her fists were clenched when she heard him say that, but she released them almost immediately. She could try to blame him, but she knew deep within herself that she was the sole cause of what happened. She also knew Damien was aware of that, yet he said nothing about it and only tried his best to comfort her. 'Damien, you should go…" Melissa finally spoke. There was a short silence in the air as they both remained in their positions. Finally, Damien spoke. 'If that's what you want" She smiled slightly at his usual words… What she wanted… How unreal. 'It is," She responded. Slowly, he detached himself from her and took a few steps back. He took his jacket from the couch beside where they made out and the mere sight of it brought back memories of the amazing time they were having before Roxanne interrupted. 'Alright then" He said, wearing his jacket over his faded green shirt. Melissa opened the door for him and they both exchanged a small smile as Damien walked out of the house. 'Um… Damien, T-Thank you for today…" She said to him shyly, though a hint of sadness remained on her face. Damien smiled when he heard this and shrugged. 'Anything for you. Goodbye Melissa… And Good luck, you know… With the kid" He said with a reassuring smile. She nodded with a hesitant smile, causing him to nod as well before walking off into the cold streets. The winds blew harsher than before, sending a cold chill down Marissa's body. She shivered a bit as she saw him walk away, fading into the distance. She let out a smile unconsciously and quickly cautioned herself when she realised what she was doing. She gently closed the door and locked It this time. As she did, she rested her head on the door and let out a huge sigh. She was in a big mess, not sure of how to go about it. However… One way or the other, she had to tell Marissa the truth. Or did she? A thought suddenly appeared in her head as she quickly went to her phone and dialled a number. The phone beeped. on a low tone, showing it was going through to the receiving end. Suddenly the beeping stopped. 'Marissa… It's been some time since you called me. What's going on?" A feminine voice sounded from the speaker. Marissa clung to her phone tightly as she heard the soothing and familiar voice which calmed her down. 'Mother… Something just happened… It's about Roxanne…"