{"id":647,"date":"2026-06-05T09:47:58","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T09:47:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insidemayasmind.com\/?p=647"},"modified":"2026-06-05T09:47:58","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T09:47:58","slug":"betrayal-part-2-chapter-31-an-innocent-gold-watch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/insidemayasmind.com\/?p=647","title":{"rendered":"Betrayal Part 2 – Chapter 31, An Innocent Gold Watch"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The front door swung open and a gust of the chill evening air blew into the lounge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I didn\u2019t flinch; I didn\u2019t shiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My fingers ran through my violent pink fringe while the other arm draped protectively across Lela. With a smile cracking my lips, I settled back against the warm body of my sleeping friend, my eyes focusing on the new arrival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ingrid slammed the door shut behind her with a clatter that rattled the silver frame on the windowsill before taking a purposeful step into the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her stride faltered, her eyes snagging on mine, her pursed lips trembling slightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s going on, Heidi?\u201d her voice snapped. It was a pleasant change from her usual irritating whine. Her gaze drifted down to Lela before returning to fix on me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLela\u2019s just resting,\u201d I replied in a velvet tone. I didn\u2019t move my arm from Lela. Instead, I let myself lie back deeper into her space, hitching my legs up onto the sofa and settling them beside hers. I met Ingrid\u2019s gaze with a smug grin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe had a big night last night,\u201d I continued. \u201cIt was such a shame that you didn\u2019t make it. She was really looking forward to playing for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ingrid\u2019s brows drew down, and the corners of her thin, colourless mouth tightened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI spoke to Gunnar today. He came past the hospital.\u201d It wasn\u2019t just a casual statement. Her voice was laced with the hard edge of accusation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe knows. She knows,\u201d the voices hissed around me in frantic glee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, Gunnar was a total lifesaver last night.\u201d I parried her blame with practiced innocence. \u201cLela got a little carried away and had a few too many vodkas. Gunnar helped pack away all of her stuff and drove us back here. We\u2019d have been completely stuck if it hadn\u2019t been for him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ingrid\u2019s brows furrowed deeper. Her mouth, opening as if she had been about to say something, froze as the words died on her tongue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A low murmur from beside me stole my attention. Lela\u2019s eyes flickered open, blinking in the dim, fading twilight of the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey, how are you feeling, babe?\u201d My soft, honied tone dropped a tiny fraction at that last word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lela didn\u2019t answer at first. I felt her body tense into a stretch beside me before she slowly tucked her feet underneath and pushed herself upright. Her gaze drifted from me to the black wolf\u2019s head banner before finally focusing on her girlfriend<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIngrid?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ingrid took a single step forward before hesitating. The half-formed smile froze on her lips. With pupils dilated, she glanced back at me. The look that crossed her face reminded me of a stray dog, unsure if the hand being held out to her was about to feed her or beat her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat happened last night, Lela?\u201d her voice was taut. \u201cGunnar said that the two of you were acting\u2026 strangely?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, I really have no idea,\u201d Lela replied with a low, melodic chuckle. \u201cHeidi\u2019s too rock \u2018n\u2019 roll for me. I couldn\u2019t keep up with her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ingrid flinched, her hands balling in the hem of the oversized, drab grey t-shirt that hung limply from her shoulders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou missed a good night\u2026 what I can remember of it. The crowd was amazing,\u201d Lela continued, her voice dropping to a hushed whisper. \u201cI kept looking out for you, watching the door\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI fell asleep, Lela,\u201d Ingrid\u2019s voice finally cracked, her breath shuddering in her chest. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry. I didn\u2019t mean to. I don\u2019t really know what happened. I was fine when Heidi came by, but then I suddenly felt exhausted\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s ok,\u201d I interjected. \u201cThere\u2019s really no need to explain. We understand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I let my hand slide down Lela\u2019s bare forearm, my index finger tracing a gentle line along her soft, smooth skin. I didn\u2019t look at what I was doing. Instead, my gaze was locked onto Ingrid. Watching for the moment her eyes caught my innocent gesture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve had a lot on your plate,\u201d I continued. \u201cAll the stress probably just caught up with you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ingrid\u2019s eyes narrowed, her jaw stiffening as her gaze darted frantically between the hand resting on Lela and my face. A heavy silence crashed down on the room, and inside my chest, a warm glow began to radiate. I could almost hear her mind turning over, slotting together all the pieces of the puzzle. Pieces that I\u2019d left scattered for her to find.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t I go up to my room and give you both a bit of space,\u201d I said, my voice dripping with false compassion. \u201cThere are probably a few things you two want to talk over.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Standing with deliberate slowness, I could feel Ingrid\u2019s eyes on me, tracking my movements. My hand lingered on Lela\u2019s arm for just a moment before gently patting Bella\u2019s flank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCome on, girl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cThank you, Heidi,\u201d Lela called out after me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ingrid was already settling onto the sofa before I was even halfway across the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As if reclaiming her spot in Lela\u2019s life was going to be that simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My footsteps were silent on the carpet. Bella loped loyally alongside me, while the dry scuttling of claws scraped unseen in the shadows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pausing at the bottom of the stairs, I glanced back. Ingrid sat on the sofa, facing Lela. Lela returned her silent gaze with her arms wrapped around her legs and her knees pulled up to her chest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each step of the stairs groaned, the wood creaking under my weight. Reaching the top, I crossed the landing and pushed open the door to my bedroom. Bella bounded past me before leaping onto the bed, curling herself into a mound of black fur. I didn\u2019t move. Instead, I leaned back against the hard, angled wood of the doorframe, letting it press against my spine. A high-pitched buzz rang in my ears as I strained to listen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the lounge, the low murmur of their voices drifted up to me in disjointed fragments of conversation. Despite my efforts, I couldn\u2019t hear everything that was said, but I could hear enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have no idea why Gunnar would say that\u2026\u201d Lela\u2019s muted voice reached my ears, muffled but distinct enough to catch. \u201c\u2026it\u2019s ridiculous, you know that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I listened, her voice faded back into a murmur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minutes passed, and I was unable to make out anything until Lela\u2019s voice flared once again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat was Heidi\u2019s idea! She wanted to make sure you were ok. She thought the chocolates would cheer you up. She\u2019s worried about you too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A soft tingle swept across my body as I shifted my weight against the doorframe. A slow, predatory smile crept across my face as I listened to them. Listened to the pieces gradually slotting into place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCan\u2019t you see the way she looks at you?\u201d Ingrid\u2019s voice screeched through the house. \u201cThe way she\u2019s always touching you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe\u2019s my best friend, Ingrid!\u201d Lela\u2019s voice was firm now, carrying an edge that I hardly recognised. \u201cShe was the first friend I ever made when I came to Norway. I\u2019ve known her longer than anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That was it, all I needed to hear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stepping backwards into my bedroom, I closed the door quietly behind me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kicking my shoes off, I didn\u2019t bother getting undressed but simply climbed under the covers, welcoming the heavy, comforting weight of the big, black German shepherd softly snoring beside me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The steel-grey light slipped into the blackness of night, but I wasn\u2019t ready to sleep, not just yet. Instead, I waited, biding my time like a tigress lurking in the grass, waiting for her prey to walk past, totally unaware of the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Time passed as I lay in the darkness. The buzzing in my ears had settled to a low thrum which kept perfect time with my heartbeat. Beside me, Bella let out a soft sigh, her paws twitching as she chased something in her dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t know how long I lay there, a couple of hours at least, but eventually I heard a creak on the stairs. Two low, whispering voices, gradually getting louder as they climbed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The air stuck, heavy and humid in my chest. I barely dared to breathe as they first made their way to the bathroom and then, after what felt like an eternity, stretching my patience to the limit, moved into Lela\u2019s bedroom, the door clicking shut like the cocking of a gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The minutes passed slowly. Every heartbeat that thudded in my ears drew out longer and longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As time went on, I grew restless, my toes twitching under the covers. Perhaps it hadn\u2019t worked. Perhaps I had got it wrong. Had all that careful planning and manoeuvring been for nothing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then I heard it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A frantic cacophony of voices. Ingrid\u2019s incomprehensible squeal sliced through the quiet house first. Bella sprang upright in a jolt, and before I knew it, I was out of bed and striding with urgency towards my door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I got to the landing, Ingrid was already there. Her eyes snapped to me, red and bloodshot, matching the crimson blotches on her swollen face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou!\u201d she spat the word at me, thrusting her hand forward. \u201cI assume this belongs to you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dangling from Ingrid\u2019s trembling grip was a gold watch, its bracelet made of delicate links of alternating yellow and white gold. The mother-of-pearl face glinted with a strange red hue in the surreal light of the darkened house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sudden jolt of electric energy surged through me. My skin tingled as I desperately fought the smile that was tugging at the corners of my mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, yes!\u201d I exclaimed, allowing the quiver of elation to tinge my voice. \u201cI had wondered what I\u2019d done with that. I was worried that I had lost it last night.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat was it doing in Lela\u2019s bed?\u201d she fired the question at me like an icy barb. \u201cYou were together last night, weren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPlease, Ingrid.\u201d Lela pleaded, appearing at my adversary\u2019s shoulder. \u201cI thought we\u2019d been over this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know what you\u2019re talking about,\u201d I said, holding my hands out in front of me in an open gesture. \u201cIt must have slipped off when I was helping Lela into bed last night.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t give me that, Heidi. Gunnar saw you last night. Everyone in the Kjelleren saw you.\u201d Ingrid\u2019s body trembled and her hands curled into tight fists. \u201cHe told me that you couldn\u2019t keep your hands off each other.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIngrid, please!\u201d Tears were now streaming down Lela\u2019s cheeks, her face flushing pink as she choked her words. \u201cI was drunk. Heidi was just looking after me, like any good friend would have done. I don\u2019t know what they think they saw, but nothing happened.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd you!\u201d Ingrid took a step towards me. \u201cYou spent the night with her, didn\u2019t you? She drank too much, and you took advantage of her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking another step, her face came just inches from mine. Her breath was hot on my cheek. It would appear that the timid rabbit had grown a backbone. Red eyes flashed in the shadows of the landing, hissing with gleeful laughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They knew the rabbit was facing down a tiger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIngrid, please stop this.\u201d Lela\u2019s voice was close to a wail as she grabbed Ingrid by the shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ingrid swatted Lela\u2019s hands away; her eyes were locked onto mine with fiery intensity. She was teetering on the very edge of sanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just a little further\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat are you doing here, Heidi?\u201d Her voice was a snarl, spittle flecked across my face as she hurled the words at me. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you go back to your nice, big house on the hill?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIngrid!\u201d Lela\u2019s voice begged desperately, but that didn\u2019t stop her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not wanted here!\u201d Ingrid screamed, ignoring Lela\u2019s pleas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Letting myself stumble backwards, my back struck the wall. Quivering, my gaze fell to her feet. The creatures cackled, and my trap finally snapped shut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2026 I can\u2019t go back there\u2026\u201d I let my voice stammer and stutter, my eyes blinking away dry tears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My knees buckled beneath me. Sliding down the wall, I fell into a crumpled heap on the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t make this about your parents!\u201d Ingrid pressed on with her tirade. She just wouldn\u2019t stop. I had expected her to strike me, but right then she was playing into my hands better than I could have ever imagined. \u201cYou didn\u2019t care about them. You were too busy in Copenhagen, hopping from bed to bed with God only knows who. While your poor brother had to deal with everything on his own.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I looked up at Lela.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was standing there, her eyes wide, her hand clamped over her mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLars,\u201d I let my voice break as I uttered his name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, I let the dam burst. All the hurt and torment that I had been stifling crashed into me like a cold, relentless tidal wave. It knocked me backwards, slamming the air from my lungs. My body slumped with ragged gasps that sent tremors through my shoulders. The tears that cascaded down my cheeks were real, tracing a warm, wet trail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lela was at my side instantly. Her arms wrapped protectively around my shoulders, pulling me into the soft warmth of her body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou have no idea, Ingrid.\u201d I let the words tumble out, jagged and raw. \u201cI was never in Copenhagen\u2026 that was his lie. While everyone thought I was there, Lars\u2026 he\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe what, Heidi?\u201d She screeched at me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lela\u2019s arm tightened around me. \u201cPlease don\u2019t make her do this, Ingrid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2026 he kept me locked in that room,\u201d I muttered weakly. \u201cWhile he beat me, starved me and\u2026 abused me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re lying.\u201d Ingrid spoke, but her voice was small. All her conviction had evaporated. \u201cSurely you don\u2019t believe any of this, Lela?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lela took a deep breath before answering. \u201cIt\u2019s true, Ingrid. Copenhagen was a lie, one that we kept alive so Heidi wouldn\u2019t have to face what really happened. He kept her locked up in a cabin in the mountains for nearly a year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A thick silence descended on the house like a heavy blanket. The only sound remaining was the fluttering thud of Lela\u2019s heart beating in her chest as she held me, cradled me in her arms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lela slowly stood up, stepping over me to shield me from Ingrid\u2019s view. Her voice was low and cold as she broke the silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think perhaps you should go home tonight, Ingrid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The front door swung open and a gust of the chill evening air blew into the lounge. I didn\u2019t flinch;<\/p>\n

Continue readingBetrayal Part 2 – Chapter 31, An Innocent Gold Watch<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":570,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-647","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-betrayal-part-2"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/insidemayasmind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Cover-Book-2-NEW-JPG.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insidemayasmind.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/647","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insidemayasmind.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insidemayasmind.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insidemayasmind.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insidemayasmind.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=647"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/insidemayasmind.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/647\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":649,"href":"https:\/\/insidemayasmind.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/647\/revisions\/649"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insidemayasmind.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/570"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insidemayasmind.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insidemayasmind.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=647"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insidemayasmind.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}