Warning: Female Vincent
The neon sign flickered weakly outside the entrance of *La Nuit De La Passion*, a club tucked away in a forgotten corner of the city. Vanessa Charbonneau sat in front of the small vanity mirror backstage, adjusting her makeup as the familiar weight of exhaustion settled over her shoulders. Her reflection stared back-dark, tired eyes framed by smudged eyeliner. The world had been unkind to her, and the lines on her face were a reminder of every hardship she had endured.
She hadn’t always been like this.
Years ago, she’d been a college student full of promise and ambition. Vanessa had dreams of becoming a chef, following her passion for food. She had been accepted into a prestigious culinary school, and her life seemed set on a path to success. That was until one fateful night derailed everything.
The night she met Rody Lamoree.
It had been nothing more than a drunken one-night stand-a fleeting moment of excitement. She never expected it to lead to pregnancy. But when the test came back positive, her entire world crashed down. Rody, the charming, carefree man she’d slept with, wanted nothing to do with it. He had shrugged off his responsibility, leaving her alone to deal with the consequences.
Vanessa had tried to talk to him, to make him understand, but Rody refused to take any responsibility. He was focused on his own life, his own dreams, and her situation didn’t fit into his plans. Left with no choice, she dropped out of college, abandoning her dream of becoming a chef to take on multiple jobs just to survive. She scraped by, doing anything she could to provide for her unborn child.
When her daughter was born, Vanessa’s life became a blur of sleepless nights and endless shifts. The struggle to make ends meet forced her to take on degrading jobs. Dancing, stripping-things she never imagined doing-but they paid more than the kitchen gigs. She hated it. She hated the way men looked at her, the way they treated her like an object. But she endured it for her daughter.
Now, here she was, years later, still doing what she hated because it was the only way she knew how to survive. Tonight, she had been booked for a private event-high-paying clients who expected the best. It wasn’t uncommon, but something about tonight felt different, as if the universe was setting her up for something she wasn’t ready for.
A knock on the door snapped her out of her thoughts. Her boss, a burly man with a thick beard, leaned in. “Vanessa, you’re up for the private event. High-end clients. Behave yourself, and you might make more than your usual tips.”
She gave him a curt nod, already used to his sleazy remarks. The private events always paid well, but the clientele could be unpredictable. She took a deep breath, standing up and straightening her outfit-a skimpy lace number that left little to the imagination. It clung to her curves, exposing more than she’d like, but it was part of the job. She glanced at the mirror one last time, steeling herself for the night ahead.
With her heels clicking against the tile floor, she made her way down the dimly lit hallway toward the private lounge. The sound of laughter and conversation reached her ears, and her stomach twisted with nerves. She pushed open the heavy door and stepped inside.
The room was filled with a group of men seated around a long mahogany table. The dim lighting cast shadows over their faces, but their wealth was obvious-tailored suits, expensive watches, and glasses of top-shelf whiskey in hand. Waitresses flitted between them, offering drinks and flirting shamelessly.
Vanessa’s eyes scanned the room, her heart pounding in her chest. The men seemed to be in good spirits, laughing and talking amongst themselves. But when her gaze landed on one man in particular, her entire body went cold.
Rody Lamoree.
He was sitting at the center of the table, legs casually stretched out, a glass of whiskey in his hand. His face hadn’t changed much since the last time she’d seen him-still handsome, still effortlessly charming, with that same easy grin she remembered. But now, there was something different about him. He looked polished, wealthy, and successful in a way that only made her resentment burn hotter.
Vanessa froze, her mind racing as the memories of their last encounter flooded back. She had tried to tell him about the pregnancy, about their child, but he had brushed her off as if it didn’t matter. He had moved on with his life, leaving her to pick up the pieces.
And now, here he was, at the same private event, lounging in luxury while she worked herself to the bone just to keep her head above water.
Rody’s eyes met hers, and his smile faltered. Recognition flashed across his face, followed quickly by something else-something like shock.
“Vanessa?” he said, his voice low but audible enough to cut through the noise in the room.
The other men turned to look at her, curious about the sudden shift in the atmosphere. Vanessa’s pulse quickened, but she forced herself to keep her composure. She had a job to do, and she wasn’t about to let Rody-of all people-see her crumble.
She didn’t respond immediately, her gaze locked onto his, filled with years of anger, hurt, and betrayal. Finally, she spoke, her voice icy and detached. “Didn’t expect to see you here, Rody.”
The room fell silent. The men glanced between Rody and Vanessa, sensing the tension but not understanding its depth. Rody, for his part, shifted uncomfortably in his seat, the cocky confidence he had walked in with suddenly gone.
He leaned forward, setting his drink down on the table. “I-uh, I didn’t expect to see you either.”
Vanessa crossed her arms over her chest, her jaw tight. “Funny how life works out, isn’t it?”
Rody’s expression changed, something resembling guilt flashing across his face. He opened his mouth to say something, but one of his friends interrupted, oblivious to the charged atmosphere. “Hey, Rody, who’s this? An old flame?”
The question made Vanessa’s blood boil. Old flame? She wasn’t just some forgotten fling. She was the mother of his child, a child he had walked away from without a second thought.
Rody gave a weak laugh, clearly uncomfortable. “Yeah, something like that.”
Vanessa took a step closer, her eyes narrowing. “Don’t pretend you don’t know who I am, Rody. You know exactly who I am.”
He looked away, unable to meet her gaze. “I didn’t… I didn’t think I’d see you again.”
“Of course, you didn’t,” she shot back, her voice cold. “You never thought about me or our daughter after you walked away.”
The room grew even quieter, the other men now fully aware that something deeper was happening between them. Rody’s friends exchanged awkward glances, not sure whether to intervene or stay silent.
Rody finally looked up at her, guilt written all over his face. “I wasn’t ready, Vanessa. You know that.”
Vanessa’s fists clenched at her sides, the rage she had buried for years bubbling to the surface. “Neither was I, Rody. But I didn’t get the luxury of walking away. I had to drop out of school, give up everything I wanted, to raise our daughter. While you got to live your life without a care in the world.”
He opened his mouth to respond, but Vanessa didn’t give him the chance. “Do you have any idea what it’s been like? I’ve worked degrading jobs, jobs that made me hate myself, just to make sure she had food on the table. And you-” She gestured to him, her voice shaking with anger. “-you’ve been living in comfort, probably not even sparing a thought for us.”
Rody looked down, his face pale. He had no defense, and the weight of his silence was deafening.
With that, she turned on her heel, ready to leave the room and never look back. But before she could reach the door, Rody’s voice stopped her.
“Vanessa, wait.”
She paused, her hand hovering over the doorknob. “What?”
Rody stood up, his eyes filled with regret. “I… I didn’t know. I didn’t understand how hard it was for you.”
Vanessa clenched her jaw, forcing herself to remain calm. “And now you do? What do you want me to say, Rody? That it’s okay? That I forgive you?”
Rody swallowed hard, his voice soft. “I just want to know her… our daughter.”
Vanessa’s chest heaved with emotion, years of bitterness finally spilling out. She took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. “Our daughter doesn’t need you, Rody. She’s smart, she’s kind, and she’s better off without you.”
Vanessa turned to face him, her eyes cold. “It’s too late for that.”
Without another word, she walked out of the room, her heart heavy but her resolve stronger than ever.
She didn’t need Rody, and neither did her daughter. They had survived without him before, and they would continue to do so now.
Vanessa strode out of the private lounge, her heels clicking against the tiled floor, each step heavy with anger and bitterness. Her heart pounded in her chest as the door slammed shut behind her. The confrontation with Rody had left her rattled, bringing back memories she had worked so hard to bury.
She navigated through the dark, narrow corridors of the club, the distant thrum of bass and muffled conversations filling the air. She was still in her skimpy lace outfit, but at this moment, she felt exposed in more ways than one. The cool air sent a shiver down her spine as she neared the exit, but the heat of her anger kept her going.
Outside, the night was cold, and the streets were dimly lit by flickering streetlamps. She paused, taking a deep breath, trying to steady herself. Rody’s sudden reappearance in her life had shaken her more than she cared to admit. She had spent years trying to forget him, trying to move on, and yet here he was, dredging up all the pain and resentment she thought she had buried.
Her phone buzzed in her hand, and for a moment, she ignored it, assuming it was her boss or some other meaningless message. But when she glanced down, her breath caught.
It was a picture-of her daughter, sound asleep in her bed, her small face peaceful and angelic. The photo had been sent by her sister, who was watching her tonight while Vanessa worked. Beneath it was a simple message: *She’s doing just fine. Stay safe.*
Vanessa’s heart softened as she stared at the image. Her daughter was everything to her. She had sacrificed everything to give that little girl a good life-a life she deserved. It was because of her daughter that Vanessa had pushed through all the hardships, endured the humiliation, and worked those degrading jobs. For her daughter, she had become someone she barely recognized-a mother willing to do whatever it took.
And Rody? He didn’t deserve to be a part of their lives.
Vanessa was about to put her phone away when it buzzed again. This time, it was Rody. How did he get her number!?
*We need to talk.*
Her stomach twisted as she read the message, her fingers hovering over the screen. For a long moment, she didn’t respond. What could he possibly have to say now? After all these years, after everything she’d been through alone, what right did he have to ask her for anything?
She locked her phone and slipped it into her purse, deciding that no matter what Rody wanted to say, it didn’t matter anymore.
—
Rody stood in the empty lounge, staring at the door Vanessa had walked out of. His mind was spinning, guilt gnawing at him from every angle. He felt like he’d been punched in the gut, the weight of her words hitting him harder than he’d ever imagined.
He hadn’t thought about Vanessa much over the years-not because he didn’t care, but because he had been scared. Scared of responsibility, scared of the life he wasn’t ready for. When she told him about the pregnancy, he panicked. He wasn’t the kind of guy to settle down, wasn’t the kind of man who could be a father. So he had done the only thing he knew-he ran. He told himself it was for the best, that Vanessa would figure it out without him.
And now, years later, here she was, standing in front of him, reminding him of the choices he had made.
Her words echoed in his mind. *Our daughter doesn’t need you.*
The thought gnawed at him, the idea that there was a little girl out there-his daughter-who he didn’t know. He could picture it now, the years he had missed, the milestones he had never been a part of. It made him feel hollow inside, like he had let something slip through his fingers that he could never get back.
Rody wasn’t a cruel man, but he had been selfish. He had been afraid. But now, as he stood in that room, he realized just how much he had messed up. He didn’t know if there was any way to fix it, but he couldn’t just walk away again. Not this time.
After bribing the owner of the club for Vanessa’s number, he grabbed his phone and texted Vanessa again.
*Please, Vanessa. Let me explain.*
—
Vanessa’s fingers itched to delete the message when it popped up, but something made her hesitate. She stood there in the cool night air, staring at the words, torn between the anger she felt and the deep-seated pain that had never fully healed.
*Explain?* she thought bitterly. What was there to explain? He had walked away. He had left her to face the hardest years of her life alone. No explanation could ever change that.
But then, the image of her daughter flashed in her mind again. Would she want to know her father someday? Would she blame Vanessa for keeping him away if she found out the truth? The thought made her stomach churn. Vanessa had fought so hard to protect her daughter from any of this, but she knew she couldn’t shelter her forever.
With trembling fingers, she typed back.
*Fine. But not tonight.*
Rody’s response was almost immediate.
*Thank you.*
—
The next day, Vanessa found herself sitting at a small café near her apartment. It was a place she often came to with her daughter when she had time off-quiet, cozy, a world away from the dark, loud clubs where she worked. She sipped her coffee, watching the rain drizzle against the window, her mind far away.
The doorbell chimed, and she looked up to see Rody stepping inside, his hands shoved deep into his coat pockets, his eyes searching the room until they landed on her. He hesitated for a moment before making his way over to the table.
Vanessa’s heart tightened as he sat down across from her, the silence between them heavy and awkward.
“Vanessa,” he began, his voice low and hesitant. “I don’t even know where to start.”
“Start with the truth,” she said coldly, folding her arms across her chest. “For once.”
Rody sighed, running a hand through his hair. He looked older now, more worn down, though still handsome in that effortless way. “I was scared,” he admitted. “I was scared of the responsibility, of becoming a father when I wasn’t ready for it. I didn’t know how to handle it, so I ran. And I know that was wrong. I know I hurt you.”
Vanessa stared at him, her face unreadable. “You didn’t just hurt me, Rody. You ruined everything. I had to give up my entire life. I had dreams, you know? I was going to be a chef. I had a future.”
“I know,” he said quietly, shame coloring his voice. “And I’m sorry. I wish I could go back and change things, but I can’t.”
Her eyes burned with unshed tears, but she refused to let them fall. She couldn’t afford to be weak, not now. “So what do you want, Rody? What do you think you can do now?”
“I want to know her,” he said softly. “Our daughter. I know I don’t deserve it, but I want to be a part of her life.”
Vanessa’s chest tightened, the weight of his words pressing down on her. She had spent so long doing everything on her own, being both mother and father to their child. The idea of letting him in, of sharing that responsibility, terrified her.
“What makes you think you can just walk back into our lives?” she asked, her voice trembling. “You haven’t earned that.”
“I know I haven’t,” he said, his eyes sincere. “But I want to try. I’m not asking for forgiveness, Vanessa. I’m just asking for a chance.”
Vanessa looked at him, her mind swirling with conflicting emotions. She had spent years hating him, resenting him for what he had done. But now, faced with the possibility of him wanting to be a part of their daughter’s life, she didn’t know what to feel.
“I don’t know, Rody,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I don’t know if I can trust you.”
He leaned forward, his eyes pleading. “I’ll prove it to you. I’ll do whatever it takes. Just… let me try.”
Vanessa closed her eyes, the weight of the decision pressing down on her. It wasn’t just about her anymore. It was about her daughter, and what was best for her. She didn’t know if Rody could be the father their daughter needed, but part of her knew she had to at least give him a chance.
She opened her eyes and nodded slowly. “Alright. But this isn’t for you, Rody. This is for her.”
Rody’s face softened with relief, and for the first time in years, Vanessa felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, things could be different.
A/N
Originally this was going to have a sad ending but just as I was finishing up I got a notification of someone’s comment asking for something wholesome. This isn’t exactly wholesome but it’s definitely more happier than it was going to be
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