Chapter 41: Take Your Time
I was expecting that, but having Mason confirm it made my eyes widen. I didn't expect that the snobbish Evangeline would fall for someone like Ash. No wonder she's sometimes nice to me and sometimes not. She flaunts how difficult I am and how disgusted she is with me.
So, it was her ego talking.
It's really dangerous to love someone, isn't it? It makes someone like Evangeline, who was rational, act stupid just because of that four-letter word.
"I'll go home. It's already late," he said as he was about to leave, but I immediately grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
"Are you sure you can go alone?" I tilted my head as I asked. "It's dangerous on the road. I can accompany you."
There are many troublemakers around here, depending on the time. ver knew what those guys were thinking. Sometimes they harass people, sometimes they don't.
They never wanted to cross paths with me, though. They knew what I had done before.
"You were trained for days, while I was trained for years. Don't you think I couldn't fight for myself?" He grinned before gently removing my hand from his arm. "Bye, and deal with your mother already while you still have the chance." "You're scary when you talk like that." I chuckled, but deep down, I was scared of what he had said.
It felt like something terrible was about to happen, and I didn't like it.
"Life is unpredictable. Evangeline always says that to me," he explained, reassuring me not to overthink everything. "I think it's a good quote, so I engraved it on my mind."
I just nodded at him and waved as I watched him walk away from our house.
I entered the house afterward, and greeted my mom before sitting on the chair beside her. It seems like she was waiting for me to approach her, too.
"Mom..." I said as I held her hand.
I immediately felt its roughness, a sign of her hard work just to help me with my needs. With that, I started to feel guilty. I suddenly remembered the day I shouted at her.
Of all people, I should be the one to feel blessed because I have a mother like her.
Even though I say hurtful words to her, she never leaves me. Even though she has to work hard now just to support my needs at university, I haven't heard a single complaint from her.
She has done many things for me, but I didn't notice all of that because of my irritation with her getting along with my father.
I should be mad at myself and not at them. I was blinded by the anger in my heart.
"How are you?" I stuttered as I asked. I wasn't sure if I should ask that because I knew she wasn't well.
We wanted to say sorry for all our faults, but we didn't know how. The silence was filled with tension, especially now that Mason brought me home.
When he saw Mason earlier, he didn't even glance at me before he dragged Mason inside and locked the door to keep me out.
She looked at me with sadness in her eyes.
"Mom?" I asked in confusion when she pulled me in and hugged me.
"I'd understand if you want to go with your real father." The sadness was evident in her voice as she said this.
"W-What-"
"I know that as long as you're here with me, your life will continue to be difficult, especially since Randall isn't the same as before."
She released me from the hug but kept her face close to mine.
"I'm keeping you away from Mason because I know his family plans to take you away from me. He knew from the beginning that you are his real sibling, but he told me that wasn't his intention. I don't believe that." It felt like my heart was being crushed as I looked at her tear-filled eyes.
"What are you saying, Mom?"
I understand what she's trying to convey, but I don't understand why she's thinking about those things.
"I'm just saying that you should choose the life where you'll be happy-"
"Is that why you keep fighting with me? Because you're afraid I'll leave you?"
She didn't speak after I asked that. I was right. I understand why she thinks that way.
In fact, I've also thought that when a good opportunity arises, I'd leave this house, but when the opportunity finally came, that's when I could think things through properly.
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I may hate romantic love, but I wouldn't hate my mom, who did nothing but love me.
"That's where it's headed," she muttered. "It's hard to get along with your father because I've experienced it, but your life will change if you move there."
She bowed her head to hide her face.
That made me smile. It was the first time I felt how much she loves me. I don't usually feel that, but now... even without her saying it, I can feel her love and longing for me.
"I'll stay here, Mom. I'm not going with them. I'm happy to be with you." I hugged her back. "What's the use of wealth if you're not beside me?"
Instead of responding, Mom just hugged me tighter. I could hear her sobbing, so I rested my head on her.
I've never felt this comfortable before. Even though I still had many questions in my mind, they quickly disappeared because of my mom who was in front of me.
"Someday I'll tell you everything, my child..." Even though it was weak, I could sense the sincerity in her words. "Just wait until I have the courage to tell you everything. It's better if you hear it from me than from anyone else." Based on her words and the tone of her voice, it seems like it was a painful memory. It was like that horrible memory I tried to forget.
But my mom was strong. Instead of getting rid of it, she lived with it and used that pain to raise me.
Now, I'll be the brave and strong one for both of us. I will wait patiently until she's ready to open up.
"Take your time, Mom. I'm ready to wait no matter how long it takes," I said as I caressed her hair. "And I am so proud of you, Mom. Thank you for giving me this wonderful life I have right now."RêAd lat𝙚St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only