Chapter 123
Lydia
Liam and Melanie were asleep when I got home. But mom wasn’t. She sat on the couch in the living room, watching one of her favourite shows. The room is dimly lit.
When I stepped into the living room, she turned to face me. “You’re finally back.” She said, and I walked further into the room.
I placed a kiss on her cheeks, and she did the same to me. She adjusted so I was seated next to her. I dropped onto the chair, all worries and discomfort gone at the sight of my mother. The woman who would always have my back.
“You were waiting for me?”
“Yes.” She said, then continued, “It’s been so long since we had some time to ourselves. I was hoping you could have a drink with me.” Her eyes assessed me. “But now, I think that’s kinda a selfish thought, you must already be exhausted from the time you spent at the party.
I moved closer to her and wrapped my hand around her, while placing my head on her shoulders. “I am up for a drink.” No matter how tired! was, I would always make time for the people I love, “but I’ve had enough to drink today, do you mind me just chatting while you drink?”
“Of course I don’t mind.” The thrill in her voice ignited a flame in my heart. She turned off the TV and faced me, “In fact, I won’t be drinking. Maybe what I wanted wasn’t a drink but to spend some time with you.”
“Away from the kids,” I added, and that earned a little giggle from her.
“You have no idea.” She stated. “They are adorable but may sometimes be a handful.” I nodded in response. She told me about how they spent their day. “They all are opening up to Mason faster than I expected.”
“Yeah, especially Liam. It’s probably because he has met him before.” I said, “Mom ran her hand through my hair, soothing me in ways I didn’t know I needed. “It’s only Melanie I’m worried about. She seemed more distant from him.”
“Melanie is naturally a calm kid; it takes time for her to open up to anyone.” Mom was right. She was different from Liam, “You have nothing to worry about, she missed him as much as Liam did.” She said, although I kinda find this hard to believe.
“Really?”
“Hmm.” She then added, “It’s not as if you are in any haste to introduce Mason as their father. You can take your time. Give her time to open up to him and all.”
Mom was right, I had nothing to worry about.
We sat in silence for the next few minutes, our breath in sync. Her hug was warm, and for a minute, I almost forgot about what happened earlier today. But now that my mind was back to it, I didn’t know what to feel.
After a while, I broke the silence. “Mom,” I called softly.
“Hmmm.” She replied, her voice as calm as ever.
“Do you think I’m a bad person?” I asked. I bit my lower lip, my heart racing against my chest.
“No, why would you think that?”
“I feel kinda relieved.” I confessed not being able to hide it from myself anymore, “Mason and Julia have broken up. And he knows she isn truly pregnant but has been deceiving him all along because she wanted him to marry her.
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08:19 Fri, 15 Aug.
Chapter 123
I went ahead to tell her all about it. From the start, how I felt when I saw Mason, to when Julia arrived, her first confrontation, and then the next. “I didn’t mean to tell him, but I did.”
This was what I wanted, for Julia and Mason to break up, that’s why I had slept with him. I wanted to ruin his life, and make sure he never gets to be loved by another. His engagement has been broken up, I should feel fulfilled, not relieved,
She pulled away from me, held my shoulder, and held my gaze. It felt as though she was staring at my soul; it didn’t feel weird. Instead, I felt
understood and seen..
Her eyes wrinkled on the side as she spoke,” It’s alright to feel this way, nothing is wrong with you. You don’t have to feel bad to feel relieved
She said.
She picked my hand and wrapped it in hers, “Did I tell you your father cheated on me. We weren’t even married, and I thought he’d stay when I was pregnant. But he didn’t.” She paused.
As she continues, I feet as though she isn’t with me anymore, but now in this memory of hers.
“He got married to the lady he cheated with, and years later, when he divorced her. I felt relieved,” she chucked a little, “a part of me celebrated that they weren’t together.” She tilted her head to the side and pushed my hair behind my ear.
I didn’t know this part of her. For the first time, I saw myself in her eyes. She was my mother, and I carried parts of her whether I liked it or
not.
She was once young and had loved a man deeply.
“These are normal feelings.” I nodded, my eyes blurring. “No one should judge anyone for their honest and raw feelings; we are allowed to feel things. It’s better than being numb.” I buried my head in her shoulders and cried.
She held me, “And Mason was going to find out one way or the other, so you don’t have to blame yourself for being the one who told him.”
“I’m scared that my heart is beginning to soften towards him.”
“It’s normal, no matter the facade you wear out there, and how strong you try to present yourself, I know your heart is soft. You have a heart of gold, my dear.” She whispered softly in my ear.
It felt good, having the one person I can be myself with and not try to pretend.
“If you are feeling soft towards him, it’s for the best, you don’t have to beat yourself down for that. In fact, that’s good.” She paused and continued, “You aren’t going to die loveless like me.”
“You aren’t loveless, Mom, I love you so much and so do the twins.” I know she met a man’s love, so I added, “and you are not too old to find love. Have you seen yourself? Beautiful and smart, any man would want you at any age.”
She laughed, I smiled, “and you are not going to die.”
“But we all are going to die.”
I held her tighter, placing my head on her soft breasts, “not you. Not my mom, not even death can separate you from me.”
We spent a long time together, and I fell asleep, but somehow woke up in my bed the next morning.
“The news of Mason and Julia’s breakup has spread all through the city, and it has become the number one gist,” Mia said. We were seated side by side in the car, heading to work from an outside meeting we just concluded.
“This bitch couldn’t just end her relationship in peace, she had to find a way to rope you in it.” She complained. “Aren Lyou angry?” sh asked, and I shrugged.
08:19 Fri, 15 Aug
Chapter 123
Why should I be? I have made peace with the fact that no matter what I want, I can’t control everything. Besides, Liam and Melanie are too young to understand anything for now.
When they grow up, they will be able to distinguish right from wrong. It’s not for me to do.
“But I am agitated at the fact that the news seems to be affecting our stock,” I said, and this finally pleased Mia, who for some reason couldn’t accept the fact that I felt nothing after hearing the news.
“The PRO department has issued a statement already.” She assured me, “So that will be fixed in no time.” I exhaled sharply, relieved to hear that. I rested my head on the headrest as the car drove.
I had an emergency meeting two hours later. The statement had done little to nothing to help the entire situation.
I was a few feet away from the door of the meeting room when my phone rang. I would have ignored it, considering how important this meeting was, but it was from Liam and Melanie’s school.
Immediately, I took the call, and I was met with a need I had not expected. Liam fell while he was playing and sprained his hand. I turned around at once.
“Ma’am, where are you going? What about the meeting?” Mia asked.
To hell with the meeting, my son was hurt and he needed me, “Cancel it and clear my schedule for the next two days.” I ordered. Mia didn’t question me.
While I was rushing to school, I got a call informing me that my Mom had picked him up and they were at home. I changed lanes immediately, driving home.
There was a figure in front of my gate. His shoulders slumped, and his head bowed slightly. I honked when I got close, but he didn’t move. I stepped down, walked towards him, and tapped him on his shoulder. He turned, and I furrowed my brows when I came face to face with
Mason.
What was he doing here, looking all messy?
I didn’t get a chance to ask questions, he dropped to his knees with a thud and grabbed my hand.
“I do not deserve your forgiveness, Lydia.” He said, and I furrowed my brows, wondering what this was about.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
Synopsis : Worst Fear
