Fallen 42

Fallen 42 Summary

Alaric remains silent and distant as his mother confronts him, expressing her frustration that even after ten years, his reaction to her remains unchanged. She hints at knowing his true motives for marrying, suggesting he did it to silence her concerns about Clarissa, a subject that clearly wounds him. Despite her sarcasm and bitterness, she makes it clear she wants to meet his wife, which Alaric resists, warning her not to torment the woman he loves.

 

Their conversation quickly turns tense as Alaric accuses his mother of selfishness, pointing out that she never truly wanted the best for him but only for herself. He touches on a painful subject—her past relationship with a man they never discuss—and this causes her to break down emotionally. Alaric, despite his own turmoil, comforts her, revealing a rare moment of vulnerability between them.

 

The mother-son dynamic is complicated by Alaric’s avoidance of family spaces, especially the hotel run by Nolan, which his mother interprets as rejection. Alaric tries to deflect, but the truth is he deliberately distances himself to avoid confrontation. His mother admits that she is struggling and feels isolated, having raised her sons alone while trying to maintain the family’s fragile unity.

 

As the conversation ends, his mother warns him about the challenges his wife might face being involved with their family, questioning whether she can handle Alaric—and by extension, the dangers and difficulties that come with him. Alaric, though uncertain, insists that his wife can manage, reaffirming his own need for her and his determination not to let anyone, not even his mother, come between them. The chapter closes on a note of tension and unresolved family conflict, with Alaric preparing for an upcoming party where these issues may come to a head.

Alaric’s POV: 

I didn’t say anything in response, I just fixed her with an indifferent stare, hoping that she would actually see that I was way past my limit already. 

She tutted, narrowing her eyes at me as she shook her head. “Ten years and it’s still the same damn reaction, Alaric.” Her voice was a whisper. “I wonder what this wife of yours would say if she saw you now. This look in your eyes…” She trailed off. 

And then she grinned, letting out a weird laugh. 

One would describe my mother as bipolar, but that wasn’t the term I would use to describe her. 

Damaged was more like it. 

“You handsome, devilish son of mine… Scheiße. You think you’re clever.” 

“Ma-” 

“You married her to shut me up, didn’t you?” 

I froze. I knew that she would figure it out sooner, but hearing her say it with that smile on her face… it 

couldn’t be good. “You married her so I would stop talking about Clarissa.” 

I flinched, but she was looking away now, so she didn’t notice. 

“Well, now I have to see her.” Her voice was steel as her eyes met mine again. “Consider my curiosity 

piqued.” 

My gaze narrowed. “Whatever you’re planning-” 

“Who says I am planning anything?” She asked airily, turning away from me and heading over to the window again. “I just want to meet my… daughter–in–law.” She tried to hide it, but I didn’t miss the sarcasm and bitterness in her tone. 

My jaw ticked. “I won’t let you torture her, Mutti.” 

She scoffed. “Please, like you would care. You’ve only cared about one woman in your life, and she was the only one–She’s ‘still‘ the only one who can touch you.” 

My heart clenched. 

‘No,‘ I wanted to say. ‘She isn’t.‘ 

But I didn’t say it, and I didn’t understand why. 

Maybe it was because I knew that it wouldn’t change a thing. My mother had her mind set on another 

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woman, and me meeting someone else whose touch I could feel wasn’t going to deter her from her goal. 

She turned to face me “You tried to get over her, distracting yourself with other girls who you can’t even teel-* 

“Yeah” My tone was clipped. “And you scared off every single one of them because you can’t stand not getting what you want!” 

She scowled at me, her voice cold as she said, “Well, forgive me for only wanting the best for you. 

My nostrils flated, fists clenching at my sides. “You’ve never wanted the best for me. All you always wanted was the best for ‘you‘ Isn’t that why you remained with him after everything that he did to you?” 

I hoze, my eyes widening as I wished that I could take back the words that I had just said. 

We never talked about him. Mentioning Clarissa was nowhere near as forbidden as mentioning… him. 

And now my mother’s bottom lip quivered and tears welled up in her eyes. 

Fuck 

See? Damaged 

“Scheiße, Mama,” I whispered roughly, reaching for her and pulling her into a hug before she would start to bawl. “He’s gone, okay? You know that “I sighed, feeling quilt tug hard at my heart strings. “I’m sorry, t shouldn’t have said that. Just can we not talk about this anymore? I have work to do,” 

“You always have work to do,” she sniffed as she pulled away from me, using her fingers to flick the tear drop that gathered in the corner of her eyes. “You never come see me unless I do. You don’t even visit the hotel because it’s so close to me and you don’t want to risk getting seen by me.” 

A chuckle rumbled in my throat. This side of my mother? This emotionally blackmailing side of her who 

just missed her son? That, I could deal with. 

“No, that’s not true. I don’t visit the hotel because Nolan has it under control. It’s his territory.” 

“That doesn’t mean you’re banned from it.” 

Oh, hell 

Truth was, yes, Nolan ran the family’s hotel, but my mother was right. I did everything in my power to 

avoid her, even if that meant never visiting. But of course I wasn’t going to admit that to her 

“I never said I was banned,” I muttered, stepping back and adjusting my cutts. “You seem to be doing pist 

fine without me.” 

“I am not,” she snapped. Her voice cracked slightly and she hufted like it mitated her im not fine, Alaric. I raised two sons on my own, tried as much as I could to buy the past held our family together.” 

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I’d never been able to understand the way my mother changed overnight. One minute, she was the 

cowering wife, and then next… she was this. 

Only made me wonder how impossible it would have been if I didn’t do what I did to save her. 

I scrubbed a hand down my face, feeling something inside me tighten. 

I hated talking about this. “You didn’t bury the past, Mutti. It still lives with us.” 

This was exactly why I hated being around family. They made me remember. 

Not that I ever forgot, but their presence made sure the memories were permanent. 

Her eyes narrowed again, glittering with unshed tears. “I know, Mein Herz. It’s why I want you to be with the right person.” 

I arched my brow. “Back to this again?” My phone buzzed in my pocket and I took it out. “You haven’t even met her and you’re already being like this. What makes you think I won’t change my mind about coming to your party?” 

My mother scoffed, grabbing her purse from my desk and slinging it over her arm. “Fine, then. Don’t introduce me. Keep her hidden. But remember this, sweetheart. If she means anything to you, anything at all–which I doubt–don’t make the mistake of underestimating exactly what you’ve dragged her into.” 

“She can handle herself,” I said tightly. Though, I wasn’t sure I believed it or not. 

“Can she handle you?” Ingrid asked, tossing me a cold look over her shoulder. “That’s always been the real question, hasn’t it?” 

She didn’t wait for a response. She just walked out, heels clicking against the floor. “I hope to see you both at the party.” 

She walked out the door, and just like that, something heavy settled in my chest. 

I was selfish. That was something I already knew. I wanted Meadow, and whether she could handle being with me or not, whether I was good enough for her or not, it didn’t matter. 

I needed her. 

And I wouldn’t let anyone convince me otherwise. 

Not even my own mother. 

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