Chapter 56 - Mother (1/2)

All I wanted was to run away, yet my feet wouldn't move. Sweat dripped down my back, my shirt glued to my skin. I wanted to shut her words out.

”We knew from the start, you were different. You were so quiet, you rarely cried. At first, I thought it was a good thing. I used to smile whenever I hear the other wives from the village complain about their troublesome offsprings. I never once had this kind of issue with you,” she paused to catch her breath. Her voice a pitch too high. In the background, the machine beeped at a steady rhythm.

”You were so small and rarely smiled. I tried to ignore the silence around you. Your father did everything to pull words out of your mouth. Now, I don't think he used the best methods. He shouted and was angry. He blamed me for giving birth to such a sick kid,” her voice trembled but she went on. ”Please, forgive me, Liliane, for all the times I was absent. I thought, if I let you deal with your problem on your own it would go away. I didn't realize you were suffering. I should have been there as a mother to help you get through whatever that illness was,” fat tears rolled down my cheeks. I frowned at my own inability to hold them in. I was angry that she was sorry now. It was way too late, the damage was done. I was angry that I felt so happy hearing her side of the story. Grant joined me and held me in his arms. He remained silent so mom went on.

”The day you left, I was unaware of where you were heading. Your father told me to sign the papers for the doctor the night before. I never even once check what they were about. Somehow, it was a relief. I was a bad mother,” her voice broke.

”That's not true!” Thomas Jumped in. Mom smiled at him.

”With you, I tried to redeem myself. I wanted to do things right. I hope I did,” she coughed and the machine continuous beeps accelerated. Thomas rushed to her bedside. ”It's ok, I'm dying,” she said with a weak smile.

”Mom, please. We can still get some really good doctors to help you. Please, don't give up,” said Thomas as he grabbed her frail hand. Mom dismissed him with a gentle nod of the head.

”You have your family to look after. I don't want to cause you more pain. It's ok, Thomas, you have spent too much to keep me alive,” she slowly turned her face towards me. ”Liliane, my poor girl. I didn't know they were sending you to a mental institution. I-I am truly sorry. I stumbled on that contract years after. I didn't know I was renouncing your custody when I signed it. When I found out, I went to confront your father,” tears welled up in her eyes. But the door flung open before she could finish her sentence. I turned around to find a dark silhouette standing with shadows dancing on its face.

”Look what the cat dragged from the gutter! A bleached snob from the big city! What are you doing here, in my house?” said a deep voice full of venom. Thomas pushed away from the bed.

”Mom told me she wanted to see Liliane. She is a member of this family and is also welcome under this roof,” the silhouette took a step forward entering the room. The light hit the shabby brown hair surrounding a rough square jaw and sharp almost black eyes. Dad had the same scary aura that used to wrap around him. He was the same with a little more winkled on the forehead and around his inverted smile. Same hard eyebrows. Same disappointed look in his eyes.

”I don't want her to spread any disease under my roof,” he glared at me. Grant stepped in front of me blocking my view. ”What is that?” he tipped his chin towards Grant who extended a greeting hand at him. He stared at it without responding.

”Sir, I'm honored to-”

”Keep your honored and get the f.u.c.k out of my house!” Grant froze, I felt him tensed through the mating link. I reached out and touched to his back. It was no use. I wanted to go. I couldn't stand it one minute longer.

”Couldn't you get a proper man, you had to bring a f.u.c.k.i.n.g fake?” chuckled dad. Thomas stepped towards him.

”That's enough! You stink of booze, mom is sick and you go drown yourself in alcohol? Liliane is my guest. I invited her here. She has the right to stay,” insisted Thomas. If dad wasn't standing in the doorway I would make a run for it. if Grant wasn't at arms-reached I would crumble to pieces.

”You brat! You talk big cause you're all grown up now. You think you can disrespect me like that?” he waved a menacing index at brother. ”I've fed you, paid for your stupid studies and your freaking marriage and that's how you reward me? You talk big! Come here I'll f.u.c.k.i.n.g teach you a lesson,” he threw his fist at Thomas to dodge it. Grant stepped in and easily twisted both of his arms behind his back. He yelped with surprise.

”Get your dirty hands off me! Stupid robot! You're taking our jobs and now you want to take over my family. I won't allow it. Die! Die I'll kill you,” he struggled.

”Do I help him sleep?” asked Grant as he turned to face me. Frankly, my mind was blank. I couldn't reply. With light pressure Grant applied on the neck of the struggling man, his whole body went limp.

”What did you do with him?” shouted Thomas.