Chapter Two Hundred and Thirteen
I stared at my mother, surprised by her words. She knew about my split up with Nick and she thought it was ‘fine‘?
“So you aren’t going to say anything… at all?” I questioned with a furrowed brow.
“Riley, what do you want me to say? It’s your choice, and you’ve made it; nothing I say would change that.”
“Okay then.” I said, rising to my feet; I couldn’t shake this feeling of disappointment I felt at her response. “I’ll escort you.”
“There won’t be any need for that. I know my way around.”
“I know that, mother, wasn’t it clear that I just needed to spend a few more minutes with you?
“Like you care.” She said bitterly. “I know what you want to hear; you want me to get angry at you for breaking off the marriage–the one good thing life has ever offered you; you want me to scream at you for going back to ‘him‘ after everything, but I won’t do that, and you know why?-because I am tired.” Tears that she seemed to have held back streamed down her face. I am so sick and tired of you, and Lam only tolerating you because you are my daughter and I have no choice, but I would say this to your face: you are messed up. I thought I had been naive and stupid in my past, but you are so much worse. I was at least wise enough to run away, but you ran right back into his arms.”
“I didn’t run back into his arms.” I say, but that was a lie.
“Oh, you didn’t?” she questioned. “When Nick informed me you led the soldiers who came here,” she paused to glance at Axel. “I knew you were only willing to lead them here because you needed an excuse to get back with him. I knew also that you would cut things off just as soon as he let you back into his pack.”
“That’s not true. I wasn’t here to get back with Thane…”
She cut me off. “You know what? I don’t want to hear it. I am tired of fighting for you, trying to defend you, and I’ve done my best. You are no longer a child, and it’s time you make your own decisions. If this is what you want, then fine. I had chosen to focus on my own wants. It’s time I too act selfish. I want a life, I want to be loved, and… I had held back because of you, and now I won’t anymore. Bye Riley, and the next time we meet it would be at the wedding ceremony—that’s if you still wish to be there,” she said, walking to the door.
“I will be there.” I promised, and she turned to me, only giving a nod before she walked away, shutting the door behind her.
“Riley, are you okay?” Axel asked, approaching me.
“Yes, I am.” I say, wiping my tears.
Chapter Two Hundred and Thйčen
“Earlier, I thought you wanted me here because you couldn’t stand her judgemental comments, but now, it seems like you wanted to hear them.”
“I… I thought I wasn’t prepared to face her; I didn’t want to see the disappointment on her face when she looked at me. You see, a lot happened in the past few months; she saw me at my weakest, and she might have believed I would move on from Thane. I failed her, and she has every right to be mad at me, but somehow, this feels even worse. It feels like she has given up
on me.”
“You will be alright,” Axel assured, drawing me in for a hug. “And I don’t think you are stupid; I just think you are in love.”
“With Thane, it’s just so hard; I am always forced into choosing between him or my mother.”
“Your mother had always looked out for you; she didn’t want you hurt. Thane might be at difficult person, but I know one thing for sure, and that is, he is obsessively in love with you.”
