MARY’S POV.
We’ve had dinner and was just having random talks in the living room but my mind was far away from the discussion.
Alex, Saraya and Evan’s giggles and small laugh jolts out of my reverie time to time but I couldn’t stop the many thoughts in my head.
I saw Evan rubbing his eyes and that was my cue to take him to his room. “Stop rubbing your eyes, it’s bad for your sight.” I chastised.
Alex stood up on his feet. “Go easy on him, you know it’s been a long day for him. I think it’s time to get some sleep, I’ll take him to bed.”
I interrupted. “No, I’ll do it.” I insisted. “At least, let me do one thing to keep myself busy. You’ve been doing all the runnings all day. Take a break.”
I walked up to Evan and helped him on his feet, while taking him upstairs, I took a glance at the father and daughter who clinked their glasses and continued their discussion amidst giggles. Anger surged through me.
I helped Evan to his room and once we were in, I locked the door behind me. I tossed him hard on the bed without care.
Evan must have sensed my anger amidst his struggling to keep his eyes awake. “Mom,” he looked at me, confused, but I didn’t care.
“How dare you, Evan?” I snapped.
“What? Mom.” He asked, his voice shaking.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about,” I said, stepping closer. “A photographer? Really? You’re the biological son of the chairman of Newman’s Empire, and you want to waste your life on some ridiculous hobby?”
Evan backed away slightly. “It’s not just a hobby, Mom. It’s what I love. Why can’t you just support me?”
“Support you?” I let out a bitter laugh. “Do you hear yourself? Do you see how Saraya so easily agreed to support you? Do you really think she’s on your side?”
“She is on my side,” he said, his voice defensive.
“No, she’s not,” I snapped. “Half-siblings don’t support each other’s dreams, Evan. They only do that when it benefits them. Saraya’s playing a game, and you’re too blind to see it.”
“That’s not true,” he muttered.
“It is true,” I insisted, my voice cold. “And you’ll see it soon enough. But by then, it’ll be too late. That’s why you need to forget about this photography nonsense right now.”
“I’m not forgetting it,” he said, his fists clenching. “I’m not giving up on my dreams.”
I scoffed. “Dreams? Do you think I’ve spent all these years fighting for our place in this family so you can throw it away for some childish dream? One day, I’ll rule Newman’s Empire, and you’ll be by my side. That’s your future, Evan, whether you like it or not.”
“I don’t want it!” he looked away from my blazing gaze. His voice trembling. “I don’t care about the family business! I don’t care about any of it!”
I stared at him for a moment, then shook my head. “You’re so naive,” I said quietly. “Do you know what I’ve done to get us here? Do you know how much I’ve sacrificed?”
“I didn’t ask you to sacrifice anything!” he shot back.
“No, you didn’t,” I said, my tone sharp. “But I did it for you anyway. Do you think Ian and Saraya hate each other by accident? I made it happen. I reported Saraya for fraud. I planted doubts in saraya’s mind. And now, they’re at each other’s throats.”
Evan stared at me, horrified. “You… you did that?”
“Yes, I did,” I said, my voice cold and unyielding. “And I’ll watch them tear each other apart. When the dust settles, we’ll be the ones left standing. But you-” I jabbed a finger at his chest. “You are my ticket to the top. You’re Alex’s son, and you’ll stand by my side. Not as some nobody photographer, but as a world-famous businessman.”
“I’m not doing it,” he said, his voice low but firm.
“Oh, you will,” I said, stepping even closer. “Because if you don’t, you’ll lose everything. Your name, your place in this family. Everything.”
“You’re terrible, mom,” he whispered, shaking his head.
“Call me whatever you want,” I said, smirking. “But in the end, you’ll thank me. Because the Newman name isn’t just a blessing, Evan. It’s a weapon. And I’m teaching you how to use it.”
Evan’s lips quivered, his wide eyes fixed on me. “Why are you like this, Mom?” he whispered.
I crossed my arms, towering over him. “Why am I like this? Because I care, Evan. Because I refuse to let you throw away everything I’ve worked for.”
He shook his head, his voice trembling. “You don’t care about me. You only care about what I can do for you.”
“That’s not true,” I snapped. “I care about your future-our future. You don’t see the big picture, but one day, you will.”
“I don’t want that future of yours,” he muttered, his fists clenched at his sides. “I want mine.”
I stepped closer, my tone sharp. “And what does your future look like, huh? Running around with a camera, living paycheck to paycheck? Is that what you want?”
“Yes!” he blurted, his voice cracking. “If it makes me happy, yes!”
I stared at him, stunned for a moment. Then, I let out a bitter laugh. “Happy? Let’s hope you can say that about your hobby when your father is gone.”
“It’s not a hobby!” he yelled, his voice filled with desperation. “It’s my passion. Why can’t you just let me be me?”
“Because being ‘you’ isn’t enough!” I snapped. “Not in this family. Not in this world. You’ll thank me one day, Evan. When you’re successful, when people look up to you, you’ll see that I was right.”
“I’ll never thank you,” he said quietly, tears streaming down his face.
His words stung, but I wouldn’t let him see it. I leaned in, my voice low. “Go to sleep. Think about what I’ve said. You’re not a child anymore, Evan. It’s time to grow up.”
I kissed his forehead, ignoring the way he flinched, and walked out of the room.