Ariel POV
I missed her so much which was why I came here to see her, but seeing her now irritates me as all the memories of what happened keep flooding my mind. How she and her husband maltreated me, how she watched her husband beat me, and how she allowed that bastard to abuse and still took sides with him. Why did she do all of that? Was it because she so much hated me and wanted to get rid of me? Was it because she wanted to keep that bastard by his side? Those are the questions I’ve still not been able to wrap my head around even after all these years.
“I heard your husband left you. Why?” I smirk at her, and I watch as she bites her bottom lip. I heard that bastard exploited all the money she worked hard for, and ran away with it. It hurts to see her hurt, but the pain in my heart is overpowering my empathy for her.
“Ariel… I’m so…”
“What do you want to say? You are sorry? You are sorry about everything, and you never meant to do any of that to me… Is that what you want to say?” I scoff, and she sighs briefly.
“Do you think your sorry is enough to erase the memories? You sold me out for money… You didn’t think about what I will go through there. You didn’t even ask yourself what if the person ended up killing me. I am your only child, have you ever stopped to think about that?” I can’t take it anymore, so I end up yelling at her as tears trickle down my cheeks. My heart stings at the thought of it, and the memories hurt so much.
“You so much wanted to get rid of me that you never thought of what will become of me as they took me away that day. Have you checked the internet the last few days? You are happy that your only daughter has become a celebrity, right? You are happy that they are calling me those names, and all of it is your fault!” I scream at her as more tears stream down my cheeks.
“If you hadn’t sold me out to her, maybe this would’ve been avoided. Maybe I wouldn’t have ended up being called a home wrecker… People wouldn’t have judged me for trying to protect my unborn child, the way you couldn’t even protect me,” I scoff, and tears stream down her cheeks. It’s obvious she’s regretting everything now, but does it change anything?
“I’m sorry, my child…”
“Your child? Did you remember that when you watched that bastard maltreat me every day? Did you ever think of that before you sold me out? Why? You don’t have anyone by your side now, so you are regretting your actions?” I ask her and giggle as I throw my head back, and just then, Max holds my hand. I tilt my head to look at him, and he slowly shakes his head.
“What? You want to take sides with her?” I ask him as I yank his hand off and stand up to my feet.
“Why? Do you feel sad for her? Do you feel like I’m going too hard on her? What do you want to do now? Beat me?”
“Ariel…”
“What? I’m a worthless child? She doesn’t deserve this, is that what you want to tell me?” I scream at him, venting all my anger on him. I know he’s right, I shouldn’t be so harsh on her because even I can’t take it seeing her in pain, but I can’t help it. I just want to let everything out.
“Come on, I’m not taking sides with her. I just feel like…”
“Get away from me!” I cut him off as I push him hard and he ends up falling on his butt.
“Why do you think I came here? To watch you cry and beg for forgiveness? No, I don’t need your pathetic tears, mom… Do you even deserve to be called that? You don’t!” I scream in her face, ignoring Max who is still struggling to stand up. I think I have lost my mind.
“You have to calm down, babe… You are going to hurt the baby,” Max tries to touch me again, but I cast him a glare, and he steps away from me.
“Yes, I want to hate you. I want to stay miles away from you, and live the rest of my life bearing in mind the pain you caused me, but there was a time you were good to me. There was a time your world revolved around me, and you know what? I hate that I can’t change the fact that you are still my mom,” I finally break down in tears, and regardless of everything I’ve done to Max earlier, he still rushes to console me as I cry in his arms.
“I’m sorry,” She falls to her knees and pleads with me. Do I have a choice but to forgive her? I don’t know what came over her, but she’s still my mom, right? I crawl toward her, and pull her in my arms, hugging her tightly. How much I’ve missed her hug so much.
After the reunion with my mom, we resorted to visiting her often since she can’t move in with us because of the scandal that is yet to be settled. The drive back to the house was filled with silence, and I feel guilty for acting like that toward Max there when he was just trying to help me.
“Max, about what happened back at my mom’s…”
“Let’s not talk about it, ok?” He cuts me off as he cups my cheeks in his palm once he pulls over to the parking lot of his mansion.
“You can vent all your anger on me whenever you feel like it, but just make sure you don’t hurt yourself or the baby while doing that,” He utters, and I slowly nod my head. We finally hop out of the car and head toward the slightly open entrance door.
“I locked the door before we went out. How come it’s opened?” He utters as he pushes the door open, but we stop once we walk inside the living and find Alicia sitting on the couch with her legs crossed as she sips from the wine glass she’s holding. When did she get here, and how? Oh, wait! She has a spare key to the house.
“Alicia…” Max calls and pauses.
“I’ve been waiting for you the whole day. Where did you go?” She finally stands up to her feet and turns to face us while having a smirk dancing at the corner of her lips. She’s definitely up to something, and I’m sure whatever it is that she’s up to, isn’t nice…