Chapter 106
1306words
"you have become a tyrant ruler, jailing and unjailing as you, please. Who gave you such boldness?" my mother said with a sneer,
"tyrant ruler? Really, mother? If you could simply put things this way. For a moment, just a moment, see Ember as your daughter. Think that, it is indeed your daughter who is being stomped and mistreated. Your daughter who is being attacked and treated as less than something. Just for a moment, let your maternal side tilt toward that direction."
"don't ask me to do such. It is not my fault that she is unlucky in life. "
I nodded slowly, "Perhaps not your fault, but you've definitely had some hands In it. Your beloved daughter whose freedom you're fighting tooth and nail for has had some hands in it. That is why she is serving time. Because even after Ember had nothing more to do with this household, and wanted nothing more to do with me, your daughter still made it her job to make Ember feel unlucky. You can't tell me she deserves to be left to roam Scott free after all of that. There is only so much I can overlook."
"Even with your own blood?" she asked, in a shocked whisper
"Even with my own blood. Did you know, I only recently realized that there were gifts I sent to Ember while on travels that never got to her? She never thanked me for them and I never really gave it a second thought, but it all makes sense now. Not just why she never thanked me for them, but why she never wore them either."
Lara shrugged, "it's not like she deserved them. If she wore them, she would have probably looked like she stole them or something."
"you better be careful with what you're saying, mother." I said coldly, "I might indeed just begin to display traits of being a tyrant ruler."
She opened her mouth to speak and then closed it again, before shaking her head, "I didn't come here to argue with you. I came here to ask you to set my daughter free."
"when she's done time. Then, and only then will I consider setting her free. If you ask me, I think society will be safer without Christina roaming through it."
"You cannot be serious. I honestly don't believe it's her own brother who is speaking about her this way. And for that tramp. You've asked me to consider her as my own daughter. Consider that it was my one child who went through all that she has been through" my mother said and shook her head, "I won't do that. Never. That girl has done nothing but take you away from me and your family. Even now, she's the reason you won't commit to your actual mate. She has trouble all over her. It's unfortunate those men were unsuccessful in putting her in her place, perhaps I just might try myself."
Her words were like a slap to my face, or a douse of cold water poured over me and I trembled with it, "What did you just say?" I asked, tightening my fists so that I wouldn't be tempted to put them in front of me, "I have warned you once to be careful with your words, and perhaps this time too. I won't use my words the next time Mother."
"you dare threaten your own mother because of that tramp?!"
"thin ice, mother."
"You call me irredeemable, but you're clearly the one with his head beneath the water, blinded by whatever the girl has done to you." my mother said and angrily turned away.
EMBER'S POV
"you're sure you don't want me to come in?" Jean asked, his car parked outside the gate and I shook my head no.
"if Axel is seated outside the porch, the way he usually is, then I doubt it would be a really good idea for you to stroll in with me. It will be a tug of war, and a lot of evil eyes being shot across your way." I said and smiled despite how serious I was.
"what? Why are you smiling?"
"Axel is such an elder brother, is all. I think I would react the same way. Especially with everything that has happened lately. I don't blame him."
"I don't blame him either. But I need a little faith in me. I really can handle myself. I really can take care of myself."
"He is still going to worry, to be honest. it's his job, let him."
I nodded slowly, "I can do that. But trust me when I say I think it will only complicate things if he sees you strolling in with me. Who knows if he'll begin to think of the night I might have had with you. I want very much to avoid that."
"understandable." he said and leaned toward me to kiss my cheek, before opening the door. "text me on the first day you return to work."
"Jean-"
"if you don't, you know I'll still find out. But texting me only makes the whole thing a lot more easy for me."
I nodded my assent, and leaned toward him to kiss his cheek as well, "fine then."
Axel wasn't waiting for me on the porch, but he was in the living room going through some papers when I walked by, and as I did, he looked up from where he sat and raised a brow,
"Look who finally came home," he said and I chewed my lower lip. If Axel's reaction was such an elder brother's reaction, my response was a little sister's.
"It's me. I'm finally home."
"You were supposed to be home yesterday night though."
"I know. I know." I sighed and took a seat. Perhaps this was going to be a long conversation after all, "but I wanted to be with Jean. If that counts for anything."
"it does. I suppose it does. But it would have been fair to me if you had at least contacted me telling me you weren't coming home. You know how I was reluctant to let you go." I remembered his reluctance and nodded,
"Maybe I should have at least sent a text. I just didn't want you to tell me you weren't okay with me staying. I'm sorry if you were troubled."
"I wasn't. but next time, a call or a text would actually suffice."
Next time. " I said and watched him, while he watched me,
"Do you think you're ready again, though?"
"ready for what?"
"love? A new relationship?"
"Brother, just because I stayed with him for one night does not mean I'm suddenly thinking about love and a relationship. "
"I see. I just thought since the both of you were getting closer, things were moving in that direction."
"maybe." I said and shrugged, "Time will tell. But I'll tell you what I'm actually considering.,"
"oh?"
"work. I'm considering going back to work."
"Going back to work?" Axel said, his brow raised, "That attack didn’t happen so far from here and you weren't even coming back from work. I'm not sure I'm comfortable with this, EM."
"maybe you aren't, but I definitely do feel I'm ready to go back. I can't keep staying home recounting my wounds. I need to do something."
"you will. But just give it some time."
"I have given time. And now I want to go back to my life. I can't let those idiots take that from me, Axel. I'm not afraid of them."
"but I'm afraid for you."
"you shouldn't be." I said firmly, and sighed, "You shouldn't be." I said more gently, "I handled myself that day, and should a situation like that present itself, I will handle myself once again. Don't worry.
