Chapter 24 The Proposal
<< Vanessa's POV >>
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I arrived at the mansion a few hours later, half-expecting Ryker to be home already. I stepped into the living room just in time to see Cole handing Missy her milk bottle.
He gave a slight bow. "Miss Vanessa."
I smiled, glancing at Missy, who was staring at me. "I didn't see Ryker's car outside."
"Mr Holland hasn't returned since he left last night," Cole replied.
I nodded, trying not to let the disappointment show.
Cole excused himself, the door clicking shut after him. It was just me and Missy in the living room.
I dropped onto a couch, a tired sigh escaping my lips. I struggled to take off my heels, dumping them on the floor.
A dull ache throbbed through my feet, a reminder of how long the day had been.
I leaned back into the couch, closed my eyes, and let exhaustion pull at me. Ready to take a quick nap, but a sudden knock at the door snapped me out of it. My eyes flew open, and I groaned inwardly.
I walked to the door, wondering who it was.
It couldn't be Ryker. He never had to knock.
I opened the door.
Only to find Derek's mom standing there.
"Catherine?"
For a second, I wondered if I was seeing things. But she was there. Poised in a deep purple gown, a small smile on her face, looking like a former model straight out of a cover magazine. Her hair was stylishly curled, resting on her shoulder.
She looked radiant.
"Can I come in?" She asked, knocking me out of my thoughts.
"Oh. Yeah, yeah. Sure." I stepped aside, pushing the door open, suddenly aware that I had no shoes on.
Catherine walked in, her eyes moving around slowly, absorbing every detail of the living room. I shut the door after her, my heart racing crazily.
My stomach twisted with uncertainty. Should I pretend this was a polite visit, or just dive right into the reason why she'd come?
We hadn't seen each other since that tense encounter at Derek's party. Back then, her silence said more than words. Now, she stood in my home with a smile that didn't reach her eyes, and I couldn't help but wonder what game she was playing.
I stayed behind her, awkward and unsure of myself.
"You don't want to sit down?" I asked.
She finally turned to face me, her smile turning big. Her eyes were soft on me. "Oh no. I just wanted to see you."
"You came just to see me? Why?"
She stepped closer. Her eyes pinned me in place. "How have you been feeling, dear?"
"I'm... I'm fine." I hesitated, eyes narrowing. "I've been well."
"That's good to hear," she murmured. "But I haven't had a moment of peace lately and that's why I came to see you today."
My brows drew together. "Why?"
She exhaled slowly, hesitating. "You know...I never liked your step-sister. Not once did I want Derek to end up with her."
Her eyes stayed locked on mine, searching for something I couldn't tell, and I watched her just as closely.
If that were true, why hadn't she said anything? Why had she let Derek go through with the wedding?
I couldn't wrap my head around what she was implying.
Catherine reached for my hands, her warm fingers rubbing against my knuckles. Her voice, soft and smooth. "Don't give up on my son just yet, Vanessa. He deserves someone like you—not that girl who abandoned him without a second thought. You and Derek were meant to be. You both deserve to be happy together."
My brain folded, thoughts twisting into a tangled mess that made no sense. Did she really expect me to believe that? And why the hell were both mother and son showing up today?
I whispered, voice tight with bitterness, "I loved your son, and I'm sure you know that. I gave him my all, but yet, he didn't even hesitate to walk away."
"Because he's a man." Catherine's tone sharpened. "They never realize what they have until it's gone. As a woman, it's your role to stay and make him see you were always the prize."
Was I?
She sighed. "For years, you have been nothing short of a devoted partner. A wife. I've watched you care for my son, love him, and put up with his attitude even though sometimes he can be a handful. You won't throw all of that away over one rough patch, will you?"
I sucked in a shaky breath, my thoughts spiraling faster than I could hold them together.
She continued, squeezing my hands. "Marriage isn't all roses and wine, dear. There will always be obstacles, fights, and misunderstandings. This is just one of those tests. Don't let this bump destroy what you two built together."
"What we built together?" I pulled my hands from her grip. My throat tightened. "From what I remember, I had nothing worth fighting for with Derek. In the days I've been away from Derek, I haven't gotten a single new bruise. I don't wake up at five to clean or cook while also trying to make myself small enough to avoid being beaten. Over here, I wake when I want and still find breakfast on the table."
I paused to watch her expression. I had never told Catherine about Derek's behavior before. This was the first time I'd said it out loud. I expected something. Anything. Maybe a flicker of shock or guilt.
But nothing changed. She didn't even flinch. And that was when I knew. She'd always known. She knew about my abusive marriage, every bruise her son left on me. And she'd chosen silence.
I couldn't believe Catherine—who had always shown me kindness as Derek's wife, standing up for me and showering me with constant care—had known I was being abused.
She mustered a smile, trying to lighten the atmosphere. "Fair enough. Ryker has always had a thing for cooking. Growing up, he practically lived in the kitchen, following a particular maid like a shadow."
Was that supposed to clear up this new revelation? Because it didn't work.
What if Ryker was right all along? Had she always hated me...and I'd just been too blind to see it?
Catherine must have read the looks on my face because she hastily added. "Don't misunderstand me. Men hurting their wives... It's been happening for ages. You're not the first, and sadly, you won't be the last."
Was she serious? My chest tightened with disgust. This wasn't old-school wisdom. It was willful ignorance wrapped in tradition. How many women had to break before this kind of thinking died? Why was she normalizing abuse?
A beat of silence passed. Nobody said a word. I couldn't. Then, she finally broke the tension.
"Before Derek's father, I had another husband. Did I ever tell you that?"
That was a shocker.
"No."
"He was my first love," she said, eyes turning wistful, like she was pulling up memories better left buried. "He was a year ahead of me in high school. My bully, actually. And I was just the quiet, nerdy girl no one noticed. Somehow, we ended up married when I turned eighteen."
Right. The dysfunction ran deep. Now, I finally knew where Derek got his unnerving brazenness and cruelty. It didn't come from nowhere. It was inherited, passed down like a family heirloom soaked in rot.
But she continued. While I stood there, not sure why she was divulging all this information. "Over time, he changed. He lost his job, started drinking, and gambling. And me? I became his punching bag every time the bottle got to him."
That was terrible. And heartbreakingly relatable.
But the only difference between this high school lover and Derek was that, Derek was always sober enough to know that he was hurting me.
"And what did you do?" I asked, piecing my words carefully.
She smiled. Her smile was raw and grim. "I stayed—until he died in a car crash. Not because I was happy, but because I loved him. And as his wife, I had to protect our image. Shield everything, so people wouldn't talk. As women, it falls on us—whether our husbands are honored or humiliated. We either hold the marriage together... or we let it fall apart."
"And what about the men? What are their responsibilities?"
Her eyes turned tender. She placed a hand on my shoulder, saying. "Men are just boys in grown-up suits. They don't know any better."
"That's not fair," I said quietly, the words catching on my breath.
She let out a soft sigh. "I know it sounds harsh. But you're not just going to let Derek go after all you've given, are you?"
"What exactly are you saying?"
"I'm saying, we can't let that girl ruin everything."
"We?" My brows lifted in disbelief.
She stepped closer, her gaze sharpening. "I can't let that marriage work. Annie doesn't deserve my son. You do. After everything she's done—leaving him at the altar for someone else, only to come crawling back—I want her gone. For good. And I want your help."
Where did that come from? Why was I included?
I took a cautious step back. "Wait...Are you seriously asking me to help sabotage Derek's marriage?"
Catherine smiled. "You catch on quick."
My spine stiffened.
Her voice dropped low. "I'm giving you a chance, Vanessa. Take it. Get Annie out of the picture and make Derek see what he's lost. Seduce him if you must—whatever it takes. That way, you help keep Annie out of the family..."
I stopped breathing altogether. Her eyes were unwavering as she added.
"... and you get to keep Derek for yourself."