Chapter 252

Chapter 252

Valencia said nothing.

Nicholas looked down and took a slow, deep breath.

"You really want to push me to this point?"

Valencia's breath caught.

"You and my dad have been divorced for three years," Nicholas said, his voice flat.

"But you're still Mrs. Jackson to the outside world. Still dignified. Still respectable."

He paused.

"You know why that is? Because you cried and begged me not to let it get out. Said you couldn't bear the shame. My dad put up with it for years of marriage. Did you ever stop to think about where that dignity came from?"

The color drained from Valencia's face, little by little.

"Nicholas, stop..."

"No." He didn't give her the chance to cut him off.

"Everything you've done over the years — name one thing that was truly for this family. You drove Sophia away. You brought Natalia into my life like you were doing me a favor. And when I needed my mother most, when I was alone overseas, you couldn't even pick up the phone."

Valencia's lips trembled violently. Tears rolled down her face in big, heavy drops.

"And now you want to make it up to me? With what? With that same line about doing what's best for Eloise, while you keep twisting the knife in Sophia?"

"I didn't — I really didn't — Nicholas, please, just listen to me..."

"No." He shut her down without hesitation. "There's only one thing you need to know."

He leaned forward, eyes locked on hers.

"Starting today, you don't come near this house without my permission. You don't see Eloise. You don't see Sophia. If you ever show up uninvited again and say things to Sophia you have no business saying, I will stop covering for you. Everyone will know about the divorce."

Valencia froze.

"And that trust you set up in London — the one funded through my dad's company accounts. If things really blow up and someone starts digging, you'd better have a good explanation ready for where that money went."

Every last bit of color left Valencia's face.

She finally understood. Her son wasn't threatening her.

He was giving her one last chance.

If she pushed any further, he would tear everything apart and leave nothing standing.

"Nicholas..." Valencia's voice began to shake. "I was wrong. I know I was wrong. Please, forgive me just this once. I'll go, I'll leave right now, I won't come back. Please — don't let any of this get out..."

Her legs gave out as she spoke. She grabbed a nearby tree trunk to stay upright.

Nicholas turned away and stopped looking at her.

"Go."

Valencia spun around and stumbled toward the gate. She made it a few steps, then stopped and looked back at him.

Nicholas didn't look back.

Whatever had once existed between them — mother and son — it ended here.

Valencia clenched her jaw and walked away.

The gate swung shut with a dull, heavy thud.

Nicholas stood there, completely still.

The wind came in from somewhere far off. He shivered — and then his legs gave out. Without any warning, he tipped sideways and went down.

He hit the ground hard. His knee cracked against the stone path. He tried to catch himself with his arm, but it wasn't enough. He ended up on his side.

Dust kicked up around him. He coughed twice.

The door flew open.

Sophia came rushing out — belly heavy, unable to move fast, her steps frantic and unsteady. She nearly fell more than once.

"Nicholas!"

She dropped to her knees beside him, hands trembling as she reached for his shoulders.

"What happened? Where are you hurt? Say something!"

Nicholas stared up at the sky, face drained of color.

Sophia panicked and tried to pull him upright.

He finally moved. "Sophia, don't — I can get up myself. Don't hurt yourself."

She made a sound of agreement, but couldn't bring herself to let go.

Nicholas slowly pushed himself up into a sitting position. Sophia immediately pulled his head into her arms.

"It's okay. It's over. She's gone. You're okay."

He leaned against her and stayed quiet for a long time. Then Sophia felt something warm and wet soaking into her shoulder.

"Nicholas?"

His shoulders started to shake.

"Nicholas, what's wrong?" Sophia's heart seized.

He went quiet for another moment — then suddenly raised his hand and slammed it down hard against his bad leg.

Sophia flinched and grabbed his wrist.

"Nicholas! Stop it!"

"I'm useless." His voice came out broken, choked.

"I couldn't even keep my own mother away. She came here and put you through all of that, and you had to deal with her for my sake."

He slammed his leg again.

"I can't even stand on my own two feet."

His tears finally fell — heavy drops landing on Sophia's collar.

Sophia's eyes went red.

She pressed his head harder against her chest, gripped his hand tight, and worked his fingers open one by one. Then she laced her fingers through his and held on, not letting him hurt himself again.

"You're not useless," Sophia said.

"You're not useless, Nicholas. Listen to me. You're not."

Nicholas buried his face in her shoulder and wept.

Sophia rubbed slow circles on his back, her voice soft and steady.

"I'm here. I'm right here."

After a long while, his crying faded, little by little. He finally lifted his face from her shoulder.

He wiped his face roughly with the back of his hand, like he was embarrassed to look at her.

"Come on. Let's go inside," Sophia said gently.

She got to her feet first, then bent down and pulled his arm over her shoulder. Her other hand braced against his side. Slowly, she hauled him up off the ground.

His bad leg couldn't hold his weight. He leaned heavily against her, unsteady, and by the time he was finally standing, his whole body was still trembling slightly.

"I'm too heavy for you," he said, his voice rough.

Sophia didn't answer. She gritted her teeth and walked him forward.

Inside, she lowered him onto the couch, caught her breath, and pressed a hand to her lower back as she straightened up.

"Are you hurt anywhere from the fall? Let me see your leg."

She started to bend down to push up his pant leg.

Nicholas caught her hand and held it still.

Sophia looked up at him.

His eyes were still red, but he'd calmed down some.

"I'm fine. Go rest. You shouldn't be bending over like that with that belly."

Sophia gently pulled her hand free and bent down anyway, rolling up his pant leg herself.

His knee was a mess — dark purple, badly swollen, with bruising pooling underneath the skin. It looked painful just to look at.

Sophia held her fingers just above the bruise, afraid to touch it.

"Does it hurt?"

Nicholas looked down at his knee and was quiet for a moment.

"No," he said.

He was lying.