True Forgiveness Takes Time

TALIA'S POV

Why is she here? I had imagined they would of stay away for weeks or months before rethinking their decision to stay away from Evan and his palace. I am worried she is here because things didn't go so well. She is looking quite elegant like she really meant to attend this party.

"I will be back in a few minutes," I whisper to Evan before rising from my seat and heading to meet her.

"We need to talk, I won't take much of your time." She says once I get close enough. I only nod my head and she takes my hand. She pulls me out of the hall and stares escorting us all the way until we disappear behind the heavy wooden doors. She keeps going down a short corridor and walks us into a small dining room where my sister, Taylor, sits on top of the table.

She looks healthier now and her face no longer carries a scowl. She is in a short, pink round dress with long sleeves that make her look more stacked than she really is. She looks calm and beautiful like she is comfortable here.

I still feel worried about the reason they are here, especially her. Last time we spoke she bitterly accused me of being a gold digger and choosing Evan's wealth over theirs. A part of me felt like we would be enemies forever. But here she is, probably for another round of yelling.

Our mother shuts the door and surprisingly embraces me. I am confused about how to act at first. But I hug her back when she doesn't let go.

"Come on honey." She says and Taylor joins us. It feels weird but I go along with it.

"Are you both alright?" I ask after they let go.

"Of course, we just came back to see you . . . and Michael." Mother answers. "Where is he by the way? He wasn't with you at the table."

"He is playing in the backyard with the King's servant. He no longer likes being part of a big crowd."

She nods. "He seemed happy here. I am glad he chose to stay."

My eyes narrow in confusion. "You said you didn't want us to stay." I remind her.

She sighs and stares down at the floor. "My anger was in control of my thoughts at the time. And there are a lot of things that I wasn't aware of." She confesses with a shrug of her shoulders. "I met people out there that made me see the truth. And I was finally calm enough to listen and accept it. We came back to let you know that we are no longer mad at your mate. He was a victim of his mother's lies just like everyone else. And he tried to rectify the situation as best as anyone could."

I am again astounded by her words that it takes a moment of gaping before a smile spreads across my lips. I look at Taylor to see if this decision was really unanimous.

"He imprisoned his evil mother for life. That was enough to convince me he wasn't the bad guy. I would also hug him for giving our crazy father the punishment he deserved." She genuinely smiles at her last sentence.

Evan was so right, they just needed time to deal with emotions and I was very wrong because I was literally pushing them to bury their sad feelings and just stay with us.

I was the one that was inconsiderate. I expected them to forgive everything immediately after having been through pain and terrifying suffering for years. Should have remembered how long it took me to fully forgive Evan even when he was clearly doing his best to help me find them.

"So you're both okay with staying here, right?" I ask with a joyous smile but they both hesitate to answer.

"Would Evan welcome us back? I kind of said really nasty things to him after I woke up." Taylor says.

"Yet he understood that you were stressed out, sick and angry. He isn't actually as stern as people think he is."

"He is a handsome King that is obsessed with justice and the welfare of everyone. Yeah, I know that already. Wish God made a few more like him so I too may get a mate like him" She says and my eyebrows instinctively shoot up.

Her attitude towards him has really changed. She has come from calling him a devil to thinking that she would want a mate like him.

"You're too young to be thinking about mates. Besides, Evan is going to be your brother-in-law. You can ask him for anything you want."

"Maybe. If he won't be angry at me for insulting him." She responds looking a little lost in thoughts.

"I already told you he isn't mad at you. You can in fact go have a drink with him if you want. He will welcome you."

She smiles with eagerness but she still seems afraid to make the move.

"Would you please excuse us for just a few minutes? There is something I wanted to discuss with Talia alone. I promise we won't let you wait too long." Our mother asks Taylor.

She shrugs her shoulders and walks out of the room. I wait nervously for what our mother wishes to speak about alone. I had thought that we had settled everything.

"I huh . . . when are you and Evan getting married?" She questions.

"We haven't talked about it yet."

She stays silent for a long time. "I just . . . want you to be careful. Men . . . they are the same. Doesn't matter how good they act before you're stuck in a home with them. They are selfish . . . and violent. Trusting any of them is always a huge mistake." She warns.

I imagine she decided to hate all men after she married and broke up with our awful father.

"But you just said Evan isn't a bad person," I question.

"He seems like a perfect man for now. But once you're married they always become something else."

I think for a while. Evan has so far proved to be naturally good. I don't see him changing in any way because the person he is now is his true personality and I have no problem living with him. I am also sure he is working on being more conciliatory.

"Are you asking me to go and reject Evan now?" I ask and she shakes her head.

"No. I just want you to be careful so you don't end up in a painful marriage like me. You have to make sure that he isn't capable of changing into someone you won't love being close to." She explains.

"Okay, how do I do that?"

"Don't get married to him now or in a few weeks. Date him for a year or two. A man can never pretend to be good for that long unless he actually is good." She answers.

I am sure she is just trying to look out for me. It has nothing to do with hating my mate. She is just a loving mother doing her best to keep her children safe. But Evan has already proved that he is beyond trustworthy.

"How can I go back there and tell Evan that I don't trust him after everything he has done for us? How can I ask him to wait a year for me to assess his character when we have been to a dozen places together and he has always been good in every way?" I ask and she looks puzzled.

She turns away from me and stares at the wall. "If he really cares about your happiness he will understand." She states though I can sense that she isn't so sure.

"No mother. After all, he has done such a request would be ridiculous." I object.

"I can wait for a year, even two if you want." Evan's husky voice startles us. The door slowly swings open and he steps inside. "Hello Miss Abrams, glad to see you're back." He says walking towards me. He puts a hand around my waist and gives my mother an alluring smile. "I don't mind waiting to prove that I am worthy of marrying your daughter, she deserves the best husband after all."