Chapter 19

Chapter 19
As soon as he heard a sound, Mason flipped his eyes open the following morning. At first he thought it was a dream, but the sound persisted as he tried to stand up. His mother was holding a spoon in her hand and had her back to him, as he could see. Mason believed that the spoon was the source of the noise he had heard.

As he sat upright on his bed, he groaned lazily. The next thing was to put his hand on his head. “What are you doing here?”

“You are awake.” She swung around to face him. She approached Mason while holding the tray in her hands. “You were drunk when you arrived home. How could you do that? You are a doctor.” She brought the tray closer to Mason and placed it on the spear table. She then sat down on a vacant chair.

He was suffering from a hangover. “How did you know all that?” His mouth suddenly released a small gasp. “Where is Roland?”

His mother gave him an aspirin to treat his headache. "Roland is nothing to be concerned about. Here, take it.” She picked up the cup and handed it to him. Neither the medication nor the cup were taken from Mason's mother. Rather, he set his feet down on the ground before standing up. She questioned him, "Where are you going?" Mason remained silent.

His grandfather was already punishing Roland, and this was what his mother's silence meant when he asked her about Roland.

When Mason entered the living room, Roland was crouching with his head bowed, both of his hands on his feet. This time, Mason was late. Mason's grandfather had already reprimanded and blamed his older cousin for Mason's inebriation.

Mason doesn't really recall what happened last night after he and Roland went out for food and ended up drinking, now that he thinks about it. He had suggested they take one shot, but it quickly escalated to two, and they continued in this manner while consuming an unspecified number of bottles.

“Roland.” He knelt down and bowed. Mason placed his hand on Roland’s chin and brought it up for him to see. “Did he hit you?” Asked Mason.

“It doesn't hurt all that much. His hands are becoming more frail.” Despite Roland's laughter, Mason was aware that Roland was lying. The fact that his face was bruised said it all. Mason would frequently become irate with Roland since he never engaged in conflict with his grandfather.

Roland was also his grandson, so he should have had the title. Having a child out of wedlock wasn't something bad. Roland’s mother was not a woman his grandfather liked, but his father was his grandfather's biological son.

Roland's father had assumed that Roland's mother had abandoned him, but the reality was quite different. She worked as the personal maid for Roland's father, and they both fell in love. He had promised to marry her even if his father objected to their relationship, but one day he realized she was gone. When the old man realized the woman was approaching his son too closely, he chased her away. Roland’s father went to see his father and asked for her, but the man informed him that she had left. The old man had revealed to Roland's father that he was aware of their relationship and that the girl had preferred to take the money he gave her over being with him.

Roland's father was devastated by the news.

However, after the old man sent Roland’s mother out of the mansion, she discovered she was pregnant. She had been disowned by her family for getting pregnant by an unidentified man, and she was ashamed to admit that Carter's son was involved with her. She started working in a coffee shop in an effort to increase her income so that she could support both herself and her unborn child.

When she gave birth to the child, she knew she couldn't provide him with enough food or clothing to cover his body, so she gave him to the orphanage.

According to the note she left for the orphanage's administrator, when Roland turns two, she should let Carter's first son know that he has a son with Erica. She would be recognized by him, and he would come to get his child.

Years later, Carter’s first son, Richard, learned the entire account after Erica's passing. The message from the orphanage reached him, and he was able to hear her story. He went in search of her after they gave him her address.

Richard learned that her house had been caught on fire and she was taken to the hospital. Erica assured him that she would never consider leaving him and that she loved him dearly. She informed him that, despite her refusal to accept the cash he had offered, his father had nonetheless expelled her from the mansion.

Erica was relieved to see her son once more before passing away in the hospital, leaving Richard to despise his father. Richard confronted his father about it when he returned to the mansion, but the man did not own up to his actions. Richard was being stubborn despite his brother's advice to stay behind and make amends with their father. He had always been. Roland was raised independently by Richard after they left the Carter mansion. He hated his father even more for making him stay for so long without Erica’s love and also for preventing him from seeing or knowing about his child for two years.

When Roland said he wanted to return to the Carters' mansion after hearing the tale from his father, he was ten years old. He was a young man with a noble heart.
Hatred or rage are emotions he dislikes. That's not how he was brought up. Even without his mother present, his father had done a good job of raising him. When he arrived at the mansion, he had seen Mason and had noticed that, unlike every other wealthy child who had been lavished with attention since birth, Mason was different. Roland liked him too, and the two of them grew close. They played together and shared secrets, but the old man's animosity toward Roland persisted. "My heir can never be the son of a maid." In his words:

"I find it hard to believe you're saying that. Sometimes it's necessary to remind the elderly man of his place.” Mason helped Roland up. “Your face has grown swollen. I'll get some ice,” As they both made their way to the kitchen, he said. The ice was brought out of the refrigerator by Mason. He assisted Roland as he massaged his face.

"Don't take any foolish action," said Roland. "You're the heir,' and you have to act like one.”

At that word, Mason wanted to scream, but he restrained himself. All his life, he had received more consideration from his grandmother, grandfather, and parents, including distant aunts and great aunts, but what about Roland? They did not view him in that manner. To them, he had never meant anything. Nothing to their face, and Mason has had enough.

"I'm so sorry I brought this on for you. He has treated you in this manner before, and I ought to have paid more attention when you told me you weren't interested.”

“I am fine. Mason," Roland said, touching his puffy face. He could hardly remember how many times the old man had slapped him. Prepare for work and make sure you take the medication for your hangover.”

"Are you going, too?" Mason questioned him.

“Yes, I've got to. I have meetings to attend today, and this face will return to normal before I even get to the hospital.”

"I recommend skipping this one. It is just a day.”

“If I do, I'm going to get into trouble again. You are aware of how Granddad is.”

"I do, Roland, and I am aware that it is difficult to confront him head-on but sometimes you have to have the power. You shouldn't allow him to abuse you in that way. Keep in mind that you are also his grandson.” Mason sighed and said, “I will have a talk with him." He was about to walk away when Roland stopped him.

Roland shook his head. "Don't make any foolish decisions, Mason. If you do that, you might get me into more trouble.”

“Okay. I get it. I'll get myself ready as well.” Mason went back to his room and discovered that his mother was still there. He opened his closet and took the outfits he would wear that day out. “Do you not have somewhere to be?” He looked over his shoulder at his mother, who was relaxing in the chair and watching her son.

"You ought to take the pill. You'll feel better about your headaches.”

He swung around to face her. He still held his clothes in his hands. "White or blue?" He held up the jackets.

The blue one was where his mother pointed. Mason tossed the blue jacket on the bed and went back to his closet. He spoke once more after putting the white jacket back on the hanger. "Is Grandpa aware that you are here?"

She rolled her eyes as she crossed her legs. That old man? Hell will lose if he discovers she was at the mansion. “I'll leave as soon as I see you dressed, I promise.”

“Are you that obsessed with me, mom?” Mansion turned back to his mother and grinned. He closed his wardrobe as he walked up to her.

"I gave birth to a boy who is perfect. No other girl should be able to steal you away from me.”

Mason scoffed and said, “Girls don’t love Mama’s boy. I'm okay if it's about my father. I have gotten over it and it isn't affecting me in any way.”

“Are you sure?”

Mason gave a nod. "Mom, I'm good."

“Then why the gloomy mood?”

"I just don't like how Grandpa treats Roland,"