Chapter 142 A Mother's Final Lie

Chapter 142 A Mother's Final Lie
Liam POV

"Can we start going now?"

I threw the bedroom door open, stepping inside without knocking.

My breath caught in my throat. Elena was standing near the edge of the bed, her top halfway off, revealing her bare shoulders.

I turned around fast, slamming my back against the door frame. My heart was beating fast against my chest. Heat rushed to my face, burning all the way to my ears. I raised my hand and started rubbing the back of my ear, trying to hide my red face.

"I... I am sorry!" I said, my voice cracking.

I didn't wait for her to say anything. I ran down the hallway, taking two steps at a time, and went straight to the sitting room.

I started pacing back and forth across the rug, holding my hair with both hands. Why didn't I knock first? What is wrong with me? I kept running my fingers through my hair, completely unable to calm down.

Footsteps sounded on the stairs. I stopped pacing instantly and looked straight down at my shoes, my face burning all over again.

Elena came into the sitting room, fixing her sleeve as she walked. She kept her head down, avoiding my eyes just as much as I was avoiding hers.

Neither of us said a word. I turned around and headed for the front door, looking away from her as she walked close behind me.

We walked down the street side by side in complete silence. I cleared my throat, keeping my gaze locked straight ahead at the road.

"I am sorry," I muttered, thrusting my hands deep into my pockets. "I did not know that you were still dressing up."

Elena looked away, her cheeks turning a bright shade of red. "It's fine," she said softly. "Just knock next time."

"I will," I said quickly, taking a deep breath as the heavy feeling between us finally started to pass. "I was just in a hurry. I wanted us to get to the flower shop before they closed."

"You could have just called out from downstairs," she teased gently, nudging my arm with her shoulder. "You didn't have to break down my door."

"I didn't break it," I argued, a small smile cracking through my embarrassment. "I just opened it fast."

We turned the corner and stopped in front of the small flower shop.

We went inside, bought a large bundle of fresh white chrysanthemums—the ones Grandma always liked—paid the shopkeeper, and headed back outside.

The sun was starting to go down as we walked up the long dirt road to the cemetery.

"Are you feeling nervous about today?" Elena asked quietly as we walked side by side.

I slowed my pace slightly, looking down at the white flowers in my hand. "A little. I haven't been back here in a long time. She was the only one who really took care of me when I had no one else."

Elena stopped walking. She stepped right in front of me, making me stop on the path. She reached out and placed her hands on my collar, carefully fixing my shirt with a gentle touch.

"She would be proud of who you are today," Elena said softly, looking straight up into my eyes. "Look at you. You grew up strong and kind. She did a great job with you, Liam."

I looked down at her, the heavy feeling in my chest lifting as a real smile came onto my face.

"I am always trying my best," I said, raising my chin slightly.

Elena laughed softly, taking her hands back from my chest, and we kept walking up the hill together.

"I will be so glad to finally introduce my girlfriend to Grandma today," I said, holding the flowers tight in my grip. "To stand in front of her stone and tell her that I have gotten someone special to catch my heart."

Elena stopped for a second, looking at me with curiosity. "Someone special?"

"Someone that is so nice and caring to everyone around her that she even forgets herself," I said, looking straight into her eyes without looking away.

"Is that how important I am to you?" Elena asked, her voice soft.

Heat instantly rushed to my cheeks, and I looked away for a second, trying to hide the heavy blush spreading across my face. I cleared my throat and held her hand tighter.

"Yes," I said, my face burning as I looked back at her. "You mean everything to me, Elena. And I am so glad to have met you. Now come on, let's hurry before the sun goes down completely."

We reached the big iron gate of the cemetery and pushed it open, walking down the grass path toward my grandmother's headstone.

As we walked closer, I noticed a figure standing right in front of my grandmother's grave. A woman dressed in black.

My feet slowed down, and my forehead creased in total confusion.

What is Mrs. Olivia doing here? Why is she standing at my grandmother's grave?

Elena stopped next to me, just as confused as I was. I kept moving forward slowly, trying to figure out what was happening, step by step.

Before I could reach her or say a word, the sound of her crying loudly broke through the quiet air.

I stopped dead in my tracks, pulling Elena behind a tall marble tombstone to stay hidden. Mrs. Olivia dropped down to her knees on the grass, covering her face with her hands as she cried uncontrollably.

"How can I tell Liam that I am his mom?" she said through her heavy tears, her broken voice ringing out clearly. "After all these years... I abandoned him! I couldn't even take care of him because of the guilt I face anytime I come across him!"

The air left my lungs in an instant. My whole body went ice cold. Her words kept repeating over and over inside my head.

His mom.

"I don't have any right to be his mom," she cried out, pressing her head against the hard stone. "I don't have any right at all!"

My hands went completely weak. My grip gave out, and the bundle of flowers slipped from my fingers, falling onto the hard dirt with a sharp thud.

Mrs. Olivia gasped, turning her head around fast to look toward the noise.

Her wet, tear-stained eyes locked directly into mine.