Chapter 127 The Broken Pieces Reunited
Grayson’s POV
“Now you know everything. But please hold your anger at least until your dad and Quinn have finished their surgery.”
I raised one hand in the air, causing my mom’s hand, which was reaching out to hold mine, to drop back down. I went to the elevator first. Mom followed behind me.
I saw our reflections in the elevator wall and furrowed my brow.
There, I saw my younger self being held by her. I was wearing Gerry's number 31 jersey, and so was her.
There, I smiled, seeing something in front of me. And then I turned to my mother, my smile widening.
It seemed like it was the last memory before everything turned into a disaster. It was when we were going to witness Gerry's progress in the training program he was participating in.
We came together because my dad was busy and would follow later. Meanwhile, my mom and I deliberately came early because we wanted to surprise Gerry.
Unfortunately, the surprise never reached Gerry. Because on the same day, Gerry left us, forever.
"If Gerry were still here today, I would see my two sons standing beside me," muttered mom.
I sighed and looked away from the elevator wall, toward her. "Gerry will be in the operating room with Dad. And there will be one more person here, Quinn."
Mom turned to me but said nothing.
"I've been warning you for a long time. If you had been more observant, you would’ve realized that your kids were under pressure." I looked anywhere but at her. "We tried to make you happy and also pursue our own dreams. But it seems that wasn't enough because you always asked for more and more. Gerry tried even harder to prove that he could succeed in the path he had chosen. And I... I always wanted to show that I was also useful by obeying your wishes."
"I'm sorry. I was wrong. I realize it now, but it's too late. Your dad and I destroyed you two without realizing it."
I looked up at the elevator ceiling. "I wanted you to see me too. But your attention was always on Gerry. It wasn't until he was gone that you focused on me."
The elevator opened, and I stepped out last. “I didn’t know my request would be granted like that. And yes, it’s true, it’s all too late now. Time can’t be turned back. Gerry won’t be coming back. And you have no choice but to rely on me because I’m the only child you have left now.”
Mom held my arm. “Grayson, it’s not like that. You are our child, not a tool to achieve our desires."
I shrugged. "I don't know why I see it that way. And that's what makes me wonder even now." I took a deep breath. "Are children really just puppets that are manipulated to make their parents proud?"
"Of course not. You are here because we wanted you."
"That's the point. Wanted for what? To achieve your dreams that couldn't come true?"
"We really wanted children and you came along. In the process of raising you, we stumbled, encountered many obstacles, and made many mistakes. But beyond all that, we never intended to have children to fulfill our desires."
Mom pulled me into the patient family waiting room. We sat side by side.
This was the first time we had been this close in a long time. It felt awkward but also calm.
I felt like leaving. But I also felt like I could find peace beside her.
I couldn't lie to myself. No matter how angry I was with her, I couldn't turn away from her. Being in her arms was the most comfortable thing, but if I expressed my desire now, she might think I wasn't serious.
"The doctor leading the operation is our friend, mine and your dad’s. He's the best doctor here."
"Are you relieved?"
"Not until the operation is over and they both open their eyes again."
I closed my eyes. Oh shit! The collision with Hanz only hurt now. It felt like my ribs were broken.
"Are you okay?" Mom looked at me with her eyebrows almost touching.
"I'm fine.”.
"How was the game today? Quinn told me you were playing against a junior Alpha."
I chuckled sarcastically. "So now you know her name?"
Mom was silent. Maybe she regretted what she did at home that time. Or maybe she just didn't want to respond. She deliberately closed off access to her thoughts so I couldn't read what she was thinking.
"My team won. I taught that Alpha a lesson."
Mom then leaned on my shoulder. "I'm sorry for not really following your game. But I'm sure you played really well. You can always be relied on."
I smiled wryly. What I wanted was not only her belief, but also her support. But I don't know, it seems impossible to get it.
"Now it's my turn to ask a question. What did you guys gain by making up that lie for me?"
"Because we were afraid of losing you. Your dad was afraid you would feel uncomfortable with his presence at home. But he couldn't possibly say that to you directly. So that's how we made it seem like our relationship was broken, as if we were an unhappy family."
"That's the craziest plan I've ever heard."
"By acting as if we didn't care about you, we thought the pressure on you would be reduced. We thought that if we led you back to your original path, where you were supposed to inherit the company, your wounds would heal. But it turned out to make you suffer."
"Because I live to continue Gerry's dream. And now that dream is a part of me forever."
Mom nodded. "I understand now. By the way, your dad always watched your games too. He praised your progress to me."
"And you hid it from me? I really don't understand what you were thinking."
"We were stupid. We admit it."
"Insane. That's what you are."
Mom chuckled and looked down.
"Why didn't you ask me to forgive you and just apologize?"
"That's your choice." She then looked up again, staring straight ahead. "My job is to apologize and fix all my mistakes. Forgiveness is your right."
"You're deliberately sad so that I'll forgive you—"
I stopped talking when I saw the doctor approaching us. "The operation went smoothly. Mr. Talon and Ms. Roux are in stable condition. They will be transferred to the infirmary shortly, and we will monitor their condition for the next 7 days or so."
Mom burst into tears. She cried uncontrollably.
Meanwhile, the doctor looked at me and gave me a signal with his eyes.
I looked at mom. Slowly, my hand moved closer to her until I could reach her.
I hugged mom tightly. It was our first hug in many years.