Chapter 49 Forty Nine
The door clicked shut behind the HR manager with a soft finality, leaving Kennedy alone and his mother.
Silence settled into the office, thick and suffocating.
Kennedy Walton remained seated for exactly three seconds after the sound faded.
Then he stood.
His chair scraped harshly against the floor as he pushed back, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. He began to pace the length of the office, long strides filled with restless energy, like a caged predator denied release.
Priscillia watched him calmly from her seat.
She didn’t speak at first.
She had learned long ago that when Kennedy paced like this, words too soon would only sharpen the edges of his temper.
Kennedy dragged a hand through his hair, then exhaled sharply. “Why did you hire him?”
Priscillia arched a brow. “He meets all the job requirements.”
“I’m serious,” he snapped, turning to face her. “Why would you employ a single man? You had other candidates. Married ones. Qualified ones.”
“He is qualified,” she replied evenly. “Exceptionally so.”
“That’s not the point,” Kennedy said, his voice tight. “You have a rule. A rule you drilled into everyone, no unmarried staff for management positions. You said it assures responsibleness.”
“It does.”
“Then why did you break it?”
Priscillia folded her hands on the desk, studying her son with an expression that was far too perceptive to be comforting. “Because rules exist to serve people, Kennedy. Not the other way around.”
He let out a humorless laugh. “That’s convenient.”
She tilted her head. “Tell me something. Are you angry because I employed Austin… or because I employed Antonia’s fiancé?”
The words landed with surgical precision.
Kennedy stopped pacing.
Completely still now, his back to her.
The silence stretched.
Priscillia’s gaze sharpened. “Well?”
Kennedy’s jaw flexed.
His mouth opened.
Closed.
Nothing came out.
That was answer enough.
Priscillia leaned back in her chair, sighing softly. “I thought so.”
He turned abruptly, eyes blazing. “You had no right.”
“No right?” she echoed. “To employ a competent man?”
“No right to bring her back into my space,” he said harshly. “Into your company. Into our life.”
Priscillia’s expression softened, but only slightly. “I did it for her. She's pregnant, and engaged to a man who, until recently, was unemployed. She was terrified today. I saw it. I recognized it.”
The word pregnant struck like a blade.
Kennedy stiffened. “That doesn’t concern me. It shouldn't concern you either...”
“Oh, but it does,” she said quietly.
“That’s not your responsibility, Mother!” Kennedy said coldly.
“She is carrying a child,” Priscillia snapped, her voice finally rising. “And I will not pretend I didn’t see the fear in her eyes when she realized who I was.”
He clenched his fists. “So you pitied her,” he scoffed. “She made her choices.”
“And so did you,” Priscillia replied coolly.
His eyes flashed. “Mother which side are you on? She cheated on me.” He said through his teeth.
The lie slid out smoother than it should have.
Priscillia blinked. “Is he the one you saw with her?”
“Yes,” he said firmly, seizing the lifeline. “With him. Austin. That’s why things ended.”
The moment hung there.
Priscillia studied her son carefully, her sharp mind sifting through tone, timing, instinct.
“Tell me the truth Kennedy, why did Antonia leave you for another man?” she asked.
“Mother, what kind of question is that?”
He held her gaze without flinching, years of discipline masking the truth buried beneath his ribs.
Priscillia looked away first.
“You two were engaged to be married,” she said softly, “and the woman I met was so in love with you, I just feel you must have done something to push her away.”
Guilt flickered across Kennedy’s face before he could stop it.
“I'm not having this conversation anymore.”
Priscilla sighed, "I apologize."
He frowned. “For what?”
“For employing him,” she said. “If what you’re saying is true, then I understand why this is difficult for you.”
She stood, walking slowly toward the window. “But Kennedy… I didn’t do it for him.” she said gently, “I did it for their unborn child,” she added.
He stiffened.
Priscillia’s stepped closer to him. “Kennedy Walton…"
Kennedy turned to look at his mother.
Priscillia searched his face, suspicion blooming. “Why does this upset you so deeply?”
He didn’t answer.
Couldn’t.
Because the truth was lodged in his throat like a confession that would destroy everything.
She exhaled slowly. “You loved her.”
It wasn’t a question.
His silence screamed louder than any denial.
Priscillia shook her head, a mixture of frustration and regret clouding her features. “You always do this, Kennedy. You push people away, then punish them for leaving.”
“That’s not fair.”
“It’s accurate.” She responded quickly. "Don't you desire to have a family of your own? How long would you deny happiness? How long would you mourn Ruth?”
His pulse thundered. "Don't bring Ruth into this."
“This ends now,” she continued. “Whatever unfinished business you have with Antonia, you will not drag it into my company.”
He turned away again. “You should have thought about that before employing her fiance, or even inviting them to dinner.”
“I did,” she replied firmly. “They are part of our world now.”
“I won’t be there,” he said sharply.
“You will,” she countered. “You will be civil.”
He laughed bitterly. “Civil? You’ve made a mistake, Mother.”
She met his gaze steadily. “No, Kennedy. I think I’ve finally done the right thing.”
He shook his head, bitterness twisting his features. “You’ve chosen her, despite everything.”
“I’ve chosen decency,” she replied. “Something I taught you.”
He said nothing more.
He walked to the door, his hand gripping the handle tightly.
Before leaving, he paused.
“I'm sorry mother, for dragging you into all of this,” he said quietly.
Priscillia’s voice softened. “Is there something you want to tell me?”
He swallowed hard.
This was his chance.
Say it.
Tell her the truth.
Burn it all down.
“No,” he said flatly. “There isn’t.”
Another lie.
Then the door slammed shut behind him.