Chapter Fifty-Six
Chapter 56: Money And Social Status
Astral's POV
I harshly wiped off the tears that streamed down my face and he got close to me and raised my chin. I turned my head away from his hold, “You don't have to act nice to me. You are only doing this to cover up for what your Mum has been doing to me," I said with a sniff and wiped my tears again before turning away from the garage and heading to the gate.
“You think this is fake?!" Gael spoke behind me, I didn't want to stop but I still stopped and turned to face him. He walked closer to me and asked again, “You think this is fake, Astral?!" He asked in a louder tone.
“What do you expect me to call it, Gael?!" I yelled loudly and dropped my bag on the floor and I said it all frustratedly, “I have never crossed part with your Mum for her to act cold towards me. I didn't do anything, did I?!" I asked as my tears kept falling and I was having a hard time controlling it.
“I am a human, Gael. Even if I put on a façade I wasn't affected by her drama, deep down I am hurt. I am hurting, Gael. I was once a free girl with no one to treat me like a mere trash! I was forced into a marriage I know nothing of, I agreed to do it because of the love I have for my career. But that doesn't mean I gave out my dignity, my worth, and my value as a human being!”
He interrupted with a widened eye "Astral!”
"Don't!” I pointed my index finger at him, “Don’t stop me, Gael. I can't just stand here and let someone make me feel I was insignificant, unworthy of respect, and a disposable being,” I said as I face-palmed myself trying to hide my crying face from him.
I felt him walk closer to me and I stood two steps backward promptly, "But you know that's not true,” he said in a softer tone and my gaze lingered on his face. I remembered how we started to where we are now.
"It's fake, Gael. You were mad at me for sending all the maids out and that led to s*x between us. This is just lust, your desire to keep me close so that you can keep having me..”
"Enough!” He yelled loudly with his veins bulging out of his forehead, "What sort of false accusations is this?! You are beautiful, smart, funny, and gorgeous. It's only normal if I have an attraction towards you,” he explained.
"No, an attraction to my body!” I corrected him.
"Stop it right this minute, Astral,” his voice sounded dangerous.
“What would you do, Gael?! Silence me with a kiss and screw me here, huh?!" I challenged him with my puffy eyes.
“You took advantage of my naiveness and forced me into your world. Being rich or from the upper class doesn't mean you have it all. It doesn't guarantee a perfect life. It doesn't grant immunity from pain, struggles, or the complexities of relationships. Money and social status might open doors, but they don't guarantee happiness, love, or fulfillment in the deeper aspects of life. Remember to tell your mother that!”
With that, I picked up my bag on the floor and stormed out of the gate. I needed a break from all these, so I flagged down a taxi and hooped into it. I texted my manager to give an excuse for my absence today. I gave the address of my house to the driver, also, constantly asking for tissue paper to wipe my river-flowing tears. I got home in no time and fell into my mother's arms. I don't know the reasons for these tears but I knew if I didn't cry it out, it would hurt me more.
“Sweetie, what's wrong?" My Mum asked endearingly and I snuggled closer to her chest and continued crying. He didn't stop me when I was leaving, which I was grateful for but why was my heart expecting him to run after me? I am expecting too much.
“Astral, dear. You are scaring me, honey. What happened? Where is Gael?" She asked and I stiffened when I heard that name. I pulled away from my Mum's embrace and she shot me a sad expression making me tear up again.
“Mum, I'm sorry. Please, forgive me," I muttered and fell into her embrace again, “You are forgiven, honey. Please, stop crying. It makes my heart break seeing you cry like this,” she explained and continued to rub my back.
The atmosphere was soothing, no noise, no bickering, no faking. Just being myself, here, in a place I grew up to know. My cries began to turn into sobs and my Mum got up and made me some tea, “Drink it, dear. It will calm your nerves," she said lovingly, just as she is.
“Thanks, Mum," I said and tears glittered in my eyes, “I miss you, Mum. I missed you so much," I said and she wiped my tears.
"I missed you too, my dear,” she said to me as she used her finger to brush my hair. She began telling me some funny stories about how she has been doing things all alone just to make me smile but my headache hearing them. I opened my mouth to inform her about the situation I was in.
“I lied," I began and dropped the teacup on the table, “I lied to you, Mum," I said and she looked lost not understanding what I meant by that.
“Gael isn't my boyfriend but my husband,” I said, not meeting her gaze.
“What?! You are married!" She screamed with widened eyes and I flinched in my seat before I began explaining everything to her without missing any, though, I excluded the s*x part but I informed her about Gael's mother's attitude towards me and the situation of our relationship now, also about my career.