Chapter 85

Chapter 85
I don’t know how the shift happened, but my parents and I have gone from trying to destroy each other to trying to make our relationship work.

It still baffles me that they had apologized for everything that had happened. I knew how much of a struggle it was for my father to offer the olive branch.

It goes against his nature to apologize to someone, and it was even more surprising when I heard myself uttering the ‘forgiveness word.’ But deep down, I had already decided to just let it go even if they hadn’t apologized; however, it was really good hearing it from them.

I came out of my office to stretch my joints that had been cramped from sitting for a long time, and the first sight that greeted me was that of my parents holding hands and off to wherever.

“Maddie!” My father called a bit too loud, and a frown marred his face when he realized it. It was oddly comforting to see that I wasn’t the only one struggling with this new dynamic.

“Father, mother.” I bowed my head to acknowledge them. I know calling them as such only made it more formal, but it would take a little more time before we could be informal.

“We thought a walk would be nice.” My mother answered before I could ask. She held up their jointed hands for me to see, and I nodded my head. 

“Alright, have fun.” I said with a controlled smile, and I was bolting out of the hallway because that conversation was just too awkward for me to bear.

But I had to admit, it was a blessing that the reconciliation came at this time because I could take my mind off some certain person.

It was cute sometimes seeing them trying their best to be parents to me, and I made an effort to go along with it, but other times, it was just exhausting, and I wished they would just stop trying so hard.

However, that couldn’t hold a candle to what I was passing through. Going to bed since I came back felt like a battle, and even Toby’s shirt that was once my source of comfort had lost its magic, and I had given up on it while trying to adjust to life without him. 

I would lie awake each night, unable to close my eyes and fully yield to sleep because I was haunted by the nagging fear that he would reject me, and I would wake up to find our connection broken. 

I know it was what I wanted, but I wish it didn’t have to come to that. It was difficult falling asleep, and when I did manage to drift off, it was only for a few hours. And when I woke up the next morning, I was a shadow of myself—a walking zombie—and the dark circles around my eyes were a testament to my restless nights.

Thankfully, my family got the hint and had not dared to mention anything about Toby, and we had all tried to pretend like he didn’t exist. I would be a liar if I said it was easy, but I had learned to live with it.

The bottles of wine on my table were fast becoming a replacement for my mate, and their company was quite soothing with a bitter aftertaste. My brothers would always argue that I was slowly becoming an alcoholic, but I would disagree with them. I was only wetting my tongue.

The days dragged by like it was being transported by a snail, each one stretching endlessly, as if determined to prolong my agony. Every moment felt hollow, and each sunrise that I witnessed was just another day to live by. This torment continued for an entire week, and honestly, I was surprised I had managed to endure it.

I was sitting down in my office, hard at work on something I was trying to finish when my phone rang, and I stretched my head to look at the caller.

“What?” I nearly choked on my saliva, my heart rate picking up as I stared at the screen. Why the hell was he calling me? I forced myself to stay calm, but it was almost useless because even Lia had perked up from where she had been moping.

My hands hovered above the phone, ready to snatch it and just hear his voice because I had been deprived of it, but the call ended, and it was dead silence.

And it was a good thing. The quiet gave me the opportunity to be able to think well. Why the hell was he calling me after so many weeks—okay, I know it was only one, but even so?

Why was he even calling? He could always send a text if he had to relay information.

Except… My eyes widened as I connected the dots. 

He was calling me so that he would reject me! It has to be that.

“Fuck!” I used to think that this was what I wanted, but now that such opportunities had come, I was too much of a coward to hear him out.

The call came again, startling me so much that I pressed my hand on my chest to steady myself. I glanced at the screen, and sure enough, he was the one calling.

What more does he want from me? He had already taken everything; why does he want to take my peace? Frustrated, I grabbed the phone and quickly set it to DND, finding a fleeting moment of relief.

And I thought it was over, but I have never been more wrong. If I had thought Toby was persistent before, this was a whole new level of persistence.

He would call me every day, at least more than 10 times, and this new habit had slowly become a routine that I now looked forward to. I know, I was crazy like that.

It was just satisfying to see his name on the caller ID, even though I know the reason he was calling was one I hated. But he had noticed that the calls weren’t getting to me, and he had switched to messages.

“Pick up the call; we have to talk!” Sometimes he would write it in all caps, emphasizing the urgency, but I have learned to turn a blind eye to it.

He had lost the chance to reject me the first time I asked, and if it was going to happen again, it was going to be on my own terms.

I had stepped out earlier that day, but as I made my way back to my room for a break, a familiar scent stopped me in my tracks. 

It was one that could wake me up even from the dead, and I quickened my steps towards the scent, surprised when they led me in front of my parents room. My palms were damp as I held the doorknob, and a shiver rang through me at the thought of what was awaiting me. 

'It was now or never.' I whispered under my breath as I twisted the knob and pushed it open.

I would have expected anything, but what I wasn’t expecting was seeing my mate, with one of his knees on the floor, talking to my parents.

My heart betrayed me, pounding with joy at the sight of him, but I clenched my fists, steeling myself as I remembered what he could have possibly come for.

I swallowed the lump that had lodged itself forcefully in my throat, forcing my voice to be steady, and I looked at him with squinted eyes.

“What are you doing here?”