Chapter 19 chapter 19
Chapter 19 chapter 19
In Love with the CEO
Chapter 19
Author:
ALEX
It’s been a few days since I left my so-called home to come back to live with my mother, and if I thought she was unbearable before, she’s a thousand times worse now. She’s making my life hell, as if to make me understand that I cost her her golden goose.
FLASHBACK
I’ve just arrived at my mother’s doorstep. I take a deep breath before ringing the bell, bracing myself for the flood of reproaches about to rain down on me.
Mom, opening the door: “What are you doing here so early in the morning?”
Me, as calmly as possible: “Can I come in?”
When she steps aside, I head straight to my room and close the door behind me. I don’t want to talk right now, and I hope she gets that.
Mom, bursting the door open: “Are you crazy or what? What are you doing here with a suitcase?”
Me: “When are you going to start respecting me? Can’t you see I don’t want to talk to you?”
Mom, getting angry: “If you want a slap, keep talking to me like that. What are you doing here?”
Me: “If you still haven’t figured it out, I just left my husband.”
Mom: “Are you insane? Since when do you just up and divorce like that? Forget that nonsense right now. When you’re done crying, you go back to your husband. I don’t want to hear it.”
Me, bursting into sobs: “What’s your problem? What kind of mother are you? Have you ever asked yourself if I was happy? Have you wondered for a second why I left?”
Mom: “Did I force you to get married? Weren’t you the one who brought him here yourself?”
Me: “And I’m the one deciding to leave him, so don’t try to make a scene. I’m tired.”
Mom: “You decide to get married when you want, but open your ears and listen to me carefully: you will never leave your husband, do you hear me?”
Me: “You don’t want me to divorce, or you don’t want the deal you made with my husband behind my back to end?”
Mom, visibly shocked: “What are you talking about?”
Me: “How could you dare ask him for things in exchange for my hand, Mom? Have I become a commodity to put a price on? Is that all I am to you? I’ve always given you everything. I’ve always fought for us. When I left, I sent you a check every month. What more did you want?”
Mom: “…”
Me: “Do you know what he told me today? That you, my mother, sold me, and he took great pleasure in acquiring me. He threw it in my face that he bought me. How do you expect that man to respect me?”
Mom: “So you’re saying it’s my fault you want to divorce?”
Me, sighing: “I never said that. This marriage was doomed from the start. So respect my choice to divorce.”
Mom: “In any case, know that as long as I’m alive, there will be no divorce between you two. By the way, your husband called me after you left. He wanted to know if you were here because he was worried. I told him you were here and that he could come pick you up. What do you want people to think of us? What kind of marriage doesn’t even last a year? Why do you always insist on embarrassing me?”
Me: “When will I ever matter to you? When will you put your daughter before the damn opinions of others?”
Mom: “It’s for your own good that you need to go back to your husband. He’s your family now, and your place is by his side, not here.”
Me: “Let me make this clear: if you don’t want me here, I can go to a hotel, but there’s no way I’m going back to that jerk.”
Mom: “Tell me, what did he do to you? Did he cheat on you? Did he hit you? What exactly did he do to make you want to divorce?”
Me: “So for you, those are the only reasons a woman can want a divorce?”
It’s clear that no matter what I say, she’ll stick to her stance. Even if I explain what I went through with that man, she’ll say it’s nothing and that I shouldn’t complain. For her, I need to go back to that lunatic, but what she doesn’t know is that the girl she gave away in marriage didn’t come back. That girl died in that marriage. I’m not letting anyone dictate my actions anymore. If she’s not happy, I can leave her house.
END OF FLASHBACK
After our conversation, she backed off a bit. We’re in a sort of cold war now; neither of us talks to the other. She tries to show her displeasure by ignoring me, but what she doesn’t realize is that she’s doing me a favor.
ALEXANDER
It’s been a few days since Alex left the house, and everyone here has decided to ignore me. Even Julia doesn’t want to see me. When I come in to wish her good night, she pretends to be asleep. At the office, it’s no better—the tension with William is at its peak. I don’t want to talk to him. He betrayed me, and I still can’t swallow it. How could he dare touch my little sister without even thinking to tell me? He acted behind my back like a thief, and I don’t like that at all.
William, opening the door without knocking: “Good morning!”
Me, in a firm tone: “I don’t want you here. You should go about your business.”
William: “This has gone on long enough. We’re acting like two kids in a playground. You’re going to listen to me whether you like it or not.”
Me: “I’m telling you to get out, or I won’t be responsible for what happens.”
William, sitting across from me: “If punching me will make you feel better, go ahead, have at it. I’m ready to take it.”
I’d rather ignore him; I have nothing to say to him anyway.
William: “I know you felt hurt and betrayed by me, but I swear that was never my intention. You’re like a brother to me. I never planned for any of this to happen. As you know, love is a feeling that catches you off guard when you least expect it. I was struck by this beautiful sensation, and believe me, I did everything to fight what I feel right now, but there was this force pulling me toward her no matter what I did. In the end, I gave in and let my feelings run free.”
Me, a bit annoyed: “You hid it. That’s proof you knew full well what you were doing was wrong.”
William: “You can’t imagine how much it suffocated me not to shout my love to the world. The fact that you found out was liberating for me, even if I didn’t want you to find out like that.”
Me: “But you still hid it from me. You know how much my sister means to me. I love her like I made her myself. You know how much it hurts me when I feel she’s unhappy. You know I’d give her the moon if it would make her smile. You’re the person I go to when I have a problem, the person I go to when I’m happy. But you still decided to get with my sister, my only sister, and have a relationship with her behind my back, in secret. And you expected me to applaud you for it?”