Chapter 23 chapter 23
Chapter 23 chapter 23
In Love with the CEO
Chapter 23
Author:
ALEXANDER
Me: “What are you doing here?”
Eleanor: “I’d like to talk to you.”
Me: “Why do you look so serious?”
Eleanor: “Because what I have to tell you is extremely important, and I’d like you to listen carefully.”
Me: “Alright, I’m listening.”
Eleanor: “I need to have this conversation with you because I’m not happy, my love. You made me a promise that you haven’t kept.”
Me, surprised: “I don’t remember doing anything like that. I’ve always kept my promises, as far as I can recall.”
Eleanor: “I was the happiest woman by your side, you know? I could never have found a man like you, someone who loved me, lifted me up, and pampered me the way you did.”
Me: “So where did I fail, my heart?”
Eleanor: “You promised to be happy, and all you’ve done is become an unbearable person who mistreats the people around him and makes them miserable, when you used to be someone who brought joy to those around you.”
I can’t quite grasp what she’s saying right now. I’ll admit, I’m pretty lost.
Eleanor: “Do you realize that your decisions are really affecting our daughter? That little girl who used to be your reason for living—you’ve neglected her. You don’t take care of her the way you should. You’re always absent, and now you’re separating her from the person who’s ready to love her like she’s her own.”
Me: “But you’re here, my heart. Why would I leave her to someone else? No one can take care of her like you can. Besides, you know I love my daughter more than anything.”
Eleanor: “I don’t deny that you love our daughter more than anything, but your decisions lately have only disappointed her and made her unhappy. She’s endured it all in silence. Do you think that’s fair to her?”
Me, not knowing what to say: “…”
Eleanor: “You were the best husband a woman could dream of. I could never put into words how fulfilled I felt by your side. But you need to turn the page now.”
Me, not understanding what she’s talking about: “What do you mean? You want to leave me, is that it?”
Eleanor, smiling: “My love, you couldn’t have done anything to stop me from leaving. It was a losing battle from the start. Seeing you suffer, seeing you ruin everything, hurts me so much. It feels like I’m reliving the pain I went through because the people I love are unhappy.”
Me: “When did you think I was unhappy? Don’t you see that no woman can make me happy like you did?”
Eleanor: “That’s because you’re not looking closely. You’re letting yourself be blinded by the past. I’m begging you, let yourself go. Live the love that’s burning inside you, or it’ll consume you.”
Me: “What are you talking about?”
Eleanor: “I don’t have much time. Listen carefully to what I’m about to say. The girl you’re mistreating right now is the only one who can make you happy. She’s your soulmate. She was created for you to live a love story together. She was made from your rib. I beg you not to neglect her, or you’ll both end up miserable because neither of you will ever find love again. This woman is the only one in the world who can love and treat our daughter as if she carried her, and I believe she’s shown you that. I beg you to go find her and make amends for everything you’ve put her through. Make sure she comes back to you. She’ll be your rock, and you can rely on her through all the challenges you’ll face. If you think I was the love of your life, wait and see what it’s like to live love with this woman. Love her, protect her, and she’ll give you back a thousand times more.”
Me: “I’m having a hard time understanding you…”
Eleanor: “You’ll understand eventually, Alexander. If you loved me even a little, let me go, please. You’re keeping me in this world I no longer belong to with your actions and the absurd decisions you’ve been making lately. It hurts me so much to linger between two worlds. For the love of God, let me go. I’ll always watch over you from where I am. Remember everything I’ve told you. Live your love, my heart—it’s the only way I can rest in peace and be at ease where I’m going. Tell my daughter I love her with a crazy love. If she ever feels lost or misses me too much, tell her to close her eyes and touch her heart—I’ll live there. I’ll always keep you in my heart.”
I’m in complete shock. I’m struggling to process what she just said, but I don’t argue with her anymore. She seems in a hurry or something, and the worry in her voice stops me from asking another question that might make her more nervous.
Me: “Alright, I understand.”
Eleanor, looking relieved: “Thank you, my love. I know everything seems unclear to you now, but you’ll find meaning in all this, I promise. Be happy.”
She gets up, kisses me on the cheek, and says, “Wake up now.”
Damn, when I wake up, I’m sweating all over. It was just a dream. My God, how is this possible? It’s the first time I’ve experienced something this intense. I thought this only happened in books or stories.
What am I supposed to make of this? Does she want me to move on and forget her? Should I let go of this guilt I feel to invest in a relationship with this girl? Is that the right thing to do? I’m a bit lost, but the worry I saw in her eyes won’t leave me. It feels like she’s suffering because of this situation, when all I’ve ever wanted in this life was to make her happy. Should I rethink my choices? I know my daughter has been really sad about this separation from Alex, but am I truly in love with this girl, or is it just attraction?
ALEX
I turn the key in the lock as quietly as possible to make less noise, but when I open the door, she’s lying there in the living room. I think she waited up for me all night.
Mom, getting up: “Where were you all night?”
Me: “I’m so sorry, Mom. I completely forgot to let you know. I’m sincerely sorry for worrying you.”
Mom: “Is this why you left your husband? So you could act like a whore?”
Me, in shock: “Excuse me?”
Mom, yelling: “You heard me. Is this why you couldn’t stay in your home? To act like a whore?”
Me, getting angry: “Guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
Mom: “I didn’t hear that right. Are you calling me a whore?”
Me: “What do you call a woman who takes another woman’s husband and has a child with him?”
Mom, sinking into the couch: “What are you talking about, my girl?”
Me: “It surprises you, doesn’t it? The truth doesn’t take the elevator like lies do, but it always reaches its destination. How could you dare hide from me that you destroyed a family to have my father?”
Mom: “How dare you judge me? What do you know about life? Who told you such nonsense?”
Me: “That’s not the point. Why did you hide the truth from me? It’s no wonder he disappeared overnight. He had to go back to his family since we weren’t one.”
Mom: “Shut your filthy mouth right there. I won’t let you pass judgment on my life.”
Me: “How could I not, when you let me spend my entire childhood feeling guilty, wondering if I’d done something wrong, wondering why my father left me, when you knew full well he went back to his wife? You deprived me of my father.”
Mom, with contempt: “If your so-called father loved you, he wouldn’t have left. He would’ve at least stayed in touch with you. But no, he chose to disappear.”
Me: “What makes you think you didn’t stop him? Because, Mom, I know you, and I know you’re capable of it. It suited you better to let me believe I might’ve been the reason for his absence so you could use me as you pleased.”
Mom: “You’re crazy. I could’ve left you in an orphanage if I wanted to, but I kept you with me. Ungrateful little thing, this is how you thank me today?”
Me: “And you expect a Nobel Prize for it? It’s a mother’s job to take care of her children, to love and cherish them. Did you give me a mother’s love? No. And it’s your fault I grew up without a father. If you’d chosen a single man like other women, I wouldn’t have grown up fatherless.”
Mom: “Wait until you have kids and try to raise them better than I did. You dare judge me? When you had a little problem with your husband, didn’t you leave behind that little girl you claimed to love like she was your own? We can see what a great mother you are. At least I stayed with you.”
Me: “Where would you have left me? Sending me to my father would’ve been better. And I know I was a better mother to that little girl in a few months than you’ve been to me my entire life.”
Mom: “If you hadn’t abandoned her, I might’ve listened to your complaints. But you’re not in a position to tell me what makes a good mother. The next time you stay out all night without telling me, you’ll find your things outside. You’ve been warned. If you want to act like a whore, do it far from my house…”
It hurts so much to see that she’s right. I can’t stop the tears from falling. How could I leave that little girl alone? How could I leave despite her begging me to stay? In the end, am I just like my mother? The mother I’ve criticized my whole life—am I her mirror image? My God…