Chapter 50

I walked down the hallway to the Meeting Room with the people and I felt petrified when I walked in there and with my back to her there was a woman, I didn't look directly at her only at the black hair she was showing. And when she turned to me finally....

Damn, was it MY mother?

"Mom?" I said with my eyes full of tears

"Hello daughter" She spoke once again and now looked me firmly in the eyes.

It was the same Vivian, time had not passed at all! And she was standing there in front of me like a ghost tormenting me. I didn't run to hug her, I could swear it was a trick. Something to confuse my mind and my heart. Although my body was overcome with a strange ecstasy I remained impassive looking at her! I didn't know how to react, I saw her body. I saw her dead! I killed my father for the sake of that, for the sake of my family! Of my unborn child!

"Aren't you going to hug me Olivia?" She said opening her arms.

"I don't know if I want that no! I don't know if you are who you say you are."

"Always the same thorn, it's me! mom! I knew you'd make that shocked face anyway!"

"Oh why would I be shocked, right? You were dead! I saw you! Father claimed he had killed you!"

"Oh, that? No... Dad thought he killed me, he really tried. But that's not what happened. But does it matter?"

"Of course it fucking matters! Tell me now what happened!"

"Can we talk somewhere else?"

"Do I have a choice?"

I really had no choice, Josh followed me still shocked by the whole thing, even more than I was. She had been hiding all this time and literally didn't think to tell me? Tell Adam?

Not sure whether to feel joy or extreme hatred, either reaction was appropriate.

We walked to my old room, I crossed my arms and looked at her.

"By the way, hi Josh!"

He said it like that, as if he had gone to buy a bagel at the bakery!

"Speak up mom! What the fuck is that?"

"Your father.... He drove a stake through my stomach, I fell to the ground. His intention was really to kill me. He turned his back and walked away, and I stood there in agony. But I managed to escape, with the help of some of my allies in here. Some Aaryns kept wives in reserve. They helped me escape. Our father was warned about this, so..."

"The disfigured body on his face and the blame thrown at the Lycans."

I sat up in bed. I was shocked for a few minutes and totally immobile trying to absorb even more dirt.

"Don't make that shocked face, it wasn't like you killed an innocent!"

"But what about me? Didn't you think to come back and tell all? What about Adam?"

"No I couldn't Olivia, if I went back and gave you the chance to be the spoiled girl you actually were until after my death, the damn revolution wouldn't have happened."

"Don't be arrogant! How could you have predicted that I would get pregnant with Josh? Even that I would fall in love with him?"

"To be honest, I knew Josh wanted revenge. Jade told me and I just thought that would be interesting."

"So you manipulated everything!"

"Not the fact and Josh loves you and you love Josh, that was a natural thing! And I was sure it would end up happening too. Petros was the unplanned stepping stone.

"Mom, I hate you! "

" No you don't, you just don't want to admit that my loss has made you a better person!"

I couldn't stand her haughty look, I couldn't stand her looking at me like that, always a know-it-all from hell, always knew everything about everything and everyone!

"I can't believe you're mad that I survived!"

"I'm mad that you let me think you were dead, when you weren't! For making a fool out of me all this time like a puppet!"

"If I hadn't pushed you you would be here in this castle, seeing your father's crooked look at you all the time, you would be here inside this room, maybe married to the disgusting Petros who always liked you. You wouldn't have met Josh, you wouldn't have had the courage to get over yourself! Because under my wings it was comfortable! Even I had to without pushing myself, had to have my belly ripped open and a dead son to cry over to realize that your father could never change! And I'm glad you killed that filth! So, Olivia, I'm sorry for the suffering. But nobody grows up without it. And for that I won't apologize!"

I thought nothing of it as I ran to her and hugged her. The only remnant of my past life there in front of me, and everything she said was true. Not a stitch out.

She knew me, I was the one who didn't know my mother. And knowing the way she survived... Only made me admire her.

And in her arms, the warmth of my body on account of my son, she hugged me and put her hand on my belly, and smiled at me.

"Be happy at last Olivia, the burden of this kingdom is not yours!"

She said looking me in the eye.

And it wasn't, it was the life I didn't choose. Having my mother there made me sigh with relief, finally. It was just me, the baby and Josh. No kingdoms, wars, diplomacy, and symbols. Just the family I always dreamed of having.

She was like that... Always accurate.

"And when Adam?" I said studying their expressions.

"I went to him first, when the war ended."

She had a sad look on her face.

"What happened?"

"Nothing much, I hope one day he can finally forgive me!"

"He will, just give him some time"

Josh said opening his mouth for the first time.

I didn't need to pass the crown to My mother in a formal ceremony, she was loved. She was a myth, and there was no Aaryn within the castle who didn't respect her.

I just hoped that the power for her would be better than for my father.

I said goodbye and walked out the door, hand in hand to the man who made me sigh, knowing that from that moment on nothing could stop me from being

happy, that I could smile and overcome my traumas. The news of my mother's return spread throughout the now unified kingdoms, and there were parties and parties to celebrate her return.

She seemed to shine, because she had been made for it. Her ambitions were different, and about this there was no discussion.

She shone in her clothes, and with time and Adam's return to her life she became more and more beautiful.

Things seemed perfect for everyone, and where there had been crying there was now laughter, where there had been hurt there were finally flowers. And I finally had everything I dreamed of, right at my fingertips.

I was afraid, because it was not possible for anyone to be as happy as I was. I would spend the night watching Josh sleep, while he held me in his arms and the distance between us grew greater as my belly grew.

We would go to the garden, kiss in the middle of a sentence, plan to see the world! And everything... absolutely everything was possible.

"I don't know how you can stand to look at my face like that every night, and what shocks me the most is that every day your face gets happier."

"I love looking at you, Josh.

"I love you Olivia!"

Josh said, kissing me.

When I tried to explain my reactions, and my life I lacked words to justify my ending. I wanted emotions, I didn't mind living with Josh the same day, two, three, ten times. Because even following the same routine, he made it special. Just by being there!

The days went by without news, and I loved the fact that I could walk in the sun, as long as that child was inside of me I could do everything that my Aaryn life didn't allow.

I sat in the garden with Josh every day, and they were always the same. I loved it. The carefree look in his eyes, the kisses in between sentences, the attempt to feel his son kick. He said so much about it being a boy that I believed him, I could no longer even think about the possibility that he was a princess, and not a prince

"You know Olivia... I was thinking here, we have to change some things. I just can't take it anymore!"

He said getting up abruptly, his gaze was icy, he looked angry!

"What happened Josh?"

I asked startled

"That's it, no more Aaryn!" He said turning around