Chapter 57 BLESSINGS AND BLACKOUTS

Chapter 57 BLESSINGS AND BLACKOUTS
Althea’s POV

It had been a week since JC disappeared.

A whole week of peace. No anonymous messages.

No rumors. No chaos. JC was finally out of our lives.

Or so I thought.

Rowan and I were on my couch that evening, legs tangled, my head on his chest. We were watching something on Netflix, but honestly, I wasn’t paying attention. I was just enjoying the quiet. For once, nothing was exploding.

Then Rowan paused the TV.

Which is never a good sign.

"We have to get my mom’s blessing, Althea," he said, looking at me with those puppy-dog eyes while we were chilling on the couch.

I nearly choked on my iced coffee. "What?! Eleanor? Heck no!"

I sat up straight, my heart already doing that nervous flutter. "Rowan, I am literally terrified of that woman. She hates my guts, she thinks I’m a social climber, and she’s basically the final boss of mother-in-laws. What are you even talking about?"

Rowan leaned in, trying to be all cute and comforting. "Babyyyyyyyyy... hmmm, when did my superwoman become scared?" he teased, poking my cheek.

I swatted his hand away, not even smiling. "It’s not 'scared,' it’s called survival instincts, Rowan. Your mom isn’t exactly the 'Best Mom in the World' trophy winner. Can we talk about the fact that she literally had my brother kidnapped just to separate us? Can we remember that tiny, little detail?"

Rowan’s face fell, and he looked genuinely guilty. He rubbed the back of his neck, looking down at his feet. "I know. I’m so sorry about that. Trust me, she annoys me more than anyone, but... she’s still my mom. I feel like if we don't at least try, she'll find a way to crash the wedding anyway."

I groaned, throwing my head back against the cushion. "Yeah, whatever. Fine. But if she tries anything, I'm out."

The following day, we were in the car heading to Eleanor’s estate. The vibes were mid. I was scrolling through my phone, trying to distract myself from the looming doom of seeing her again.

"I still can’t believe she actually had a baby," Rowan said, breaking the silence. He sounded just as confused as I felt.

I let out a short laugh and shrugged. "Honestly? Same. But what I really can't believe is that we have to see that Alan guy. Their relationship is so weird. Like, it's actually uncomfortable to watch."

Rowan started laughing. "Tell me about it. It’s like watching a soap opera in real life, but the actors aren't even good."

We both laughed for a second, which helped break the tension, but as soon as we pulled into her driveway, the dread came right back. Her house always felt cold, even in the middle of a heatwave.

The maid ushered us in, and we sat on these stiff, velvet chairs that were definitely made for looks and not for comfort. A few minutes later, Eleanor made her entrance.

She walked in like she was on a runway. And okay, I’ll be fair—for someone in her 50s who literally just had a baby, she looked really good. Her skin was tight, her outfit was perfectly tailored, and she had that "I’m richer than you" glow.

"My son," she said, completely ignoring my existence as she wrapped Rowan in a hug.

Then, her eyes flicked to me. Her expression went from "loving mother" to "tasting sour milk" in point-five seconds.

"You," she said, giving me a grin that didn't reach her eyes.

I just gave a tight, polite nod. I wasn't about to give her the satisfaction of seeing me sweat.

Rowan cleared his throat, sounding a bit nervous. "Mom, I have an important announcement."

Eleanor sat down gracefully, crossing her legs. "Oh? Is Alan finally getting that promotion I asked for?"

"No, Mom," Rowan said, taking my hand. "I’m getting married to Althea. The wedding is in less than a month. We’d really love it if you gave us your blessing. It means a lot to me."

The room went silent. Eleanor looked at our joined hands like they were something she needed to clean up with bleach. She slowly looked me up and down, her lip curling.

"Hmmm," she hummed, sounding totally unimpressed. "You want to get married to... this?"

I felt my blood start to boil, but I kept my mouth shut.

"She just wants to use you, Rowan," Eleanor continued, her voice sharp. "She wants you to pay for some massive, exclusive wedding so she can post it on her little social media accounts and look important. It’s so transparent."

Rowan opened his mouth to defend me, but she held up a hand to stop him.

"As long as you’re getting married to her, it will be a minimal wedding," Eleanor stated firmly. "We will spend very little. I won't have the Pierce name associated with some tacky, over-the-top display for a girl like her."

I couldn't help it. I let out a dry laugh. "And I thought having a baby would help your train of thought, Eleanor. But oh well. I guess some people never change."

Eleanor’s eyes snapped to mine, full of fire. She was about to go off on me when the massive TV on the wall behind her suddenly flickered.

The local news was on, and a flashy "Breaking News" banner scrolled across the bottom. The anchor started talking about the "social event of the decade."

"In a stunning announcement today," the anchor said, "the legendary Simmons family has officially released the invitation for the most anticipated wedding of the season."

Eleanor’s ears perked up. "Oh wow," she said, turning her head toward the screen. "That is my friend! I simply must attend. If the Simmons are involved, it will be grand. Finally, a real wedding with some class."

Rowan and I exchanged a look. I knew exactly what was about to happen. My mom, Isabella, had gone full "extra" mode. She hadn't just printed invites; she had literally paid for a broadcast announcement to term it the "Wedding of the Season."

The TV screen shifted from the anchor to a high-definition graphic. It was a stunning photo of Rowan and me from our engagement shoot—the one in the garden where we looked like literal royalty.

The text on the screen read: The Simmons-Pierce Wedding: An Exclusive Affair.

Eleanor’s jaw didn't just drop—it hit the floor. She stared at the screen, her eyes bulging. She looked at the TV, then at me, then back at the TV.

"That's... that's you?" she stammered, pointing a shaking finger at the screen. "And... Isabella Simmons is your mother?"

The realization hit her like a freight train. She had spent all this time treating me like a nobody, only to realize I was part of the one family she actually respected and feared. The "minimal wedding" she just demanded was currently being advertised as the most expensive event in the city.

Her face went from pale to red to a weird shade of grey. She clutched her chest, her eyes rolled back into her head, and this woman literally fainted right there on the velvet sofa.

"Mom!" Rowan yelled, jumping up to catch her.

I just sat there, took a sip of my water, and watched the TV. My mom really is a genius.

And as I looked at her lying there dramatically on her expensive couch, one thought crossed my mind:

If this is her reaction to the announcement…

What will she do at the actual wedding?