Chapter 129 129.No CCTV cameras
Tabitha’s POV
I feel my face heat up and I can’t stop the tiny grin tugging at my lips. I press the bouquet against my chest like a shield and then, I smack them with it.
“Stop messing around. We should wrap this up now before you end up breaking into hives from the scent of all these flowers,” I say, trying to sound furious but failing as my lips twitch with amusement.
Luca chuckles while Reed and Jace exchange glances.
“Alright, alright. You hear the boss, boys!” Reed barks.
Jace chats with the florists and settles the bill while the rest of us wait outside. Once everything is ready, we step out and make our way to the mall’s parking lot. Gerald is waiting for us and we climb in with the same stupid grin on our faces. The ride back to the estate is a comfortable silence. Although, I feel bad because the scent of flowers are trapped inside the car so they would sneeze every now and then. Luckily, we arrive at the estate within a few minutes.
Inside the mansion, I notice the living room is empty. Huh. I had expected to see my mom there.
“Has our father arrived from the mall yet?” Luca asks one of the maids.
“Yes. They came just a few minutes ago. The madam is resting in the garden.”
Oh, I guess she wanted some fresh air or something. My shoulders relax.
“Why don’t we all head there, so we can give her the flowers? I’m sure my mom’s gonna appreciate it,” I propose.
“Sure.” Jace shrugs.
We make our way to the garden where I spot my mom sitting at a small table while sipping afternoon tea. She’s reading her favorite fashion magazine again. But the moment we step into the garden, she immediately looks up and her expression breaks into a smile. Her eyes immediately catch the two bouquets I am holding.
“I thought you would take longer in the mall than this. I did not expect you and Alpha Emery to be home before us,” I note, surprised.
“We got lucky, really. We found the shoe I was looking for at KL faster than I expected. Thank the moon goddess! I hate to settle for a pair of shoes I don’t like.” She puts down the magazine she’s reading and fully faces us. “So we were able to return home quickly.”
“That’s good. Have you eaten lunch yet?”
“We did. That’s why I’m drinking some tea. I might’ve indulged in their nonfat honey cheesecake at one of the cafés in the mall, and I needed something warm to balance it out.” She chuckles lightly. “Anyway… Did you kids manage to get some jewelry?”
“Yes, we did, and they were such a great help.” I gesture to the brothers.
Her smile widens.
“That’s great, darling. You seem to have enjoyed yourselves.” Her eyes drift the bouquets I am holding once again. “But what’s with the flowers?”
“Uh yeah!” I grin and hold the bouquet out to her. “They bought this for you, Mom.”
Her eyes widen in surprise.
“Oh my. Really? This one is mine? What’s the occasion?”
Jace smiles. “It is just a little something.”
I feel a warm feeling in my chest as I watch him smile at my mom. Evren, Luca, and Reed do not smile as widely as Jace but they all seem lighter around her too. They no longer carry the tension and resentment they usually bring when they are talking to her.
She takes the bouquet and curiously examines it.
“Thank you, boys. Oh look at that—you’ve chosen quite a good selection of flowers! The scent is not too overbearing. I love it.”
“Glad you like it,” Jace replies.
“Well,” Luca says, bowing slightly, “please enjoy your flowers, ladies.”
The brothers take their leave and head back inside. My mom keeps smiling and waving until the sliding door closes behind them. The moment they are out of sight, her smile slips away. It is so sudden that it feels like watching a curtain drop in the middle of a play.
I stay quiet and watch as she stares down at the bouquet in her hands. Her grip tightens as disgust swells in her eyes. She rises from her seat and walks toward the metal trash bin near the garden path. Without hesitation, she tosses the flowers inside.
“Mom! What are you doing?” I hiss, glancing around in panic.
“Don’t worry. There are no CCTV cameras in this part of the estate,” she says calmly.
“That’s not what I am talking about!” I exclaim, my voice shaking. “Why did you throw your bouquet in the trash bin?”
Good thing there are no maids around to witness this disrespect!
She turns to me then. Her eyes are hollow.
“Because this is where it belongs, along with everything about them,” she spits in complete revulsion.
My lips part in shock as she pulls out a small bottle of pocket sanitizer. I don’t even know when she got it. But she squeezes the whole thing into the bin and flicks a lighter open. Flames bloom in an instant.
I stand there, unable to move as I watch the beautiful flowers that the brothers hand-picked themselves reduced into a pile of smoking trash.
“See that, darling?” she mutters while watching the fire engulf every petal. “That’s how this house and this whole family will become once I am done with them.”
“How can you do that? They went out of their way to buy you these flowers and you’re just going to burn them?!” I demand, incredulous.
She turns to me, her eyes sharper than knives.
“Oh, my dear child. They have poisoned your mind too much with their flowery words, haven’t they? You can’t even see that the scent you are inhaling will be your downfall one day.”
“M-Mom, this is—”
“What must happen. I already told you, didn’t I? The Aldairs will go down. I’ll make sure of it.”
As the fire licks every beautiful part of the pitiful bouquet inside the trashbin, my mom strides towards me. She cups my chin and turns my head to face her.
“So instead of moping around over burnt flowers, you should be helping me fulfill the plan. I thought we’re in this together? Aren’t you going to help me gather information about their family secret—”
“I didn’t give you an answer to that yet!”
“Oh, you will.” A smile tugs on her lips before she lets go of my face. “Soon.”
Then, she turns around and walks back to the burning trashbin.
“Go. Take your silly bouquet out of here before I burn that one too,” she orders.
I tighten my grasp around my bouquet, tears welling in my eyes before I begrudgingly march away.