Chapter 30 Choosing Her Smile Over My Heart

Chapter 30 Choosing Her Smile Over My Heart
I collapse into her embrace. My body is trembling, as if a truth buried for years is finally gasping for air. My voice fractures, brittle and thin, yet the words force their way out, "Mom... that night..."

My lips quiver, betraying my fear, "They... they drugged me. They used me... forced themselves on me just to satisfy their own lust."

My breathing turns heavy, each inhale a struggle, "They didn't stop to think for a single second... how it would destroy me."

Tears begin to track down my cheeks, unstoppable now, "I found out I was pregnant after that day. And when my father found out... he threw me out of the house."

A sob catches in my throat, thick and painful, "You have no idea how hard it was to bring Ria into this world, Mom. How many nights I went hungry, how much pain I endured, how utterly alone I was..."

I press myself closer to her chest, trying to disappear into her warmth, "I can never... I can never forget any of it."

She pulls me in tighter, her hold strengthening as if to shield me from the memory. Her hand strokes my hair with the rhythmic, soothing touch of a true mother.

"I know, my child," she says, her voice a soft, velvet caress. "I understand. What happened to you... it was a horrific tragedy. Fate was cruel to you."

She pulls back slightly, cupping my face to meet my eyes, "You are my daughter. Truly. And all I will ever want is your happiness."

Then, her tone shifts to something gentler, more tentative, "Just once... please, talk to Neil."

I start to shake my head instinctively, but she raises a hand to gently silence me, "I’m not forcing you. Just listen to him. He has something he needs to say to you."

There is an undeniable sincerity in her gaze, "He loves you... and he loves his daughter more than life itself."

She takes a deep, grounding breath, "Last night... he stayed up the entire night, weeping as he told me everything. In all my years, I have never seen my son break down like that."

A faint, knowing smile touches her lips, "He can be stubborn arrogant, even but I know my boy. He would never have done anything to hurt you intentionally."

"Mom..." I cry out, the hurt resurfacing. "Are you taking his side too?"

She immediately takes my face in both her hands, "No, my darling. I am only trying to make you see."

Her voice drops to a whisper, "I want to see you happy. And I truly believe... your happiness lies with him."

Then comes the question I’ve been running from, "Tell me... do you not love Neil?"

I fall silent.

The room becomes unnervingly still, the only sound the frantic beating of my own heart. After a long moment, I speak through a choked throat, "I love him deeply, Mom... but the agony I’ve suffered because of him... I don’t know if I can ever forgive that."

She squeezes my hand gently, "I know you’re in pain. The decision is yours, and yours alone."

Hope glimmers in her eyes, "I only hope... that you don’t make a choice that leaves both of you broken."

I remain silent, lost in the shadows of my mind. She stands up to leave, but pauses at the doorway, looking back over her shoulder.

"I’ve grown quite used to you, you know," she says with a warm smile, "The house feels empty without you and my sweetheart, Ria."

With that, she is gone. I stand up slowly and walk out onto the balcony, looking down at the garden below.

And suddenly... my heart stops. Neil is on all fours in the grass, pretending to be a horse. His hands are pressed into the dirt, his back arched.
And there, perched on his back, is little Ria.

She is bouncing with pure, unadulterated joy, pulling at his hair and laughing so loudly the sound carries up to me.

Nearby, my father is standing with his phone out, capturing the whole thing on video.

Ria looks truly, deeply happy. Watching them the man who caused my darkest days and the child who is my brightest light ban involuntary, fragile smile finally touches my lips.

Before my eyes are Neil and Ria... they look so incredibly happy with each other, as if no sorrow in the world could ever reach them.

Ria is laughing loudly. Her laughter echoes through the air... and every single note of that joy pierces through my chest.

She looks safe with him. Whole... completely whole. My heart grows heavy.

Even if I wanted to, I cannot forget the agony I have endured. That night... those wounds... the version of me that was shattered all of it still breathes within me.

But alongside that, there is another truth...
I cannot keep Ria away from her father.
I ask myself what right do I have?

Perhaps... perhaps fate has only written solitude for my share. Perhaps my character’s journey in this life ends right here.

It feels as though Ria’s future has already been written by her father’s side.

Maybe that love... the kind only a father can give that sense of security, that particular joy was something I could never provide for her.

And if she is happy... if she is safe... then what reason is there for me to stay by her side?
The thought breaks me.

Tears well up in my eyes, but this time, I do not let them fall. I simply become silent.

Perhaps... it is better if I walk away from both of their lives. I have failed at being a good mother this truth tears through me to my very core.

But if I have reunited my daughter with her father... if I have brought that missing joy back into her life... then perhaps that is my greatest victory as a mother.

Now, perhaps... it is best for me to go very far away from everyone’s lives.

So far... that my presence is no longer even a memory.

I grip the balcony railing and take a long, shivering breath.

TO BE COUNTINUE...!!!

should I just leave both of their lives ?