“What is going on?” Mom asks Chloe outside her bedroom.
“Why don’t you ask your favourite daughter?” She replies, and I hear footsteps indicating that she is walking away.
She opens the bedroom door and looks at me with a faint smile. “I’ll speak to Chloe later. You know how difficult she can be.”
I smile and nod in agreement.
My phone rings, and Leo’s name appears on the screen. I press the red circle and put the phone aside. Mom raises her eyebrows, but she doesn’t say a word.
“I left the cake downstairs when I heard the commotion. Are you okay?”
“It was just me and Chloe being siblings,” I shrug.
“But your cheek!” She looks at me with furrowed eyebrows.
“It’s okay.”
She pulls me by my arm before I protest, and I yelp.
“I’m sorry,” she says as she places a pack of frozen peas on my cheek.
“For what?” I look up at her as I sit on the bar stool in the kitchen.
“Everything.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Everything?”
This is the worst apology a person can ever get. I glare at her as I feel the anger that brews inside.
“I’m sorry for not being close to you when you were a child. I should’ve put in more effort.”
“Thank you.” I hold the pack of peas, and she gives me paracetamol and a glass of water. I mumble my “thank you”, and I take the medication.
“Why didn’t you reach out to show you were really sorry?” I ask her.
“I was preparing myself emotionally, I knew how angry you were at me. I didn’t know what to say to you when I reached out.”
“I needed you! I lost a brother. The only person remaining whom I was close to, and you decided to add guilt to my feelings.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Stop with your empty apologies. Coming here was a mistake. No, I mean, staying here after the memorial was a mistake. I have to go.” I take the stairs to my room to get my bag and she follows me.
“I didn’t understand you.” I get startled by her confession. “You were not into glam like Chloe, so I decided to let your dad be fully responsible for you. You had so much in common with him.”
I walk into my room, and I grab my bag and my phone. “I know mom, I was the only one who didn’t let you live your dreams of being a model through me.”
“That’s mean.”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t worry, you still look great. You don’t look a day over 90.”
“Ninety! How old do you think I am?”
We laugh until we are breathless. She looks at me with her lips curled up, and we sit at the edge of the bed.
I finally feel my anger fade. “But I’m not good looking like Chloe and Marcel. That’s why I followed my path, and dad loved it, so I grew closer to him.”
“Not good looking? What kind of mirror do you use?”
“Wow! You are finally acting like a mom to me.”
“I’m really sorry,” she reaches out to take my hand, and I let her. “I miss your dad, he was good at these stuff.”
“Me too,” I exhale.
“I should’ve tried to understand your science stuff, just like Marcel did. When your dad passed away, I let Marcel take the responsibility of being like a parent to you. That wasn’t fair on both of you.”
“But Marcel loved it. I know he did.” I grin, thinking about Raymond’s words.
“But now, you have no one, and I don’t even know how to talk to you.”
“We are talking right now. Aren’t we?”
Leo calls again, and I press the red button. My mom raises her eyebrows again, and I smile sheepishly.
“I know you never wanted Marcel to die, and he was all you had.” She glances at me. “Whoever who created these dangerous drugs should be locked up for good.” She wipes a tear.
“I swear if I find the person who created the drugs...” I trail off when I feel the lump in my throat, warning me that I’m on the verge of tears. “I watched him lose his sense of self. One moment he was my brother, then the next I would feel like I was talking to a complete stranger.”
“But Willow, we should still face the truth, he chose to take those drugs. He was always worried that he wasn't perfect.”
I nod, “but I would still torture that person who created them. I wish I got help for Marcel.”
“Me too,” she sighs, and we sit in comfortable silence.
“Mom,” I break the silence.
“Yes...” She glances at me.
“You should never make your other child feel unloved while getting close to the other. I know that feeling. It’s not a good one.”
“I will talk to Chloe. Can the two of you get along? What are you fighting about, anyway?”
“Nothing,” I say dismissively. “But I’m going to need time before we get along.”
“I hope it’s not that handsome boy.”
My eyes widen. “How did you...”
“I’m a mom, it’s my job to notice things. He is hot. Isn’t he?”
I nod, feeling my cheeks burn.
“But don’t let him come between the two of you, if he stirs trouble between sisters. He is not worth it.”
I nod solemnly. Leo calls again, and I ignore the call.
“Is it him?”
“Yes, but I’m going to block him.”
“Why don’t you let him decide who he wants to be with?”
“I have a boyfriend.”
Her eyes widen. “Wait, so you are the one who is a player?”
“I’m not discussing this with you.”
“I want to know, especially about sweet Liam. How is he?”
I grimace. Sweet Liam? If she knew how much he had changed, and how he was confusing me with his hot and cold behaviour.
If I didn’t know better, I would think I was like those female characters who wants to get away from their werewolf mates, but the bond is too strong. But, that’s fiction and I have to face the fact that I have psychological attachment issues.
“Liam is still the same, whatever Marcel told you about him. That snitch!”
“Do you think he is the one?” She grins.
“I, I don’t know. Mom, can we not talk about this?” I shift uncomfortably. “I have to go, anyway. I’m going to the hotel get my bag and to check out before going to the airport. I have to request a cab.”
“Let me take you. I will put the cake in a lunchbox.”
“How’s your research coming along?” She asks when we are in the car.
“Great!” I try to smile.
“What are you not telling me?” She eyes me suspiciously.
“Nothing. I’m just waiting for the results from the science committee. It’s stressful.”
“You don’t have to worry. No matter what happens, I know it will be a success.”
“What if I don’t get funding?”
“You will still afford to work independently if you want to. I’ve been meaning to tell you, shortly before Marcel passed on, the family lawyer came to tell us that your dad left us some money.”
I shake my head. “That’s your money, it’s not for my research.”
“No, you have $5 million from your dad.”
“Mom, that’s a lot of money. How much do you have?”
“I got $10 million from your dad, Chloe got $5 million and Marcel the same amount.”
A feeling of sadness washes over me. “Did Marcel at least get to use his?”
“No, they haven’t released the money yet. Lots of paperwork. Then Marcel left you $16 million. The family lawyer will contact you soon.”
“What?” My jaw drops.
“Marcel left you his $5 million from your dad, and $11 million from his earnings as a model. Then the rest to charity.”
“What about you and Chloe?”
“He said you dedicated your life to science and his illness. So, you didn’t have time to make money. That means you are the only one who deserved all his money.”
“What did Chloe say about this?” I chuckle.
“She agreed, and said unlike you, she doesn’t need charity. Don’t feel bad about it, we agreed that you deserved it.”
“Why didn’t he tell me?”
“You would’ve protested. The same way you refused to let him buy you a car or an apartment.”
“Thanks mom.”
I feel a small wave of relief, but I know that Professor Malino would not back down. She won’t care if I have money or not, and if someone is ever going to suffer the consequences of my actions, it’s Asclepius
*Please call me, it’s urgent! Don’t come anywhere near Washington, especially in Seattle. I will arrange a doctor’s note for the classes you will miss and for your jobs. Don’t come!*
I stare at the weird text from Leo and I wonder if the reason is because he doesn’t want me to see him with Chloe, but I already know about her visit.
I read the text several times before deleting it. There is nothing going on between us, he doesn’t have to worry about my feelings.