Chapter 40 Her Real Face
A few days passed where Mrs. Lysander refused to let me eat dinner or order anything for myself so I had dinner before returning home.
Yet having dinner at 6pm would eventually make me hungry again at 10. She was being unreasonably strict and it was getting unbearable.
With a frown etched on my features. Hungry, I was on a video call with Vince who was getting ready to leave for his meeting.
“Where are you lost, Alyssa?” He asked, buttoning his waistcoat.
“Huh? Nothing. It’s just… I..”
Upon noticing my hesitation, he shifted towards the camera, asking softly, “What is it? Is everything alright?”
“Yeah, I just didn’t expect your Mama to be so… strict.” I muttered, fidgeting my fingers around the duvets, leaning against the bedframe.
“Yeah, she is a highly disciplined woman. I am sure you have heard rumors.” He hummed in response, going back to his preparation, wearing his coat to complete his handsome form.
“I am sorry in her stead if she does something but don’t be disrespectful towards her, please?”
To his sweetness, I couldn’t help but to smile back, “Yes, I know, Vince. Don’t worry, I won’t,”
“Thank you,”
After getting ready, he picked his phone, flashing his usual tender smile while asking delightfully.
“So, what do you want today?”
With a blush adorning my cheeks, my gaze lowered shyly as I whispered sincerely.
“...You,”
“Uh, I am leaving for my meeting. I will call you later, okay?” He chuckled nervously.
“Mhm. Take care,”
“You too. Bye,”
After the call, finding my relief, I went to sleep, praying for these days to pass as quickly as possible in his absence.
… And with least interactions with his mother.
But, to no avail, she was testing me by doing stupid things.
Once again, she locked the mansion from inside along with the pantry and fridge.
Nor did she let any servant serve me. Shutting me down from my basic necessities.
Exasperated at her attempts, I furiously went to confront her for these damn shenanigans.
“I am on time today, why are you not letting me eat? What do you want, Mrs. Lysander?” I growled.
“You love my son, no? Why don’t you prove to me how far you can endure for his sake?” She scoffed, stopping right before me challengingly.
For a moment, I thought I heard wrong but to test ‘my love’ in such a way was ridiculous. This was wrong in every sense.
“What do you mean?”
“When he can ruin his reputation. Of all the pretty and respectable women, choose to be with ‘you’. Why don’t you show how much you deserve him?” She enunciated.
Staggered, my jaw dropped at her absurd words. My patience was at its edge, I was losing my composure.
“But whatever you are doing is wrong. You- You can’t restrict me,”
“As of this moment, I hold authority in this mansion and you will obey my every word,”
“Tsk,”
My lips parted to retort but swallowing it for the time being, I curled my hand in a fist and inhaled sharply and walked away.
Just for Vince’s sake, for his mother’s respect, I decided to control myself.
When Vince had done so much for me, I didn’t want to disappoint him by disrespecting his mother.
Yet it was extremely hard to control myself. This woman was stressing me out by her taunts.
Subsequently, the next day, I was engrossed in work, trying to not take stress, especially when he was trying his best to eradicate all my stress.
I received Vince’s call that lifted my mood instantly.
“So, if your lava is soothed, may I know what you want today?” He asked playfully.
Blushing, I covered my face with my one hand, giving the same reply, “You,”
“Seriously, Alyssa?” He sighed, resting his chin under his palm, unsure how to react.
Nor did I mean it romantically. I just got used to him, it was hard to focus, to be tension-free when he wasn’t here as support.
Was I… getting used to him?
“I don't know myself, Vince, but it feels empty without you.” I replied sincerely, giving an apologetic but sorrowful smile.
“I feel hollow. You were with me in my worst. I don’t know if I have the strength to move forward without you anymore,”
His gaze softened, “Alyssa…”
“When will you come back?”
“Next week,”
“Okay,”
Relieved to hear that, I cut the call. My heart was on cloud-nine that I had to tolerate his mother for a week only.
I went home, knowing she had deprived me of my dinner, I went straight to my room to freshen up and eat the snacks Vince stocked.
But, it would end eventually.
The next day, I got ready for work and came down only to be stopped by her personal maids and Mrs. Lysander herself.
“Where are you going?”
I frowned, “Where else? Work,”
“You are not going anywhere until my son is back. Lord knows who you will meet under the name of work,” She enunciated and this was my limit.
Work was my only distraction, else her words had become unendurable.
Stomping my heel on the ground, I snarled, “Enough, Mrs. Lysander, stop accusing me. Just stop it!”
The second I raised my voice, she twisted my arm roughly without a warning. Surprised at her harsh action, I didn’t know how to react.
“Don’t you dare to raise this voice against me again. I dislike unnecessary noises.”
“Then what was that drama of accepting me?” I hissed back, yanking my arm back, rubbing it to soothe the sting from his painful grip.
“I lied. Why would I accept an unworthy woman as yourself as my daughter-in-law? Look at you. A stain on her family’s name,”
My steps stumbled, a clench traveled in me when she heartlessly discarded me. My lips quivered along with a tear pricking in the corner.
“I.. I will tell Vince about you,”
“Try,” She smirked, motioning to her maids that snatched my phone away and pushed my back on the stairs.
“You- what the hell are you doing? Give my phone back!”
“I don’t trust you. Girls, keep an eye on her. Make sure she won’t call Vince again,” She declared, throwing my phone on the ground, crushing it under her feet.
A few tears rolled down my cheek when she displayed her true face, piercing my heart by that glare still converting my disheartening feeling into rage, I got up.
“You can’t stop me! I will tell him-”
“Tell him and I will tell him how you jumped to Ken after losing your darling Arden and now came to Vince. Will you stop being a slut for once?”
At the mention of that ‘very’ specific person, I became numb, my heart raced madly. My body quivered as I ended up whimpering.
“Y-You don’t have to bring Arden in between….”
“Then why do you tremble? Do you still love him-”
“ENOUGH!”
Screaming, I shut my eyes and ran back to my room, praying his name would stay miles away from me or at the very least, it won’t destroy my marriage.
Else how would I face Vince?