Chapter 41 Interrupted Call
With a constant grimace plastered on my face, I was working on my laptop in my room, not wanting to see her face again and ruin my mood.
She was making this place a jail for me, suffocating me for unreasonable and basic things.
From food to internet access, she was stealing it from me under the name of ‘devotion’.
Fuck, what type of shitty devotion huh?!
Losing my composure, I was on my verge and knew if she did anything this time I would lose my cool.
And she barged inside my room.
“Alyssa, Dear,”
My brows twitched, patience shattering when she was before me with that bright grin, holding her phone.
Was she mocking me?
I growled, “What do you want, Mrs. Lysander?”
“Dear, no need to be so rude.” She faked a chuckle.
“Why are you in my room?”
“Alyssa, please, don’t be angry with me. I am on call with Vince, he wants to talk to you,”
The moment these words escaped her lips, all my wrath, my annoyance vanished and I jumped out of the bed.
“Vince–”
Unintentionally, at the mention of his name, I automatically snatched the phone from her hands and saw him as an instant relief washed over me.
“Vince!”
In his casual clothes, before the camera, waving his hand at me. A relaxation brimmed, a smile adorning my lips instantly at his one sight.
“My, my, are you that angry with me to not call me anymore, Alyssa?” He joked with a soft chuckle.
His one statement reminded me of my terrible position and it seemed like she had fed him lies too.
Narrowing my eyes, I glared at Mrs. Lysander, “Your mama took my phone away,”
“Mama…?”
Covering up for her actions quickly, she faked a laugh, waving her hand to come into the camera view as well.
“Of course, she got angry and threw it on the ground so I sent it for repair, son. I didn’t know Alyssa is so hot-headed,”
“Don’t-” I was about to hiss but she didn’t listen and continued nonetheless, making me the bad guy in the scenario.
“Oh, son, I think I am not taking good care of her. Maybe I am not a good care taker, I am sorry,”
Yet Vince handled the scene perfectly, keeping his expressions unbothered.
“Mama, it’s alright. You give your all, me and Alyssa are grateful,”
“I don’t think so. She is causing tantrums without you. Maybe she is missing you too much,” She whined and my smile faded at this point.
She was obviously overusing my silence and lowering me in Vince’s eyes.
I opened my mouth to justify or seal her mouth to stop accusing me only to be stopped by Vince’s tender response.
“It’s alright. I am all she has now after all. You should understand that, Mama,”
Still, I glanced at his mother, back to Vince who held a beautiful smile on his face to diffuse the tension and only for his sake.
I remained silent. Lowering my gaze with a peaceful smile, tugging my hair behind my ear.
Upon witnessing my tranquility, Mrs. Lysander scoffed, folding her arms at her chest.
“Y-Yeah, I am not complaining, just telling you,”
“Hmm.” Averting his gaze, Vince cleared his throat before making a keen eye-contact with me.
“Um, if you allow, can I talk to her… alone?”
“Yeah, yeah, sure,” She forced a smile, unwillingly retreating her steps but I could feel the glare behind it.
“Here you go, child,”
Ending in a hiss, she walked out of the room, giving us a moment of privacy as I pondered whether I should share what happened till now with him or not.
When she was gone, my gloomy gaze met with Vince’s radiant ones. His quieter, gentler eyes observed me.
“Hey, how are you? Are you still angry?” He asked sweetly.
Forming my lips in a thin line, I mumbled, “I… didn’t break my phone-”
“We don’t have to talk about it. Get yourself a new one. It isn’t a big deal, okay?” He spoke expectantly, waving his hand to shrug it off and forget about it.
I didn’t know what story his mother told him but not wanting to increase his distress, I lowered my gaze and nodded weakly.
“Mhm,”
“So, what do you want today?”
“You know it already,”
I whispered, clutching the sheets, needing him more than ever now. The behaviour of his mother had become intolerable for me.
“I want to hear it from you,”
My voice broke, “You…”
My lips ended up quivering, missing his presence too much as it felt like if he won’t be beside me, everyone would attack me.
I didn’t know but his constant support had got me used to him. Without him, my confidence and strength was being strained.
I needed him with me else everyone would assault me.
“I want you to be back soon, Vince,”
Impotent to bear it anymore, a sob emitted from my vocal cords. Dejection emitted from me, tears glistening in the corner of my eyes.
He whispered, uncertain what to do to halt the sound, “Alyssa, please, don’t be like this,”
“I am sorry, I didn’t mean to… I don’t know what has happened to me, Vince…” I sniffed, wiping my tears to suppress the sound.
But, to no avail, I couldn’t hide my anguish before him.
“Hey, hey, what happened, Alyssa? Is everything alright? Wick told me you were not coming to work as well. Why?”
“Vince…-”
But, before I could tell him about his mother, she entered my room hastily and acted professionally, holding a basket of cookies.
“Alyssa, Dear, here, I forgot I made these for you,”
“Huh…?”
I was enraged when she entered without knocking during our short private moment.
“Oh, why are you crying, Alyssa?”
“Don’t be like this, child, you will only increase Vince’s worry.”
Upon seeing my tears, she came closer and pulled me into a side hug, holding my shoulder, faking affection before her son.
“Vince, I will call you back soon, okay, son?”
Not providing me with a moment to perceive, she took the phone from my hands, not even letting me bid goodbye properly.
“Oh, okay. Take care of yourselves, okay?”
“Yes, yes. Bye,” She cut the call hastily and at the very least, before I could hold the basket, she pulled it back too, getting back to cruel self.
“Hmph,”
Wiping my tears, I glared outrageously at her.
“You were listening to our talks, weren’t you? Are you afraid to tell Vince what you are doing to me?”
“If I open my mouth, I won’t only speak about Vince, I will open your secrets too and then we will see how you will justify to him,” She was using my weak spots.
“You- You can’t do this to me, Mrs. Lysander, this is wrong,”
“What you did to my son is also wrong and be grateful I am tolerating you.” She enunciated darkly.
She turned to leave but stopping in her tracks, she glanced from her shoulder with a final declaration that frightened me to the core.
“Else it won’t take me long to end this pathetic marriage,”