Chapter 92 Ask your wife about it
"Where are you, Dashiell?" My mother asked the moment she answered the call. It was as if she were waiting for my call, expecting it even. "Why didn't you show up at the venue? Do you know how worried I was? How much I tried to get in contact with you?!" she yelled out. "How could you act so childishly? Aren't you afraid of the tabloid and the story they will make up with your disappearance??"
I pinched the bridge of my nose, inhaling deeply before I responded, "Something came up." I didn't say more because I knew she wouldn't understand. Not only that, but she wouldn't be pleased if I left the company because of Nova. She wouldn't even care to know my wife was hospitalized.
"Something came up?" She sounded sceptical. "What the hell is so important that you will neglect something like this? Are you out of your senses?"
"I just called because I know you will try my line. If you will be as unreasonable as you are now, I will have to tell you to forget about it."
I wasn't in the mood for any of her games. I just called to ask her about the auction she was going on about last month. She sounded so certain that she would get the prized items which was why I wanted to know if she did.
"Dashiell," the call sounded more like a warning than an actual call would. "You realize I'm not in the mood to discuss something like this with you."
"Do you think I am?" I placed my phone on the sink and washed my face, sighing. "How was the auction?" I asked instead, to avoid having her yelling at me once more like she had been doing. I just wasn't in the mood for that.
"Are you trying to make fun of me?" She shot back at me. "Is that why you sent your damned wife to counter everything I did?!"
Thankfully, the phone was far from my ear, else it would have broken my eardrums. "What do you mean by that? What has Nova got to do with the auction? I know you hate her, but that doesn't mean you have to blame her for your misfortune."
It was annoying, for real. Back then, when I married Nova, I never minded my mother's treatment. I even supported her, always blaming Nova for being a gold digger. However, things have changed. I no longer feel the same way for Nova as I did back then. I just realized how much I love her, and how considerable she sacrificed back then, which was why I vowed never to misunderstand her, or leave her side.
"Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about, Dashiell. You know exactly what it is. Don't pretend you don't when you do."
"Mum?" I called, making sure she still knew what she was going on about because I doubt she did. If she did, she wouldn't have been speaking like this. "What do you have against Nova? Is it because she came from a poor family? Is that why you are against her even though she's lying" I paused when I realized I almost told her about Nova's condition. I didn't understand why I thought to keep it from her, but it seemed like the reasonable thing to do. It wasn't as if she would sympathise with her.
"I don't like her. Lilith is the best choice for you. It is unclear to me why you are hell-bent on being with a gold digger!"
"She's not!" I gritted out, gripping the sink so hard I had to loosen my grip, so I wouldn't break it.
"You still want to deny it after what she did today? Spending your money like it was water?" She shot back, her voice rising by the minute.
"What did she do today?" I frowned at that, only to realize she must have met Nova while she was shopping. I would confess, though, that the amount Nova spent at a time was alarming, but I wasn't complaining. Having her take my money pleased me more than anything else. I wasn't concerned about the amount she took. Not because it didn't make a dent in my pocket, but her willingness to spend my money. I was lucky she used my money to get the things she loves.
"Yes, what she did. She spent your fucking money on something meaningless!" She argued, puffing. "Do you still want to deny she's not a gold digger when she keeps doing things that are contrary to what you believe?"
"What Nova does is none of your concerns. She's not spending your money, but mine. You need to learn how to mind your damned business." I kept my voice as calm as I could, not desiring an argument. I needed to return to Nova's side before she woke up.
"You don't know what you are doing, Dashiell," she whispered, realizing I would not argue with her. "You are blinded by your so-called love for her. That's why you are like this."
"At least I'm the one blinded and not you. Which is why you need to stop this. Nova is the only one I love and will forever be. Lilith and I are no longer a thing. We broke up a long ago." I picked up my phone from where I kept it when someone walked into the restroom. "You never answered me. How did the auction go? Did you outbid anyone? Or are you going to blame Nova for your misfortune?" "Don't fucking mock me!"
"I'm not doing that. I'm just genuinely concerned about your business." I didn't understand what she would think I was mocking her when I was only asking about the auction, knowing she would want me to ask that. Else it would seem like I wasn't bothered about it.
"Ask your damned wife about it!" Yelling at me, she disconnected, leaving me stunned as I watched my phone, trying to figure out what just happened because I couldn't tell.