Chapter 32 Swirling Thoughts
I ran as fast as my legs could carry me up the staircase, not caring about the stares the maids and the butler sent my way. It didn’t matter what anyone thought about me now, I had stopped caring a long time ago.
But as I was about to enter my room, a crash came from my mother’s room. Wiping my tears, I went towards the other end of the hallway where the room was to investigate hoping that my mum wasn’t hurt until their angry voices reached me.
“You are being too hard on her, Aurick. Your actions aren’t fair!” Mum’s voice sounded over the mess in their room.
I stood at the door watching as Aurick flanked his hand over his head in anger. They were fighting over me.
“Hard on her? You are well aware of the consequences that would have brought upon us if I hadn’t handled it this way!”
“Yes, I know. And she has apologized already, even to the media because she wants to make us happy and do us proud. She has acknowledged her faults. Let the media talk, at least Barth is in a relationship with Tan already, isn’t that what you want?”
“What I want is for the good of this family. Her actions would have jeopardized everything we had worked for the past five years. Kane’s death would have been in vain.”
I muffled a gasp, covering my palm with mouth.
Kane’s death would have been in vain?
What has my father got to do with any of this?
I listened in even more closely through the gap in the door.
“She has been doing her online class very diligently. No one suspects anything and so I’m asking you to at least be kind to her. She’s going through a lot and she’s only a child.”
Aurick have a resigning sigh as he sat down on the bed. “Fine.”
Mum sat down beside him, rubbing his back. I turned around, trying to understand what was going on.
They were definitely hiding something about my father’s death. But, what exactly could it be?
Cecilia had spoken about how my mother wasn’t as pure as I had known her to be. Did she kill my father? I smacked my forehead at that thought. That’s not possible my mother was anything but a killer…
Maybe I had heard wrong…
Few minutes after I had warmed up in my bed, my mum walked into the room. A small smile on her face as I stared at her blankly.
“Is something wrong, mum?” I asked, sitting up.
“No dear. I just wanted to kiss you goodnight and to apologize,” She said, taking a seat beside me on the bed.
“Apologize?” I raised a brow. “For what?”
“I know you feel bad about what happened and you have been mentally beating yourself up even if you would tell me you are okay but we both know that’s not true. Aurick has been hard on you and I feel like I have failed as your mother.”
My hands went towards her to draw her in. “No, mum. Don’t say that. I’m the one who has failed you. I shouldn’t have written or thought about Barth is that way.”
“But he is handsome, isn’t he?” She chuckled, making me fake a glare. “And you were just succumbing to your feelings which I don’t blame you for and for that I have spoken to Aurick. You will be resuming school soon, physically this time around.”
My throat felt tight. “Ohh… physically? But mum—“
Her finger went to my lips, interrupting me. “No buts, Bree. I didn’t give birth to a coward but to a brave and strong girl. And you don’t have to worry about the media overwhelming you. Aurick has arranged a special driver and bodyguards to be by your side all through the semester.”
“That’s even worse!” I groaned. I hated attention. Already being labeled as Barth’s sister brought the attention of others towards me and now, this was even going to intensify it.
“It’s for your own good,” My mum’s gaze softened. “I asked for this for you because I don’t want anyone bullying or making fun of you. so please accept this because of me.”
I inhaled sharply and nodded. “Alright mum. I will.”
“Good. That’s my girl,” She said hugging me.
But the words I had heard in their room made me skeptical. Should I ask her?
“Mum, is there something I should know about father’s death?”
I felt my mum stiffened in my hold and that made my heart beat faster than usual.
She slowly disengaged, staring at me blankly. “What… what do you mean?”
I swallowed, wondering what I should say. I couldn’t tell her that I had overheard their discussion, that would set her off and I can’t tell her about Cecilia either.
Oh, goodness! I don’t want to lie to her anymore.
I plastered a smile on my face. “You know what mum, forget it. It’s fine. I just thought about dad that’s why I asked.”
Her eyes searched mine for a second before she nodded slowly. “You miss him, don’t you?”
She took my silence for a yes.
“I miss him too, Bree. No matter how he had treated us during his last years, he was a good father and a good husband. But now, we have to put the ugly past behind us and face the future with an eager and brighter mind, okay?”
“Okay mum. I love you.”
She placed a soft kiss on my forehead, tucking me in. “I love you too.”
She waited a bit for me to fall asleep, turning off the lights before walking out of my room, closing the door softly behind her.
But I couldn’t sleep. My mind was reeling with the activities of the day.
Cecilia’s words made my heart heavy and now, Aurick had spoken about my father’s death. No matter how much I try to label it as just a coincidence or a slip of tongue, my mind thought otherwise.