Chapter 2 An Unexpected Encounter
735 Words
For some reason, he absolutely refused to agree, and in the end, we parted ways on bad terms. After that, it felt like Mason was intentionally flaunting Isla everywhere he went as if determined to rub my face in the dirt. He seemed convinced I would eventually give in for his sake, especially since our families still had a marriage contract. Friends who knew us all said Mason was being excessive and advised him to tone it down. But my mom? She actually called me, and her tone was sharp.
"Dana, what are you doing? Given what happened three years ago, it's already impressive that Mason is still willing to marry you. If you ruin this, with your reputation, who would want you?"
I was taken aback. I never expected her to bring up the past. It dawned on me that she had never believed me about what happened back then. If she had, why would she have sent me away instead of defending me? In the end, it was all about her own embarrassment. My reputation was entirely thanks to her and her adopted daughter.
After I was kidn*pped and then sold into the mountains, tortured for weeks, I barely escaped with my life. Yet when I returned, rumors spread that I had been r***d, and people claimed I had staged the whole thing to cover up the truth. I tried to clarify things, but it was pointless, and my family sent me abroad anyway. I could never forget that, nor forgive it.
When my mom saw I was silent, perhaps feeling she had crossed a line, her voice softened. "Dana, I know you're frustrated, but you're not like your sister. She's gentle and well-mannered, with a good reputation. Mason is the only one willing to accept you now."
"I know that woman. She's been with Mason for years. She should be bored by now. It's normal for men to have flings," she continued, thinking I'd appreciate her words. But all I felt was despair. I couldn't believe she had known about Mason all along while I was gone, yet no one told me.
I suddenly felt a laugh bubbling up, and before I knew it, I was genuinely laughing. "You're such a good mom. By your logic, if Dad has a mistress, you'd accept that too?"
"What are you saying?" she exclaimed, clearly infuriated. "Your father would never have a mistress!"
See? Even she couldn't accept that, yet she expected me to. "Mrs. Wilson, if marrying Mason is so great, why not let your precious daughter marry him? After all, we have a contract. It's the same either way. I promise I won't compete with her."
"That's out of the question! Tessa can't marry someone like him!"
"Humph..."
"Dana, that's not what I meant..."
"I don't care what you mean!"
Smack!
I hung up the phone abruptly. At that moment, no matter how much I didn't want to admit it, I had to face the truth: my mom didn't love me. Without hesitation, I blocked her number. I sat on the couch alone for a long time until my phone rang again.
"Dana, I'm back in Sirionburg. Come pick me up."
An hour later, my childhood friend Rayan brought me straight to a bar. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "Tonight, don't think about anything. Just drink. I'm here for you."
That night, I clung to a bottle, crying on his shoulder for what felt like ages. I thought I'd run out of tears during my three years abroad, but one word from him broke me down.
When I woke up, the sun was shining brightly. I found myself lying in a man's arms. At first, I thought it was Rayan; after all, I had shared drunken nights with him and Mason before. I didn't even open my eyes before slapping him.
"Get off! You're pulling my hair."
Theodore woke up, staring at me in confusion. When he didn't move, I raised my arm again to slap him, but just then, someone caught my wrist.
A deep, husky voice came from beside me. "What's wrong? Haven't you had enough after one night?"
The unfamiliar voice jolted me awake, and I shot up in bed. When I finally saw the stunning face in front of me, my heart sank.
"Mr. Brooks?"
I almost cried. How could it be him? Mason's uncle, Theodore Brooks!
- Writer
