Present
Cassie
It had been more than fifteen minutes that Olivia had wrapped her hands around me, slowly caressing my head, as if taking in that I was really present.
"Mom." I called again.
Her chest vibrated as she weeped heavily, her body shaking and heating up, arms firmly locking me in her embrace and her cries only kept increasing as if she was letting out every single needle of pain from her heart that tortured her.
"I'm sorry, my baby." Her voice came out hoarse and my stomach sank.
The tears, the pain, the ache was because of me. In midst of prioritising my problems, anger on Merlin's neglect and my marriage with Tad, I forgot that my mother was suffering without committing any sin.
She was suffering more than I was.
"It's not your fault, mumma. I'm sorry." I pulled away and wiped her tears.
I made her sit and handed her a glass of water, but she didn't dare leave my head. I felt a pang in my heart thinking if she still wasn't sure that I was here.
I kneeled on the floor and kissed her palms.
"Won't you introduce your husband to me?" She spoke, softly and I looked up at her glossy eyes and innocent smile that always flips my heart and I smiled back, nodding my head.
Anything for her.
I gestured Tad to come forward who kneeled beside me.
"We got married two days ago. It was so sudden that we couldn't invite anyone." I looked at him, "You know, Tad. He's a good man and he loves me, cares for me and kisses me every night."
His eyes widened but then it turned back normal. He held my hand and pressed it gently.
"I heard he's very short-tempered." Mom gave him a teasing look and I chuckled.
"That's true. But that anger is for my happiness, you know how clumsy I am. But when he gets angry, I slap him, punch him or throw a potato on his head and I instantly calms down." I giggled.
It wasn't a lie though. Back then during high school, I remember throwing a potato and once I punched him on his jaw.
Just not anymore, it wasn't like before. We weren't like before.
"I'm happy if you're happy." She caressed my head and kissed my forehead before looking at Tad, "I trust you." She said.
Something shifted in Tad's eyes that instantly his eyes burned in tears and I unknowingly felt bad.
He knew where he was wrong, he knew how many times he had harmed his loved ones with his temper and controlling nature, but not everyone knew the struggle he went through everytime he was learning to fix his mind, to be a better man.
He was having the toughest time among all of us. But he still chose to hide every pain as if that was his punishment.
He nodded in head and blinked away his tears, "I will not disappoint you." It was a promise more than a statement because his tone touched somewhere deep in my heart realising that this would somehow change something between us.
"Now now, lovebirds. It's time for mom's medicine. Kids, my brother will take you to my office, wait for me there." Merlin spoke and took his wife inside the room.
I walked away and headed to the greenhouse as Merlin's word echoed around my mind along with my reason to be here at the first place.
Him putting me in danger was different since I was his daughter but them? He shouldn't possibly push them on the edge of the cliff.
Mom was still unwell, and he was operating over such people and making more enemies inviting danger to both of them including their son.
How selfish could he become?
"Why'd you lie?" Tad's voice ringed behind me.
I closed my eyes, not wanting to give any explanation about the words I spoke to my mom about him to assure her. But I was sure that I didn't lie about everything.
He used to kiss me every night even when we didn't stay together.
He loved me.
He cared for me and I did actually used to calm him down and bring him back to his sense
...But was he a good man overall?
"I will do anything her. For the woman who showed me such unconditional love and taught me to be patient, kind and selfless." I replied.
"Are we talking about the same person?" He snapped, "The woman who suffered because of you for almost a year but you never found any time to see her? Know what's going on with her? And now you lied because you can't see her sad?"
I clicked my tongue in annoyance and stood up.
"What's your problem? Can't you read a situation? You think she can handle the truth that you control my life, hurt me emotionally and physically and I was practically forced into this marriage because of your mother?" I spat back.
He flinched and stumbled a little and I saw shock and guilt flickering in his eyes before he looked away.
"No, husband. I never forgot that day I will never let you forget either. You forced me, hurt me and apologized as of my scars never existed. What's worse is that you're still the same. You deserve the worst of me, Fidger." I walked away without giving him any room for explanation because there was none.
It wasn't a misunderstanding. He and I knew what he was back then and even now.
I wiped the tears that forcefully made it's way out and headed downstairs.
"Cassie, come in, honey." Younger brother Matthew looked at me and I took my bag.
"I have to go." I avoided all the eyes and turned on my heels.
"Si," Shayla called, "Can we meet tonight?"
"Sorry, I'm busy tonight." Today was a special day of my week. As promised I spent my weekends with my baby.
As the excitement to go clouded my mind, I failed to the hide small smile creeping on my face that Tad saw when the door of the lift opened.
I noticed his knuckles turned white because of how tight he clenched his fist. It was hard to assume what he was thinking as he looked at me with a blank face.
I bit my lip and looked away.
I felt calm after pouring out every bottled up complains I had to him but somehow I felt bad for making him the villain of my life.
Was it only him that ruined my life? No.
It was his mom and the unwanted day of my life that I could never forget. That day took away so many things from my life and their love.