Fiona scratched her inner palm in a desperate bid for control as she listened to her mother speak.
Had Athena turned her mother against her too?
A darker seed of doubt sprouted within her, and she cast furtive glances at her father, whose only visible sign of anger was the tightening of his right fist, balled tightly at his side, hidden from her mother’s gaze.
"Fiona, my daughter, I think we’ve labored enough on this matter. It’s been more than ten years; I believe we can conclude that Ewan is not for you."
The statement felt like a hammer driving into Fiona’s chest, betraying her more deeply than she could have imagined. Her mother had turned her back on her.
"I think you should give up. Give up, and fall in love with someone else. If Ewan had any affection for you, we would have known. I would have known."
"And how do you know he doesn’t like me?" Fiona muttered, striving to maintain the composure of a cool cucumber, just as her mother appeared to be.
"Because you are too unsettled, sweetheart. You are restless. If he truly loved you, you would have reveled in that love. It comes with an assurance that he would never leave you, no matter the circumstances." Margaret paused, her gaze steady and penetrating. "If there’s anyone Ewan has ever truly loved, it’s Athena. So let her have him. Let that poor boy have some peace and love in this life."
Alfonso turned his head to gaze out the window, and Fiona inhaled, trying to steady the tempest brewing inside her. "Mother, what about me? What about my faithfulness?"
Margaret, now the true maternal figure, reached forward to rest her palm on Fiona’s. "Let him go."
Fiona shook her head, angry tears building behind her eyes. "I can’t. I’ve come too far to let go."
"I apologize for that—perhaps I am to blame. If I hadn’t supported you all those years ago, maybe things would have turned out differently. Fiona, I want you to have what I have with your father."
"I want that too. With Ewan."
Margaret withdrew her hand and sighed, a depth of weariness in her voice. "Has Ewan slept with you before?"
Alfonso shot a glance at his daughter, shock painting his features as the silence that followed hung heavy in the air.
"I thought as much." Margaret muttered tiredly. "Fiona, he doesn’t like you."
"That’s because I’m a virgin! I told him to wait." Fiona declared, her defenses springing up like a shield.
Margaret raised an eyebrow, amusement glimmering in her eyes before she chuckled softly. "Fiona, you want me to believe you’re a virgin?"
Fiona stole a glance at her mother’s knowing gaze and found herself nodding despite the creeping shame.
But her mother had taught her these games, and the latter couldn’t be deceived so easily.
"What about your college boyfriend? The one you kept hidden from everyone... What was his name again? Morgan?"
Fiona’s jaw dropped in shock, her resolve evaporating. She didn’t even bother looking at her father, fully aware of the shock on his face. "How did you know?"
Margaret shrugged, a sly smile on her lips. "What kind of mother would I be if I didn’t keep tabs on my only child?"
Fiona swallowed, wishing to vanish right then, regretting ever seeking out her father.
"Are you still with him? Last I checked, he had a gang."
Alfonso’s mouth hung open in disbelief. "Did you say gang?" He fixed Fiona with a fierce glare. "Is he the one heading the most dangerous gang in the city?"
But Fiona clammed up, knowing the cat was already out of the bag.
Margaret shook her head, concern etched on her face. "Please don’t tell me you’re still sleeping with him." Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs NovᴇlFir(e).nᴇt
"I’m not, Mother. Why would you even think that? It was just a college fling." Fiona held her head high, determined not to appear weak before her parents. So what if she had slept with others? She was an adult, after all.
Alfonso sighed in relief. "Thank God..." He muttered. "I would have skinned you alive. But he’s the one, isn’t he? The one you’re in cahoots with..."
Fiona nodded, a mix of defiance and resignation swirling within her. "He is serving his purposes. After all, it’s not for free. He’s charging a lot!"
Alfonso nodded, appeased.
"That’s nice then. Call him off." Margaret spoke up, unsettling Fiona again.
"Why, Mom? Why are you dancing to a different tune now?" Fiona screamed, frustration bubbling over at her mother’s unexpected change.
Margaret sighed heavily. "Death, my dear. Death."
Fiona and Alfonso exchanged puzzled glances, confusion tightening their expressions.
"Standing at the gates of death, I had a serious rethink about my life’s choices. It worsened when Athena saved me, despite the complicated past we shared. Her goodness rubbed off on me. Look, she’s treating your father now. I wouldn’t have done that if I were in her shoes. None of us would. Her decision that day, while she stared down at me, changed my life and altered my choices. I’m sorry, Fiona, but I can no longer support your schemes against my doctor."
Fiona’s gaze hardened in defiance, a fierce hatred welling up within her.
"Let Ewan have peace." Margaret continued. "If you love him, as you claim you do, let him enjoy that peace. Lord knows the poor boy needs it."
Fiona opened her mouth to argue once more, but her father raised his hand, silencing her with a simple gesture. "Your mother is right."
Shock crashed over Fiona in waves as she stumbled away from the bed.
"Father, what..." Fiona shook her head, her heart racing. It was pointless to argue further; she would handle this herself.
Without another word, she stumbled out of the ward, her feet moving of their own accord.
Margaret sighed deeply, resting her head against Alfonso’s shoulder. "Do you think she will listen to us?"
"I don’t know, my love." Alfonso paused, eyes thoughtful. "Wait here; let me speak with her."
Margaret lifted her head and nodded. "Convince her, please. These evil plans aren’t worth it in the end."
Alfonso kissed her forehead and walked out of the room. He found Fiona sitting on the cold floor just outside the ward, her shoulders hunched in defeat.
"Fiona, get up!" He said, concern lacing his voice.
Fiona pretended not to hear, keeping her head bowed, cradling her swirling emotions.
Alfonso hurried forward and gently pulled her up. "My pearl..." He murmured, drawing her close to his chest. "Did you think I would let you lose to Athena?"
Fiona’s tears flowed freely then, unbridled and raw as she flung her hands around her father’s waist. "I thought..."
"Sweetheart, your mother was speaking sentimentally; she just recovered from a life-threatening illness. You must understand her perspective. About the twins—don’t worry. I have a plan."