Chapter- 7
Help? What help would she need? She gave a questioning look at him. He was already on his knees, bowing down to respect. She couldn't figure out if he had known her plans. She felt a wet delicate touch on her feet. His lips were on her feet and his hand on her toe. She flinched, she wasn't ready to take over such commitment as it meant for such a kiss to be performed while taking utmost loyalty oaths, to be followed till death. She was afraid to take on the heavy responsibility but Edger's image flashed into her mind. She tightened the grip around the bedsheets. 'Since he could do this, I can too!' This thought engulfed her. It was a bad feeling, a very bad one. Her inner self wanted to scream out, it had enough of behaving nice. She snickered, he was surprised. He had never seen her smile like this. The smile wasn't gentle, but it felt dangerous. As if it would engulf anyone. She tiptoed towards the window slowly. She understood for sure what she was feeling. She wanted to prove him wrong. She wished to make him realize that he needed to be responsible and she could take care of her child well. The warm sunlight fell on her face, it was her new beginning as Shea. She needs to protect her child now as well as find out what happened 5 years ago. She couldn't live peacefully without knowing the truth. She turned her gaze to him.
"Alan, are you sure?" He again looked sympathetically at her and bowed, "I am sure and Allen would like to be for you too!" She held his face delicately like a glass that can be broken any moment and brought him closer to her, "Whom are you going to be loyal to if one day I and your Master get in a fight?" She could see the fire in her eyes through Alan's eyes. It was burning with a mixture of emotions. She had an aura that she never had. He gulped. He was surprised by her change, it could be easily figured out as he kept on fidgeting with his fingers and his never-ending hitches. It has been such a long time since she could be true to herself.
"Luna, Madam is asking for your presence!" The maid called Shea while Alan broke down on the ground. She didn't spare a glance at him. She understood that he needed some time. She made her way to her mother-in-law's room while his whisper hit Shea's ears, "I will… I will follow you… So will Allen…" She looked at him surprised, he was devoid of emotions. She could feel that it wasn't so easy for him to say those words which contained betrayal as well as making decisions for his brother. There was no other choice for him. She didn't bother with him anymore and reached out to her mother-in-law.
The warm sunlight fell on her mother-in-law's face, however, it was bright for her. She was in the rocking chair, her fingers swiftly turning pages of the book. She was immersed in it. Shea moved toward the next chair silently, it was a gentle moment that she wanted to last.
"You are here…" her voice was soft and elegant. Her eyes were still on the book. "Wait for a bit, I am on the last part of the story…" Shea nodded quietly, she knew that she wouldn't like to be disturbed right now. After some time, she put the book on the table and sighed.
"What's the use of reading a story when a drama is going on in front of our eyes?" She sadly continued, "I feel like my age has increased in just some years… Daughter, you know… I couldn't focus on the story. My thoughts kept getting distracted about the situation, the unborn baby, the political turmoil…" she took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes, it was wet. How weak this woman was in front of her now, was unusual. It's so easy to get broken.
"You both are a couple… young couples… you both should enjoy it but… I can't watch my son hurt you… it hurts, as a mother I can't even teach him his mistakes properly…" she made a face, she never let anyone see. At this time, she seemed like an old lady, worrying about her son. Shea moved towards her and knelt. She hustled to get Shea up but she didn't budge at all.
"Mom… Why are you talking like this? It's not your fault… it's not… It's just his choice… Don't feel guilty…" the tears she tried to save drew down her face. Her eyes were red and swollen. She whimpered in Shea's arms but left her in a bit. It was probably because of the child growing inside her.
Her mother-in-law looked sentimental now. She is a powerful, arrogant, and mighty queen but now she seems like a gentle and caring mother. Her golden hair was messed up while her deep blue eyes were crystal clear. She hurriedly got me up.
"You shouldn't be this reckless… you have a baby inside you… What if he doesn't want it? I want it! You want it! We both are here for the baby… We will give him the love that he can't receive from his father! I will also make him the Suc—" Shea held her mouth, it was surprising for her but she understood why Shea did that. Chris is her son too. Shea never wanted her child to snatch his position. She just wants her child to receive the love he should get.
"I am sorry… Being a mother is hard, huh?" She understood how Shea was feeling. "My son isn't a monster, he will understand you… he can't kill your child. He isn't that cold-blooded. You have been with him for years, don't you know it the best?" Shea giggled. Understood him? She didn't even know him. The old woman sighed and got up from her chair.
"Relationships are like a house. If it's well-built, it will stay for years. But when it's not cleaned, not sorted out… it doesn't take much to destroy." She breathed for a moment and continued, "However, you both were never in a true relationship, only in name. Since you both never had a relationship as a couple, It's not broken yet but the trust you both had in each other, it's getting destroyed." She turned her gaze towards me, knitted her eyebrows, and continued, "Dear, you know what… the belief both of you have in each other… Even a real couple doesn't have that much. Head… head to him"