Chapter 20

Lauren

I pulled open the door and my eyes widened with surprise when I saw the least expected person standing before me.

"Mrs Kingston," I said unknowingly tightening my hold on the doorknob.

Sometimes I tend to hold things too tight when I'm nervous or just anxious.

What is she doing here?

I met her once at a business party. but didn't talk much as Ethan didn't let me to.

She is a striking image of Ethan with her blue eyes and black hair and is just an inch or two taller than me. Dressed in a pair of clothes that screams rich even from afar.

"Ethan is not home yet," I said to her wondering why would she come here given their bumpy relationship.

She just gave me a small smile in return before answering.

"I know... Can I come in?" she asked me politely.

What should I do?

But it will be rude if I don't let her in. After all, she is Ethan's mom.

But they are not on good terms right now.

I nodded my head slowly not knowing what to do exactly and opened the door wide to let her in.

She gave me a small smile and entered in.

I led her way to the living room and she sat on the couch.

"Do you want anything, Mrs Kingston?" I asked her and she declined the offer.

We stayed silent for a minute not knowing what to talk about.

I waited for her to start talking about something and she finally did.

"Your house is nice." She spoke.

"Thanks." I nodded my head at her not knowing how to respond.

"How is my son, Lauren?" she asked me after a while.

I looked up at her face when she spoke, and saw her smile didn't touch her eyes when she asked me the question.

It was a sad smile.

It was a smile you do when you remember a beautiful memory from the past which is strong enough to make you happy and also sad at the same time.

Happy because that memory exists in your heart.

And sad because the memory is short-lived, no matter what you can't relive the memory.

"He is fine Mrs Kingston," I reassured her bringing her out of her thoughts.

"I'm so sorry to show up all of sudden." She said rubbing her face and chuckling nervously.

"It's Alright. Don't worry." I said to her taking a deep breath.

The awkwardness and silence is loud between us.

"I'm glad you are my daughter-in-law, Lauren. You seem kind and look pretty. Ethan is lucky to have you." she spoke giving me a gentle smile.

So, she doesn't know the reality of our marriage.

I looked up at her and she looked nothing more than a sad, lonely woman trying to hide beneath the faćade of all those rich clothes and expensive makeup products.

But her eyes showed her sadness.

But why would Ethan hate her for no reason?

"I'm sorry if I sound rude Mrs Kingston, but your son and you are not on good terms. Then why exactly are you here?" I asked not beating around the bush anymore.

She exhaled loudly and stayed silent for a moment to compose her words before opening her mouth.

"To meet you, Lauren." when I frowned, she continued.

"I lost the opportunity to even touch my son in these past few years. Ethan doesn't even want to be in the same room as I am. He doesn't want anything to do with me. His grandpa didn't even allow me to see my son's wedding." She whispered sitting on the couch.

"For me, meeting my son's wife is the closest I could get to being near my son," she whispered and I didn't miss the way her eyes glistened with water.

I don't know if I could ask about their past, but I so badly wanted to know what happened between this mother and son that tore them apart.

"What happened between you two Mrs Kingston?" I voiced out my thought and her face countered with surprise.

"Ethan never told you?" she asked me quite surprised and I shook my head at her.

She looked down thinking, probably reminiscing the past before opening her mouth to answer my question.

"It all started years back when he was just my little boy. He used to be full of light and full of life, just like any other kid used to be." She smiled softly reminiscing the past.

"But then I did something. I ruined everything. Our life before what I did might not be perfect, but it was at least peaceful. But what I did, ruined everyone's lives in a way that they could never be at least better." The guilt slowly crept up her face.

"At least that's what everyone thought." She whispered to herself.

I stared at her not knowing how to respond.

She continued when I stayed silent.

"To be honest, I deserve his hatred. I deserve whatever he throws at me. Because his anger is justified in his point of view. But a mother's heart will always crave her child."

She tried keeping her face emotionless, but her tears betrayed her streaming down her cheeks.

I looked down when I saw her tears.

It's difficult for me to see someone cry.

It's because that makes me want to take their pain away from them and just return their smile.

But I know that I can't control someone's pain. I can't take away someone else's pain.

I have always been sensitive by heart.

When I looked up, she is still crying.

I walked towards her to comfort her and took her hand in mine.

Her teary-eyes looked up to my face.

"Mrs Kingston, it's -" I tried finding words to comfort her when I was interrupted by a very familiar cold voice which sent shivers down my spine.

"What are you doing here?"

I turned around towards the voice to see Ethan glaring at his mother clearly mad.

Mrs Kingston stood up from the couch and turned towards Ethan.

"Ethan-" she opened her mouth but Ethan cut her off.

"Leave!" he said with a clenched jaw turning his face away from her.

I gulped listening to his voice.

Mrs Kingston didn't seem surprised at all. It's like she is used to his behaviour towards her. She closed her eyes composing herself before opening her mouth.

"Ethan, listen to me. I-"

"GET OUT!" we both jumped when his loud voice boomed around the house.

I blinked when I saw his murderous expression.

I can't believe how his total personality changes when he is angry. He is a completely different person when he's around his mother.

When I looked at Mrs Kingston, she looked grief-stricken.

"Security!" he yelled bringing his phone out to call the guards.

"Ethan." I walked toward him and wrapped my hand around his arm to calm him down.

"Yes sir." In no time two men dressed in all black entered in.

"I don't want this woman to ever come anywhere near my house. Do you understand?" he asked them and Mrs Kingston just smiled sadly looking at Ethan.

"Ethan. Calm down." I said but he just ignored me talking to the security.

"Now leave." his voice shook slightly glaring at her hard.

The tension was so thick in the air among us.

"I hope you remember that I was once your mother." She spoke with a heavy voice.

"I have no mother." He said coldly and she looked devastated and heartbroken listening to him. My heart twisted in pain for her.

I tightened my hold on his arm to stop him from talking any further and he finally obliged when he saw his mother's hurt face.

He clenched his jaw turning his head away from us both but I bet I saw his anger slip away looking at his mother's pain.

I turned towards Mrs Kingston and she wiped her tears before smiling at me.

She stared at her son for a moment before walking away followed by the guards.

As soon as she left, Ethan didn't waste time leaving to his room.

I exhaled loudly rubbing my forehead unimpressed with the situation I am in and with all the questions running through my head.

Why is Ethan hurting his mother, when it is hurting him just the same?

Just when I finally think that I know him somewhat, his past comes up mocking me on how much of a stranger I am in his life.

Why is he so mysterious?

Will I ever know him completely?

***

I slowly opened his bedroom door after knocking on his door.

He didn't say anything, but I still opened the door.

It was quite some time since Mrs Kingston left.

The whole place was so silent as Ethan refused to come out of his room and I didn't know what to do.

I finally mustered my courage and decided to see him.

When I entered the room, it was completely dark without any light.

In the dark, I saw Ethan standing at the window and staring out.

I took a deep breath and made my way toward him.

I stood beside him and turned towards him but he just stared straight.

I have a lot of questions for him but I don't know if I should ask him or not.

I looked at him and he looked so angry and also sad at the same time.

I don't know if he is angry at the situation or himself.

When I cleared my throat to get his attention, he finally opened his mouth.

"Lauren, I-" he looked reluctant to continue.

It's like he didn't want to explain himself right now.

"It's okay if you don't want to say anything, Ethan," I said to him and he turned towards me.

If he trusts me enough, he would open up himself. Wouldn't he?

He stared at me with an expressionless face.

"I mean if you don't want to say anything, it's ok. I don't want to push you to say anything. I know, sometimes we just like to keep things for ourselves. Some things are too personal to open up. And It's completely alright. Don't worry. I mean-" I started blabbering unconsciously and stopped when I realised what I was doing.

Can I embarrass myself any more than I usually do?

Lauren, I hope you know how annoying you are sometimes.

I rubbed my forehead cursing myself and looked up at his face.

I swear I instantly threw all the 'unpleasant' feelings about myself out of the window when I saw his smile.

Who cares if I'm annoying, at least I can make him smile.

I smiled instantly proud of the thing which I didn't even know I did.

"Are you okay?" I asked him.

"Yes." He answered half-heartedly smiling at me.

He stared at me lost in his thoughts for a moment before sighing and wrapping his arms around me and pulling me closer to him.

He tightened his hold around my waist and I didn't complain as he looked like he needed that hug.

I sighed with a soft smile and adjusted my head on his chest tightening my hold around him.

His action assured me that he would open up someday, if not today.

That hug reassured me that I'm not a stranger in his life and that I mean something to him.

It's fascinating how a simple gesture like hug somewhat eased my confused and troubled thoughts about my position in his life.

I sighed and closed my eyes cherishing the hug by tightening my hold and squeezing him completely.

Author's notes

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