Chapter 5 Her Mother's Past
When Vivian got back from her date, she quickly locked herself into her room. Her heart was still beating erratically and it felt like she was chasing her breath. Her face were still flustered.
She went into her bathroom and checked herself in the mirror, she cannot believe that she blushed from earlier. That man really knows how to get into her nerve.
Still annoyed, Vivian took a very hot shower to relax her nerves. She pampered herself well to completely forget what had taken place that night. But everytime she tries to close her eyes, memories of Troy's soft lips flashes before her and she can feel her face blushing one more time.
Vivian could not take it anymore, she needed to do something to divert her thoughts. That's when she decided to go to their gym and do some yoga exercise or something. She went out her room but stopped when she saw a maid coming out of her parents' room. The maid was carrying out a tray of untouched food.
"Mother hasn't eaten yet?" She asked the maid. The girl gently shook her head and in sadness the maid replied 'No.'
Vivian sighed then decided to go talk to her Mother. She went to the room and saw her mother sitting on the bed, staring at the emptiness of the wall in front. She noticed how pale and thin her mother had gotten. Her eyes almost bulging out of the socket.
Vivian felt a flash of worry and sat beside her mother who barely took notice of her.
"Mommy..." Vivian whispered but it seemed like her mother did not hear her. Or just did not acknowledge her presence.
A tear escaped from her Mother's eyes and Vivian gently wiped it away. It has been weeks since her sister left them and since then, her Mother's health deteriorated. She would often decline food and just drink a small amount of water. Her father on the other hand got fed up with all the drama and decided to let her mother be.
She also tried to talk to Violet but her sister is not willing to come back to their house as she is afraid on what their father can do.
Vivian reached for her mother and gently hugged her. She then felt her mother's hand on her arms. Vivian's mother cried for a short while then faced her. Her mother smiled weakly at her.
"I am sorry my child for asking you to marry that boy." Her mother whispered. "Violet's situation reminded me so much of my past and I am afraid that she will soon be following my footsteps." Vivian flashed a confuse look but her mother just smiled at her and caressed her cheek.
"You see my child, I fell in love once.
That was before your father. When I was at your age, I met a poor but well-mannered young man. I was already betrothed to your father but at that time, I was certain that I love the man so much even if he was poor Vivian's mother reminisced. She can see sadness, pain and regret in her mother's eyes. But she saw something else, it was a rare glimpse to behold. It was her mother's eyes beaming with love and adoration as she continued to tell her past with the poor boy she was once in love with.
"So we decided to run away, I was so excited and in love that I did not think of the consequences of our action." Her mother added. "Do you know why your father favored you so much?"
Vivian's mother asked suddenly. She stopped caressing her face and rested her hand on her's. Vivian plastered a questioning look but her mother just chuckled.
"It's because you are his daughter." Her mother answered that made Vivian's confusion grew more. She was about to speak when her mother stopped her once more. "You are your father's daughter, but not Violet."
"What do you mean Mother?" Vivian couldn't hold it anymore. Every word her mother just told her keeps getting tangled in her thoughts and it ends up confusing her.
Her mother sighed, "When my lover and I ran away, it only took your Grandfather a month to find us. We were separated, and I was married to your father. But surprise caught me when I found out that I was pregnant, and it was my lover's child."
"V-Violet?" Vivian stammered as she confirmed her mother's statement.
Her mother gently nodded as tears started to stream down her eyes.
"I was so scared when I gave birth, your father could not accept my baby. But still, he gave it his name to avoid scandals." Vivian can see pain and regret in her mother's eyes. "But when you came along my darling, everything changed. Your father must have forgiven me and slowly, he accepted Violet as his own. I was so happy."
"Mommy don't cry..."
"Then again, I must have been punished for what I have done when I found out about your sister. Everything came back to me and I got scared. I was so scared for your sister that I decided to use you as the collateral."
Vivian felt sorry for her Mother. She's hurting when she sees her mother suffering. Vivian hugged her crying mother who keeps on apologizing to her.
"I am sorry my child. Mommy is terribly sorry."