Chapter 40
Evelyn's POV
I didn't meet Anna at home. I feel it is time to tell her about Aidan since he has plans on coming to see her. I want her to know about what I did before he comes.
The excitement I was feeling from work is suddenly replaced with worry. I don't know what Anna will think of everything, I don't know if she will understand my reasons and I don't know if she will be pleased.
I guess I will have to keep the divorce after 6 years of marriage which Aidan told me about to myself for now. I know if I tell Anna, she will not listen to any more things I have to say. I don't even know if she is going to agree to the marriage yet.
I begin to pace the room, thinking of how to present it to her and what she will think and say of it. I haven't figured it out when the door opens and she comes in. She looks pretty in her maroon dress and I wonder what type of party she went to.
"Evening, mom", she greets and slumps to the sofa, placing her purse on the table.
"How are you doing?" I ask with a cheerful smile.
"Fine", she replies, without looking at me.
"Did I ruin your night?" I guess she is cold towards me for not letting her enjoy the night. I called her to come home on purpose because I want to talk to her and I don't want her to be seen around at parties when she is soon going to be the billionaire's wife.
What will Aidan think of her if he meets her at a party?
"No. You said you want to tell me something", she finally looks me in the face.
"Yeah, it's about your baby", I begin, watching her face for a readable expression. I didn't want her to think I want her to go ahead with the abortion again so I add. "I talked to the baby's father....."
"And you went down on your knees to beg him to come and marry me?" She cut me short.
"What?!" I exclaim loudly.
"Yes, isn't that what you did, mother?" She frowns, looking at me with a disappointed look.
"What makes you think I begged him to do that? You know your mother and I will never stoop so low to do that."
"Well...that is what it looks like you are doing."
I am quiet, thinking of why she is acting this way. Is she aware that I have been going to meet Aidan all along?
"Anna, I want the best for you and your child." I touch her hand.
"The best? By selling me out to that arrogant idiot?" She yells with a grimace.
"What? I am not selling you out, Anna. What makes you think I will do that?"
"Who brought up the idea of marriage to Aidan, mom?" She asks me. I didn't know how to tell her that was the offer I made to him, I didn't want her to misunderstand the whole thing.
Has Aidan visited?
"Did Aidan come here?" I demand from her.
"That is not the answer I am expecting from you, mom. Did you or did you not?" She shouts while standing.
"Will you stop shouting?!" I yell at her. She shut up. I didn't plan for things to turn out this way, I was expecting Anna to be understanding and calm. "Did Aidan come here or not?"
"He did. He insulted you and me, he called our home shabby, he made jest of where we have stayed all our lives and he was commanding me to come to see his mother", she shouts again. "Happy now?" A tear drops from her eyes.
I now understand the reasons for her anger. "How can Aidan be so stupid to ruin such a beautiful....." I sigh heavily.
Anna is pacing around the room in anger. I can see how restless she is as she wipe her tears continuously. I wonder when Aidan will learn some manners. "Sit down, baby."
She is still pacing and I am getting irritated. I am mad at Aidan but I won't hesitate to transfer that aggression to Anna. She caused all of this. "Sit down, Anna!" I shout.
She glares at me coldly before moving to sit on the next sofa, sniffing and folding her arms. I heave another deep sigh, to calm my nerves before moving close to her. "Anna", I call softly. She didn't look at me, she only wipe the tears that roll down her eyes again and sniff.
I touch her arms and she flinches. I feel hurt by the reaction. I am tempted to shout at her again to stop acting stupid like a spoiled brat but I know that will solve nothing. Patience is a virtue, I keep reminding myself.
"You remember I told you I was going to meet with Aidan so he can know he is going to have a child with you soon?" I request from her, trying to show her what made me do what I did. "And I told you not to go, didn't I?" She face me squarely with a wet face.
"Yes, you did", I nod. "But I had to go for you."
"Why, mom? He doesn't need to know." Her voice is becoming raised.
"He deserves to know." I insist.
"No, he doesn't. I am sure if it was Cameron, you wouldn't have done this. You only did this because he is a billionaire", Anna blurts out.
"Do you also know that he can decide to take your baby away from you and sue you when he gets to know the baby is his and you did not let him know?" I ask her and she is mute.
"You never thought of that?" I smirk. She is silent.
I continue what I was saying earlier before she interrupted me "Well, Aidan and I talked and he brought up the idea of marriage, I thought it was a good idea. He said his mother has been pestering him to get married and now that you are pregnant with his child, you are the best choice."
Anna didn't look convinced by my lie. She shakes her head and laughs sarcastically.
"You don't believe me?" I peer at her.
"No, I don't", she answers sharply.
"Why?"
"Because you are lying, mother. I can see it in your eyes, I know when you are lying. I am your daughter, why are you lying to me?"
I exhale deeply and watch her. I know I need to tell the truth. Lying to Anna will not make her do what I want. "I'm sorry."
"You lied, right?" I nod.
"You brought up the idea of marriage to Aidan, right?"
"Yes, I did," I answer and she stands up abruptly.
"I knew it!"
"Anna, you need to calm down and listen to me."
"No, mom. I don't want to hear what you have to say. Tell your partner in crime that I am not going to marry him." She begins to move to her room.
"Anna!" I call her back. She stops walking.
"You want your child to be fatherless like you are? Do you think this is all about what you want? What do you think your child will think of you when she grows up in this so-called shabby home of ours when you refused to let her have a good life with her father? Do you think I am happy to be living here with you? Do you think I don't want to live in a mansion too someday? Do you think I wouldn't have gotten us a house if I can afford it?"
"Do you think your father truly died when you were 5 like I always told you? No, he didn't. The stupid man left us. Now you have the opportunity to change that fate for your child and you don't want to make it happen. Do you want your child to grow up without knowing who his father is? Do you think you can give your child a good life on your own? What will you do if this man is like your father? Do you have any power to fight him?" I said in one breath. I can no longer hold my anger towards her. I did not intend to tell her the truth about her father but I did and I don't regret it.
"Grow up, Anna! Not everything is about you. You are going to marry Aidan whether you like it or not. I won't watch you give birth in this house and watch my grandchild suffer the way you and I have suffered. I won't allow that. The earlier you accept this as your fate, the better." She is sobbing and I find myself crying silently too.
"Get away from here!" I dismiss her in annoyance. Her presence and stupidity is annoying me.
When she runs to her room and I hear her slam the door shut, I sit on the floor and buckle my knees up before placing my head in between.
Then, I weep in regret and sorrow.