Ashes and Scales: Remember Us, Mate

Chapter 11: Bitterness

AUTHOR’S POV

Zoraya froze for a moment, staring at her parents in disbelief as they walked through the door. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her tone irritated, and her father raised an eyebrow.

“What do you mean, ‘what are we doing here’? This is our home," he said, stepping inside, and Zoraya's chest tightened in frustration as she turned around, her mind racing. "But didn't you say you'd extended your weekend away?" she stammered, not even trying to hide her annoyance, as her father sighed and removed his jacket.

"We did, but then I remembered I had a two-day conference to attend. I need to prepare."

Zoraya bit her lips, her bitterness bubbling to the surface. She couldn't stand him—his pompous voice, his constant demands, his obsession with his work—and she hated how he liked to remind her she should be grateful for all the luxuries he provided, for the private tutors, the designer clothes, and the parties, but she wasn't.

They were her parents, and they owed her those things. She would not grovel more than she already was by hiding her relationship with Cian. Sometimes she wished her parents would just vanish while on one of their trips so she could be free.

Her father, on the other hand, saw the look on her face, the disdain she did not try to hide, and a flicker of hurt crossed his features. But Zoraya didn’t care. She was too angry at their presence. Her father looked at her mother and found her looking at him with sadness in her eyes but this was not his fault.

He had no idea where they went wrong with Zoraya. Her grandmother used to complain that they were spoiling her too much, but all they wanted was for her to have everything they wished they had as children but didn't—the freedom to be a child that they were denied. They grew up being groomed in business, and they both had to take on responsibility at a young age. They had different expectations for her. But now it seemed they were being punished for it.

Her mother intervened to ease the tension between Zoraya and her father. "Are you going somewhere?" she asked gently, glancing at the clutch in Zoraya's hand before complimenting her. Zoraya responded that she was going to dinner with her friends. But the problem with that was that she didn’t have any friends nearby. So her mother asked, “Which friends?” Her tone was light, as she didn’t want to aggravate the situation any further, but she soon realized that it was too late for that.

“Why does it matter?” Zoraya spat, now turning to her, her eyes still blazing with irritation. “It’s not like you care about anything I do unless it’s related to how I represent this family.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm, and her mother took a step back, not sure where the last part came from.

"Zoraya, we just—" she began to explain that they only wanted the best for her, but Zoraya cut her off.

"Just what? Oh, let me guess, you’re going to tell me about the business deal you lost, right? How devastating. Like I’m supposed to care,” she spat. “Maybe if you both spent less time obsessing over Cian’s family and more time focusing on your issues, you wouldn’t be losing everything.”

She could feel the venom in her words, and it thrilled her. She didn't feel sorry for them, and they weren't going to force her to act as she did.

Her father’s face hardened at her words. “Zoraya, that’s enough,” he said and tears pooled in Zoraya’s eyes, causing her mother to step up to her, her expression pleading, now knowing what this was about. “We’re just trying to protect you. There’s a lot you don’t understand—” But Zoraya didn’t let her finish. She stormed out of the house, leaving her parents standing there.

Her father, muttering that some children are happy to see their parents return safely from business trips, ran his hands through his hair before asking Zoraya's mother where Zoraya was going. However, Mrs. Busco's eyes widened before her features turned into a scowl as she asked him how she was supposed to know.

He asked who the friends were and Zoraya’s mother said she didn’t know. Mr. Busco took out his phone, but she stopped him, asking him to let her go.

"Maybe her friends from university are here," but Zoraya's father said the Diakos boy was also home for the holidays. Zoraya's mother took his hand and told him Zoraya would not go to Cian. She said he needed to try to repair their relationship, which meant he needed to stop throwing the Diakos thing at her.

She added that they needed to show Zoraya that they trusted her, and then she would not feel so suffocated. Sighing, he walked up the stairs, feeling more exhausted than he had moments before.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few minutes later, Zoraya arrived at Cian’s place, her heart heavy with frustration. As the car came to a stop, she quickly grabbed her compact from her clutch and wiped the tears that had smeared the corner of her eyes.

The sting of her emotions lingered in her chest, the bitterness from her encounter with her parents leaving her feeling raw. She had intended to spend the night with Cian, but now that her parents had unexpectedly returned, she knew she couldn't. They’d ask questions, and she wasn’t in the mood to deal with them.

With a frustrated sigh, she gently patted her eyes dry, muttering under her breath as she checked her reflection. The tears hadn’t completely ruined her makeup, but her flawless look wasn’t quite as perfect anymore, and that only made her angrier.

Just as she snapped the compact shut, the chauffeur stepped out and opened the door for her. She took a deep breath, composing herself as she stepped out of the car. As soon as her heels hit the pavement, she saw Cian making his way toward her, a big smile lighting up his face.

He looked effortlessly handsome in a tailored suit, his sandy hair slightly tousled, as if he hadn’t a care in the world. “My love!” Cian greeted her warmly, wrapping her in a hug before pulling back to plant a soft kiss on her cheek, careful not to disturb her makeup.

She smiled at him, though the sadness still sat heavy in her heart. “Hey,” she said, trying to mask her emotions. She didn’t want to ruin the night by unloading her frustrations. “Hope I’m not late.”

“You’re right on time,” he reassured her, his eyes scanning her face with a hint of concern. “You, okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she lied, her voice lighter than she felt. She couldn’t bring herself to admit how wrecked she’d been by her parents. He knew about her frustrations with her family, but tonight was a happy night for his family, and she didn’t want to dampen that. Plus, her problems with her parents were embarrassing, especially since Cian’s family was so perfect.

“Good,” Cian said, giving her a soft smile, though he sensed something was off. “You look stunning, by the way.” Zoraya let her smile widen. He always knew how to warm her heart and take away her anxieties. “Thank you.”

They linked arms, and as they made their way inside, Zoraya could already hear the lively hum of conversation drifting from the house. The grand entryway opened up to a spacious, modern living area, where people stood around holding champagne flutes, talking animatedly. The room was filled with warmth and light, contrasting with the emotional storm that had been brewing inside her minutes before.

As soon as they entered, the conversations paused, and everyone turned to welcome Zoraya with bright smiles. “Zoraya! You look incredible,” Cian’s mother said, approaching her with a hug while others echoed similar sentiments, complimenting her dress and asking how she was.

“I’m good, thanks,” she replied with a smile, even though part of her still felt disconnected from the room’s upbeat energy. But she loved this family, so she would force herself to forget her problems.

She accepted the champagne, its cold bubbles providing a small distraction as she took a sip. Not long after, the chef appeared in the doorway, inviting everyone to the dining area. Zoraya smiled politely, walking arm-in-arm with Cian as they followed the group.

The large dining room was stunningly set, and she settled into her seat, the conversation swirling around her. She started to ease into the moment.

Cian’s father, Mr. Diakos, stood up with a broad smile on his face, lifting his glass high as he toasted to their recently secured deal. His voice was filled with pride and satisfaction. “It was a long road, but we did it. Here’s too hard work paying off.” The room erupted in applause, glasses clinking together in a celebratory toast.

Zoraya raised her glass alongside the others, watching the Diakos family beam with pride at their well-deserved victory. For a moment, she wondered what it would be like to sit at this table as a Diakos, free of the constant judgment and toxicity her own family harbored.

Just as they were settling down, the door opened, and in walked Charon, Cian’s younger brother. The room buzzed with excitement as everyone turned to greet him. Cian's parents quickly stood up, embracing him as though he had been absent for years, not just months.

“You made it!” Mr. Diakos added, pulling his son into a firm hug. The warmth in the room grew even stronger, everyone happy to see Charon back home. Eventually, Charon made his way over to her, and she greeted him with a warm hug. He finally settled into a seat, his father already asking about his flight, looking pleased to have both of his boys at the table.

As the conversation continued, Mr. Diakos suddenly turned his attention to Zoraya, his expression softening. “Zoraya, I want to say, I’m sorry your parents didn’t secure the deal. They put in a brilliant campaign. Your family is just as deserving of the win. I think luck just wasn’t on their side this time.”

His words hit her like a punch to the gut. The pity in his tone, the sympathy for her family. Her father wouldn’t have shown Cian’s family this level of respect. If he had won, he’d be smug, gloating, reveling in the victory, and showing no remorse for anyone.

The thought of it made her stomach churn with resentment. Mr. Diakos’ kindness toward her family only reminded her of everything she hated about her father—the way he poisoned everything with his bitter, vengeful attitude.

Her fingers tightened around the stem of her champagne glass, and before she realized it, she slammed it down onto the table with a sharp thud. The room fell silent, and she blinked, startled by the sudden stillness, and looked up to find everyone staring at her with concern.

Cian’s hand was on hers, and her heart pounded in her chest, embarrassment and frustration twisting together inside her. She had also forgotten to respond to Mr. Diakos, too caught up in her spiraling thoughts.

Forcing herself to breathe, she managed to find her voice. “Thank you,” she said, “but there’s no need to apologize. I’m sure your family deserved the win. You worked just as hard.”

After the toasts and congratulations, the meal began in earnest. The food was exquisite, each course more luxurious than the last, and Zoraya allowed herself to be swept up in the moment, indulging in the delicacies placed before her. For a little while, the tension of earlier faded, and she forgot about her father and the bitterness that clung to her.

Dessert followed soon after, a decadent mousse that melted in her mouth, and she found herself smiling, genuinely enjoying the surrounding company.

When the meal came to an end, Mr. Diakos rose from his seat, a mischievous grin on his face, as he disappeared from the dining room and returned with several small boxes.

He handed one to each of his sons and Zoraya watched in quiet admiration. It was a Diakos family tradition Cian had once explained to her. Whenever their father returned from a business trip, he brought gifts for his sons, a way of celebrating their bond despite the constant travel and distance.

Zoraya marveled at the ritual, the warmth that radiated between them, and she was still lost in her thoughts when Mrs. Diakos stood and approached her, a soft smile on her face.

“I have something for you as well, Zoraya,” she said, holding out a beautifully wrapped box and Zoraya blinked, stunned. She hadn't expected anything. After all, she wasn’t part of the family.

She accepted the box, carefully unwrapping it. Inside was a beautiful necklace—a gold chain with a stunning sapphire pendant. “I...I don’t know what to say,” Zoraya whispered, her voice thick with emotion. She stood, her eyes welling up, and walked over to Mrs. Diakos, who drew her into a gentle hug. "You are family," Mrs. Diakos said softly, holding her close. "We wanted you to have a reminder that you are always welcome here."

Zoraya struggled to speak, overwhelmed by the gesture. Just then, soft music played in the background, filling the room with a lively tune. The atmosphere lightened as people rose from their seats, couples pairing off to dance. Cian appeared at her side, holding out his hand with a smile. “Dance with me?” he asked, and Zoraya hesitated for a moment, still caught in her emotions, but then she nodded, placing her hand in his.

He led her to the center of the room, where they started moving in time with the music, her hand resting gently on his, their bodies swaying together. Around them, others danced as well—Mr. And Mrs. Diakos, Charon with his partner, everyone smiling, laughing, caught in the evening's joy.

Zoraya closed her eyes and rested her face against Cian's chest, exhaling contentedly. This was where she belonged. Not with some despicable human or her rotten parents. This right here was perfect.