CHAPTER 31: ESTRANGED MOTHER
1139 Words
Her mother still looks young. Her deep brown hair matches her fair skin and small face. Her brown eyes are expressive, showing an authoritative look. She wondered before why she did not inherit any physical features from her mother, even her small upturned nose, not until her father told her she was not her real mother. She also never felt the warmth that she saw in Zane's mother's eyes. Her mother was civil to her, but she also never felt that love from a mother.
Aera felt confused when she saw the image of a happy family. "M-Mom?"
Her mother looked at them, and the smile on her face faded. "A-Aera?"
"What is this?" Her gaze shifted back and forth between the man in his thirties and the child. "What is happening, Mom?"
"I-I thought you and your father moved out of the country?" she asked.
"Answer my question, Mom. What is happening? Why did you marry without telling me?"
Her mother looked at the man. "You should get inside. I will take care of this."
The man nodded and threw her a questioning look before turning his back and leaving the front yard.
"Care to explain now, Mother?" Aera emphasized the word mother, sounding sarcastic.
"I am not your real mother, so stop using that tone on me and be grateful to me that I accepted you." She chuckled. "I didn't know he had a child when I met him. I married just your father, you are not included in the family. You're just a nuisance in our married life. He always puts you first on his priorities and not me."
"That's why it is easy for you to leave my Dad in exchange for your current husband? And now you are a grown-up child? You remarried quickly after we left?" She gave her mother a penetrating stare.
"I'm glad you are not my real mother then. Thank you for making me realize that." Tears fell from her eyes. She knows her mother was cold even before, but she did not know that she was just being casual with her for being her husband's daughter to another woman.
"Did you come here to insult me or take this house from me? Your father already gave this house to me. It was the least he could do for being a lame husband." She crossed her arms. "You can leave now and stop bothering my family."
"Don't worry, I'm not going to bother you or your family. You were never my real mother in the first place, by name, or by heart. I never felt the love of a mother from you anyway." She turned around and walked out of the front yard.
Zane gave Aera's mother a disgusting and disappointing look, shook his head and left. His father still stayed, staring at Aera's mother.
"What? Do I know you?" she asked.
"No, but I know Aera. She is my son's friend. She might not be your biological daughter, but I can see she is an awesome child. The least you could do is to love her as your own. Probably that way, her father won't take you as his second priority as well. He probably saw how you treated his precious daughter." She put his hands on his jacket's side pockets. "Aera isn't your biological daughter, but if only you loved her like your own, she would probably give you the love and respect you deserve. Try to think as a grown-up woman."
He went straight to the car and hopped in. Aera was silently crying in the backseat.
Zane, seated in the passenger seat, looked back, worrying about Aera. "Are you alright?"
She nodded slowly. "I'm sorry, Uncle, you saw that earlier."
"You don't have to worry about me. I understand your situation." His gaze went back and forth between Aera and Zane. "Let's go back home now and have some rest."
He started the engine and drove away. They were all quiet on the way back to Cole's residence.
***
Olympus
"Eurus, I think it's time to tell Aera who her real father is, but make it discreet. Her safety is still our priority," Zeus said.
"I will tell her once she's back to the big city, Zeus. She is with her human friend now, and went back to our old town to find my ex-wife."
He bowed. "Are we also going to tell her now about her real mother?"
Zeus shook his head. "You know she is bound to be single and pure forever. Her punishment is death."
"But, Zeus. It was not her intention to bear a child from you. It was fate that made you two reunite in the dream realm and have a child in her womb."
"I still could not understand why it happened, but we still need to protect her no matter what." He looked around. "Let's not talk about it for now. They are coming."
Eurus bowed again. "I think I should go. There are movements of kakodaimons in some parts of the city. Lend me some help to help me eliminate them."
"You can ask Artemis and her Amazons to help you. Tell her it was my order." He waved his hand as a sign of dismissal. The other gods arrived one by one and sat on the throne. Dionysus, holding the glass of wine and sipping, sat on his chair.
"Were you talking about something important?" Hera asked. She walked slowly, full of grace and confidence, and sat on her throne beside Zeus.
Zeus shook his head. "N-not really. He just reported that some kakodaimons are in the city and he needs assistance."
"Artemis is at the pond. Go to her and ask for help," Hera ordered. "She will help you."
"Thank you, Queen Hera." Eurus bowed before leaving the palace. He used his power disappeared into thin air, and went straight to the pond.
There, he saw the beautiful goddess with some of her handmaidens, all wearing white long white silks. One of them is outstanding because of her exceptional beauty.
He appeared nearnearemis, who was wasting a huge pile of rock and her feet were working in the water.
"Eurus," Denise said. He saw her as one of the most beautiful immortals in Olympus. Her mid-brown hair and deep-blue eyes are a work of art.
He nodded at her. "Artemis, Zeus and Hera told me to seek help from you. The kakodaimons are in the big city, attacking humans."
"I'll send you some help, don't worry." Artemis did not look at him, but he felt her overflowing power. She waved her hand. Five Amazons wearing battle armours appeared. "Go with him and haunt kakodaimons."
"Yes, My Lady.," the five Amazons said in unison.
"You may all go now," she said, dismissing them. Eurus bowed before disappearing.
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