CHAPTER 12
Aidan's POV
I know I am not supposed to be here but I also know I have to be here so my ego won't ruin what I have been building for years. I drive into my father's mansion.
The concrete huge building full of tall glasses reminds me of many things. One of those things was the day my father stopped beating me and that day was the same day my mother lost her legs. I shut my eyes to let go of the hurt that comes with the memories.
That day reminds me of the way I cried so hard and the pain in my mother's eyes that I can still see. The last time I saw my mother was three months ago. I hate coming here, I hate seeing her in pain.
I am here because I want to get the award and I want to see my mother. I get out of the car and move towards the door. His domestic staff are all over, muttering their greetings to me. I answer none of the greetings as I walk in.
The living room is empty and I wonder where everyone is. My eyes scan the entire place until it falls on a girl coming from a room.
"Good morning, sir", she sees me and bows in greeting.
"Where is father?" I ask her.
"He is in his study upstairs", she answers me. I look up, wondering if he has a visitor or not. I know him to be someone who hosts his visitors in his living room upstairs or his study.
"What about mother?" I demand from her.
"She is in her room", she replies.
Mother's room is downstairs and father stopped hosting his guest in the living room downstairs because of her.
When I was still young, I used to think my father was doing that on purpose because he was ashamed of mother's condition and that made me hate him more.
I am grown up now but I still share the same belief as my young age. My hatred for dad hasn't reduced over the years. The only thing that brings us together is my mother and the help he gives me in the business world.
Mother is always in her room, so I am not surprised when the girl informed me of her location. I nudge my head and walk briskly to the room.
Mother has her room, washroom, and kitchen to herself, the only thing she doesn't have is a living room where she can host guests. Ever since her accident, she had stopped receiving guests and she had stopped going out completely.
When I get to the door, a wave of nostalgia hit me. I open the door gently and I see two of her maids inside with her.
Mother is in her wheelchair by the window side, reading a book while one of the girls is tending to her feet. The other lady is making her bed and they all look up when they notice my presence.
Mother is a tidy person and despite her condition, she still loves everything to be clean and tidy. I have not for once met her room in a mess before.
Her face breaks into a broad smile and I find myself smiling too. Mother's smile is infectious, even though it is full of unsaid words and pain.
"My son has come to see me", she utters softly, opening her arms to invite me in for an embrace. That gesture alone reminds me of many things my mother and I have done together without my father's knowledge.
It reminds me of when my mother was in a good condition and how she welcomes me home from school by picking me up and hugging me tightly. I feel emotional right now.
The maids leave the room immediately to give us space. I take long strides towards my mother, when I am close, I squat and move into her arms. Her cologne is still the same, even after 10 years of being bedridden because of her husband. I take in the lovely feminine cologne, feeling the urge to cry in her arms.
She pats my shoulder and the next minute, she is crying.
"Mother?" I pull away from the embrace. I am feeling bad that she is crying.
She shakes her head. "I am crying because I miss you", she says to me. I know why she is saying that. She doesn't want me to think she is crying because of father or because of how she is.
"I miss you too, mother", I hug her back.
"Stop crying."
"I'm fine. I just wish you can come here more often. I love seeing your smiling face", she sniffs and I smile.
When I was younger, my mother always told me to my face that I was a handsome prince and I would get married to a beautiful princess.
She always sings the praises of my handsomeness and how successful I would become. I love her. I love her positivity. I love her personality. I love her type of heart, pure golden heart. I love everything about her, including the fact that she is my mother.
I disengage from the hug again, still squatting. "Now I am here, how have you been?"
"I am great", she wipes her tears. "I just missed you so much."
"Me too, mom. That's why I want you to come and stay with me."
She shakes her head. I know she is against it and I am not ready to push it.
"Hope you are fine?"
"Yes, mother, I am good," I respond.
"I thought you would come in yesterday", she says.
"Yes, I couldn't because I was busy at the office." She nods in understanding.
"I have been meaning to talk to you, Aidan", she rubs her hand over my face and I wonder what it is she has been meaning to talk to me about.
"What is it, mother? Do you need something?" She shakes her head.
"I want you to do something for me, Aidan", she mutters softly.
"Tell me", I am impatient to know. I am willing to do anything to make my mother happy. I know money isn't the problem, mother is financially ok, the same way father is.
I am sure mother isn't going to ask for money or any materialistic object but I am hoping it is something I can do for her.
She is silent for a while before uttering. "I want you to be married, son."