My Fiance Took My Cousin to Our Wedding Photoshoot. Ok, I Canceled the Wedding Chapter 08
My mom found out from Nathaniel that I was back in town and came straight to see me.
Just as I got off work, she strode up to me with a grim expression.
“Vivian Morrow!
You’ve really grown wings, haven’t you?
You go abroad without a word, come back and move out on your own, and stay away for days.
Do you even have any regard for me as your mother?”
Facing her interrogation, I was calm.
“And what about you?”
I shot back.
“All these years, have you ever had any regard for me?”
“What do you mean by that?”
Looking into her startled eyes, I sighed.
“Mom, my home became Delilah’s home long ago.
My room became Delilah’s room.
The swing I loved most got moved into Delilah’s room.
There’s none of my favorite food on the dinner table anymore.
All your attention is on Delilah.
Is there even any room in your eyes for me, your daughter?”
“Vivian, how can you think that?”
My mom’s tone was still harsh, but her voice softened.
“Delilah lost her parents when she was little.
She’s pitiful.
Isn’t it only right that I give her a little extra care?”
“But I have parents, and I’m even more pitiful than her.
She has people who love her. I have no one.
Ever since I was little, I’ve had to give her everything.
But I’m only half a year older than her.”
Maybe it was the first time she’d heard me talk like this.
My mom froze, her expression dazed.
After a long pause, she sighed.
“Vivian, I made a vow at your aunt’s bedside.
I swore I would treat her daughter as my own.
How could I break that promise?
Besides, you’ve always been the sensible one.
Why do you have to compete with Delilah over all this?”
“Does being sensible mean I deserve to be ignored?”
I let out a bitter laugh.
“Mom, all my life, because you said I was ‘sensible,‘ I had to pretend to be strong.
I had to act like I didn’t care about anything, even when
I was hurting inside.
But I was just a kid too.
I needed love and attention as well.”
“Fine, if you’re going to hold all this against me, then I apologize.”
Her eyes reddened, her tone pleading.
“Vivian, in my heart, you’ll always be my good daughter.
Of course I love you.
Now stop this nonsense and come back home.
The house feels so empty and quiet without you.”
“Mom, I’m grown up now.”
I smiled and gently refused.
“I can’t live under your watch forever.
I need my own space.
I can live independently on my own.
From now on, I’m going to live the life I want.”
Mrs. Morrow stood there, dazed and lost.
Had she really been wrong all along?
When she got home, Delilah was sitting on the bed in her room, lost in thought.
After a moment of hesitation, Mrs. Morrow interrupted her.
“Delilah, you’re not a child anymore.
It’s time you found a boyfriend, moved out, and started living with him.”
Delilah looked up, confused.
“Aunt Elinor, what do you mean by that?”
Mrs. Morrow decided to be blunt.
“Delilah, we’ve raised you all these years.
I think we’ve done right by your mother and father.
Now you’re all grown up, and you’re at that age where you should be settling down.
You can’t keep hanging around us old folks forever.
Find a place and move out soon.”
“No, Aunt Elinor!”
Delilah’s voice trembled with emotion.
She dropped to her knees at Mrs. Morrow’s feet.
‘Aunt Elinor, are you kicking me out?
Why?
Please, let me stay!
I’ve grown up here, you’re like a real mother to me!
I can’t leave this place!”
Mrs. Morrow looked around the room, flooded with regret.
“This room was originally meant for Vivian.
That year, because you said you liked it, I forced Vivian to give it to you.
Vivian was right.
All these years, whenever you wanted something, I made her give it to you.
I always thought Vivian, as the older sister, should be sensible and yield to you.
But I forgot. She was just a child too.
She craved love and attention just as much.
I was wrong.
So terribly wrong.”
“Delilah, it’s time for you to go.”
Mrs. Morrow stood firm.
Delilah was forced to move out.
With nowhere to turn, she went to Nathaniel for help.
But Nathaniel wanted nothing to do with her either.
These days, Nathaniel had been drowning himself in alcohol.
His body was drunk, but his mind was painfully sober.
He stumbled back to me again, red–eyed, clutching my hand, his voice pleading.
“Vivian, I’ve thought a lot these past few days.
I know I’ve neglected you all these years.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t love you!
I was just fooled by Delilah’s pitiful act.
I’ve always seen her as a sister.
We’ve never crossed the line.
Vivian, we’ve been together for so many years.
How can you be so heartless and just walk away?
For the sake of all the love I’ve given you, please give me one more chance.
Can we get back together?”
I pulled my hand away, my voice resolute.
“Nathaniel, just go.
There’s no going back for us.”
I turned and walked away, ignoring his desperate cries behind me.
As soon as I turned the corner, I saw Bobby not far away, grinning and waving at me.
“Vivian!
Guess what. Gideon the miracle worker actually scored tickets to the Morandi exhibition!
You’ve always wanted to see it, right?
Come on, we’re leaving tomorrow!”
I smiled too.
“Let’s go.”