Build And Break novel Chapter 39

Marie wasn't the least bit fazed at Steven's sudden burst of fury. Yet she remained calm. "I've been willing to tell you my side of the story for years. You never wanted to listen."

"You left me and dad. Listening to you wouldn't have changed anything. I'm not even sure it will now but I need to hear it." Steven's tone and posture were the same he used during any business meeting. Demanding and authoritative.

"There's not much to say really. I fell in love with another man. Me and your father had long lost our feelings for each other and Mike came along."

That ease that which his mother had spoke irritated Steven. "And me? I was just a teenager, barely a man. I needed you. I needed my mother and you left me for another man. You didn't care about me."

Marie stood to her feet. She's had enough of his bossy attitude. "You are my son, of course I cared about you. Me and your father would have divorced much sooner if it wasn't you. Despite all the arguments we had, we tolerated each other for you. He must have told you that. But you didn't care about that. You always were daddy's boy and in your eyes, I was the wrong. You sided with him the second you found out about Mike. Would you have left your father if I offered you to leave with me?"

"Of course, I wouldn't have." Steven snapped.

"See? And even if you wanted to come with me, I wouldn't have let you. Your father was teaching you business. He was showing you the path to your future. I couldn't interfere with that. Look at you now." Her eyes soften. Her fingers graze the stubble he hadn't trimmed that morning. Surprisingly, he didn't flinch from her touch. "I've always thought you looked like me the most but in that suit, you're just like your daddy."

Then he did back away. He wouldn't let her mention his deceased father. He couldn't allow her to bring back more hurtful memories from the abyss of his mind. He had dealt with the grief of losing his father already.

His heart couldn't stop racing with the thousand emotions battling each other. Facing his mother was much harder than Steven had thought.

Marie watched her son resuming his nervous pacing while huffing a deep sigh and running a hand through his hair. She caught sight of the golden ring on Steven's finger glistening in the sun rays.

"You got married." The woman exclaimed in honest surprise.

"I did, yes." His answer was dry and short. He didn't want to initiate the conversation about his wedding, why he didn't tell her and why didn't he invite her.

But no trace of anger or the such appeared on her face. "And I'm guessing your marriage is what brought you here."

"I'm having some problems." Why did he tell her that? Like she cared.

"While your father was still alive, I came to your house a hundred times. Your father would greet me with the same words every single time. 'I'm sorry, Mar. He doesn't want to see you still.' And I'd leave. Hoping the next time, I'd knock on your father's door, he'd smile at me and tell me you've forgiven me. I would have given you twice the years as long as you forgive me."

Steven tugged his arm off her hold. "I haven't forgiven you yet."

"May I ask why not?" Steven remained silent. "Is it because forgiving people is beneath you? You became that powerful now huh?

Steven scoffed. "Don't you read about me in the newspaper you read?"

"Truthfully, I flip the pages where I think your name might be. I didn't want to hear any news on my son from ink. I knew the day would come when I'd hear it all from you."

"Today is not that day." Steven was stern.

A knock on the door averted their attention to the young housemaid. "Excuse me, ma'am but there's a woman insisting she is your son's wife."