Chapter 253: Such Disrespect
She never imagined that one day, her own son would say such things to her, revealing the depth of sadness in his heart.
Mia Thompson was profoundly silent for a long moment, her gaze fixed on Alexander Mitchell before finally lowering her head, seemingly at a loss for how to confront him.
Despite being a mother of a son well into his twenties, at that moment, Mia resembled a child, somewhat helpless and uncertain.
After what seemed like an eternity, Mia spoke up, "Haven't you always been so independent? And besides, with all the staff taking care of you at home, you could manage fine without me."
Ava Anderson furrowed her brows slightly, irritation flickering across her face.
Mia's words were uncomfortable to hear. Surely having staff wasn't an excuse to neglect a child. It wasn't a valid reason.
She understood Mia's marriage had been unhappy, but once you bring a child into the world, you are responsible for them. They deserved to be surrounded by love, not to bear the burden of their parents' marital strife.
But mentioning this now was pointless, such matters could only be resolved between mother and son.
Alexander stepped forward, shielding Ava with his body. Facing Mia with a cool gaze, his voice lost its edge of anger but took on a forlorn tone, "Yeah, the staff took care of me, so you felt you could just keep your distance. Many times, you wouldn't come home all night, and there was one time you didn't come back for an entire year. I didn't know where you went. I thought maybe you and Dad didn't want me anymore."
George Mitchell couldn't keep seated any longer. He stood up abruptly and said, "I didn't abandon you. I just..." But the words faltered. He had indeed done wrong in the past, and his reaction to Mia's pregnancy hadn't been ideal. Excuses now would only seem like hollow justifications.
Mia Thompson clenched her teeth, met Alexander's gaze, and said, "You complain about me neglecting you, but what about the times I was there for you? When you were a newborn, I was the one who fed you, who changed your paper diapers, who held you all night. Your dad wasn't home then; it was just me."
"Isn't that your responsibility?" Alexander clenched his fists, veins standing out on the backs of his hands, "As a newborn, I was just a baby, brought into this world by a couple who didn't love each other. Don't parents have to take responsibility? Or from the moment I could remember, you could just neglect me? If that's the case, why have me at all? You might as well have ended my life before it began!"
Ava, her heart trembling, instinctively tightened her grip on Alexander's arm, "Alex, don't say that."
"Alexander Mitchell!" a furious voice rang out. George Mitchell swiftly pulled Mia Thompson behind him and yelled at Alexander Mitchell, "How can you speak to your mother like that? She went through so much to give birth to you, and this is what she gets in return? You're being absolutely unfilial!"
"What right do you have to accuse me?" Alexander's eyes blazed red. "Aren't you the one who started all this? Sure, Mom has her faults, but you're even more to blame. If you hadn't neglected her, would she have ended up so heartbroken to the point of ignoring me? If you didn't love her, then why did you let her get pregnant? Did you just have me so I could show filial piety while you take no responsibility?"
Ava Anderson felt a jolt in her heart and instinctively covered her stomach.
She was pregnant now, but Alex didn't love her.
Alexander, in turn, was no less confused than his father, impregnating a woman he didn't love.
But he didn't know yet.
