173 — “You ruined his life.”

It took me a while to understand what Mrs. Smith was saying. *Eric’s arrested...* is that true? I knew that some of the people investigated in the scandal were being charged, but I didn’t expect Eric to be so involved in it. It shocks me to the point where the words completely disappear from the tip of my tongue.
Suddenly, memories that were buried in the back of my mind come back like a hurricane, making my eyes widen.
**[…] “Angelee, darling, I’ve baked some cookies... let’s have tea together!”** Mrs. Smith said, smiling. **“I bought you a present, what do you think?”** Smiles and more smiles. **“Let’s go on a family trip! You’ve been out of America before, haven’t you? Let’s choose somewhere you haven’t been yet, all of us together.”** She always smiled, her voice as soft as the sweetest of illusions. **“Angelee, I adore you as if you were my own daughter-”**
These memories crack.
They shatter like a mirror falling apart.
In front of me, there’s just an angry expression, resentful and mad eyes.
Mrs. Smith’s lips twist downwards, trembling, and I wonder how they could smile before.
“How could you?” Mrs. Smith shouts, pointing at me. “I took you into my home! You were a broken girl, full of trauma, needy, clingy, and desperate for attention! We took you in, and this is how you repay us? By stabbing my son in the back? Setting him up to be arrested? And all for what? Because you wanted to screw an older guy? *Haha, I get it, I get it...”* She shakes her head desperately, raising her voice even higher, “YOU WERE CHEATING ON HIM, WEREN’T YOU?”
“Lower your voice,” I say firmly, frowning. “This isn’t your house for you to be shouting such nonsense.”
“Nonsense?” Mrs. Smith laughs, disconnected from reality. “I’m finally seeing your true colors. You act like an angel, but you’re the devil. You’ve deceived my son all these years... while seducing other men! You’re a manipulative bitch! While my son was suffering because you broke up, refusing to eat, you were fucking around, getting pregnant by some man!”
“Are you saying I cheated on Eric?” I take a step towards her, feeling my heart beating very, very fast. My skin is cold, but my body is boiling inside... *I’m so furious at these lies that are spoken so easily...* “How can you live with such a rotten soul?”
“Huh?” Mrs. Smith narrows her eyes.
“You come to my work to make a scene because your son is paying for his own wrongdoings, and you dare blame *me?* Well, you’re right that I’m guilty of something — I’m guilty of believing you! I’m guilty of having spent so much of my life devoting myself to your son, to pleasing you, nullifying myself, and letting him break my spirit and my confidence without even realizing it! I’m guilty of having given up the things I loved, the parts that have always been part of me... of having entered into that relationship when I knew I could never love him with my whole being! Because in the end, even if I tried, Eric could never give me what I really wanted, what I needed!… None of you ever loved me. Nothing was genuine. You’re empty, shallow, superficial... all you care about is money!” I say loudly and quickly, getting it all off my chest and feeling my throat burn. “But if you want to blame someone for what happened to Eric so badly, go ahead and blame yourself. Surely it was your obsession that led to his downfall-”
“SHUT UP!” Mrs. Smith shouts, storming towards me, closing the distance between us so fast that I startle. I take a few steps back, but it’s not enough... She already takes a firm grip on my forearm. “Admit that you set my son up! Admit that you ruined his life!”
“I didn’t do any of that! Nobody set Eric up! If he’s been arrested, it’s because he’s going to pay for his mistakes!” I try to free my arm, but her grip hurts. I look around, noticing that the security guards are already approaching.
“Damn you! I curse you and that child in your womb!” She screams, leaving me completely stunned. Her words disgust me even more, and I feel suddenly dizzy — “Get your hands off me!”
“Ma’am, come with us peacefully.”
“You can’t touch me! That’s physical assault! I’ll sue all of you!”
The security guards manage to break her touch easily, but I can do nothing but blink and watch that pathetic scene... a middle-aged woman being dragged away in strong arms. She struggles, screams, and points at me, repeating again and again that she curses my children.
*“You’re going to burn!”* Mrs. Smith’s voice gets lower and lower. *“I swear, you’re going to burn! You and this cursed child!”*
My vision blurs as I see Mrs. Smith struggle to free herself and attack me. There’s resentment all over her face. Contempt. Pure hatred.
Suddenly, a black suit enters my vision, preventing me from seeing it a moment longer. I lower my eyes, looking at our feet, and purse my lips, fighting back tears.
Arms wrap around my frail body, pulling me into a hug, and I allow myself to be enveloped in its warmth, in its smell that will impregnate my skin and my clothes, but it’s okay because it’s the smell of home... my favorite in the world.
I close my eyes, hugging him back, resting my cheek against his heart, which beats calmly like my shelter.
“Don’t worry about that woman.” Julian’s firm, calm voice relaxes my muscles instantly. “I’ll make sure she never appears in front of you again.”
I nod slowly, not at all curious about how he’s going to do it. Honestly, I don’t care... I just want to forget all about it, maybe pretend that nothing happened, and put away this sudden bad omen that has taken over my chest.
[…] **“Oh, are you the girl Eric always talks about? It’s nice to finally meet you. Please take care of my son; he’s a good boy, and he’s deeply in love with you. In exchange for looking after his heart, we’ll welcome you with open arms. I hope you can see us as your family in the future... After all, I’ve always wanted a daughter.”**
I close tight my wet eyelashes.
“It’s over, Angel,” Julian says, placing a kiss on the top of my hair. “So don’t worry about the nonsense that woman said... It’s the end.”
“Okay...” I pull my face and look at him, lifting my chin and giving him my best smile. “I won’t be bothered by it.”
“Look at you, being a good girl.” He laughs, stroking my cheek, then looks around, noticing that people are still standing around, watching the scene with even more curiosity. I’m sure that he’s also feeling nostalgic since he rescued me here before. It seems like years since Julian came to me like a hero, crouched down to remove my shoes, and faced Eric.
Damn, I’m feeling emotional again.
“You missed lunch. Let’s go home. I’ll ask them to make you something tasty.” Julian breaks the embrace and slides his hands up my arms.
“But what about the board?” I look at him suspiciously.
“I got a message from security and asked for a break. Everyone needed it after such an *intense presentation.”* He raises an eyebrow, and I give a low giggle. His firm hand lands on my lower back, and he guides me out of the building. “Don’t worry, I’ll just drive you home and be back.”
I’m silent for a moment until we stop outside. The breeze feels colder than usual, and I shiver.
Julian looks at me intensely, noticing the goosebumps on my skin, then says, “I’m getting the car-”
“Actually, I meant to go to Tyler’s,” I say, attracting Julian’s confused eyes.
“You want his bakery, don’t you?” He sighs, running a hand through his blond hair, messing up the formal hairstyle. “What do I do with you?”
“Well, you can always punish me later.” I shrug with a naughty tone, and his lips curve into a smile.
“If you talk like that, I might take you home by force and skip the meeting.” He says it with amusement in his voice, but I know he means it. I can easily imagine him skipping the meeting to play at home with me. “All right, I’ll take you to Tyler’s, but I’m still going to get the car.”
“You know it’s around the corner.”
“But it’s still a bit chilly outside.” Julian crosses his arms, looking determined to win this argument.
“I’m not cold,” I say firmly, holding his gaze. “A little walk will do me good. I need some air after... well, *that.”* I point with my head toward the reception, and Julian lowers his eyes, staring at his own shoes for a long moment. He seems to have a lot on his mind, but he’s not willing to give me a piece of his thought. “I mean it. I’m fine, I’m not cold. Can we just walk for a bit?”
Julian sighs and relaxes his shoulders, then raises his eyes, looking at me intensely... “Okay, you win.”
I flash a radiant smile that seems to break through all his defenses. A smile also appears on his lips, and his whole expression softens.
“Then let’s go.” I stretch out my hand towards him, waiting for him to take it. And without hesitation, Julian takes my hand and intertwines our fingers.
We walk side by side through the bustling streets of New York, with people too distracted with their own lives to notice the two of us. Here, we’re just ordinary people, not Angelee O’Neil and Julian Adams — no high society, no ten years apart... just another couple in the crowd.
“It’s tomorrow...” Julian breaks the silence between us in the chaotic street. “We can postpone it if you don’t feel comfortable.”
“Why do you say that?” My question is unnecessary; after all, he’s probably thinking about what just happened with Mrs. Smith.
“I just want to make sure you’re okay with it. I don’t want to force you.”
We stop at the crosswalk, waiting for the green light to shine so the small crowd on the edge of the sidewalk can finally cross.
“I’m fine.” I shake his hand reassuringly. “A little anxious? Maybe... It’s your family, after all. They’ll be my in-laws; I can’t help being nervous.”
“You have nothing to worry about,” Julian says, looking across the street, oblivious to my eyes that remain on his profile, seeing every detail of his face. “They’ll love you. And even if they have a problem with our engagement, their opinion doesn’t really matter.”
I sigh, lowering my eyes to our intertwined fingers.
I really hope everything works out... Julian has finally decided to reunite with his family again, and I’d hate for everything to fall apart because of me.
He squeezes my hand, and then I notice that I’m now the subject of his beautiful green eyes.
“Just to be clear... I’m not going to let you skip meals to eat Tyler’s bakery.”
I laugh and start walking as the light turns green. I stretch out our arms, tugging on his hand with a playful smile on my face...
“Don’t be grumpy, Julian Adams... Your children have a sweet tooth.”
He smiles and gives in, walking towards me without letting go of my hand.
“That’s not fair.”
“Babies, you have such a doting daddy.”
“Stop it.” He grumbles, still with a chuckle on his lips.
I can’t help but laugh happily. My chest is so warm that I forget, for a moment, the bad feeling that Mrs. Smith’s words brought.