Chapter 59: The Villain I Am No More

*It’s fine? Did I seriously just say that? I should’ve taken my knife and stabbed him in the eye!!! Have I gone soft that much?!*

My hands balled up into tight fists on my lap as I continued to stare out the window of Julian’s car, he remained silent the whole time as well. Something told me that he was still just as surprised as I was to just simply accept his feelings for me this time instead of raising hell from the ground beneath us.

When we drove through the gates of the August Mansion and in front of the driveway I could feel my body immediately stiffen up like a statue. I thought I was prepared to face Gabriel’s ire, Grace’s gloating, and my mother’s pain of feeling betrayed. The old me could’ve handled all of it and kept marching on with my middle finger high in the air. But all of a sudden I felt very small and very weak. Maybe it was because it had to do with my mom and the old man that I was starting to respect, leaving me anxious about what I was about to face. But my anxiety died instantly the moment I felt Julian’s hand cup my own. When I looked up at him I saw him giving me that charming smile of his like he’s always done before.

“It’ll be ok, Suki. Just trust me on this one. I’ve got you.” his tone was reassuring and I honestly had no choice but to put my faith and trust in him. I mean, what else could I do? Again, I’m the villain here. I’ve always been proud of that but in this situation, I didn’t want to be the villain. I wanted to be my mom’s hero.

*Some hero I am…*

I gave a silent nod and stepped out of the car with him.

*Fuck, what do I even say?? What did Julian say to Grace? Did he even talk to Grace? Is Grace gonna show off that shitty vid? Post it on social media!? Did Julian REALLY make her think twice? She’s so hellbent on getting rid of me, what could he have possibly said or done to make her change her mind?*

Julian’s hand on my lower back brought my storm of negative thoughts to an end as we approached the stairs that led up to the double-door entrance. There were some maids and gardeners who bitterly glared at me, their grudges reflected in their eyes. I returned the glare just as fiercely, more or less letting them know that I didn’t give two shits what they thought. Their opinions didn’t matter to me.

And then out they came. My mother and my stepfather. I expected their expressions to show their distaste or betrayal but, instead, my mother frantically ran up to me, almost tumbling down the few steps there were, and embraced me tightly. Her trembling body and hiccups made all my hatred fall upon me.

*I still left…*

With tears still streaming down her freckled cheeks, she leaned away from me and cupped my face in her soft handles. “Oh, my baby! Where did you go!? You just left! Do you know how worried I was??”

“I– I…” my public stutter made my cheeks burn from embarrassment and I turned my head away in an attempt to hide it behind my hair. “I just went to go visit Amy. That’s all.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that?? God, Sukia–” My mom held me tightly again as if she were afraid I was going to run away again and this time be gone forever.

Even though all eyes were on us and it made me feel beyond the word ‘embarrassed’, I still lifted my arms and returned the hug. “I’m sorry I worried you, Mom.”

“Sukia.” I heard Gabriel’s voice as he approached us and my mom stepped aside so that he could talk to me.

*Oh, boy. Here we go. Let’s get this shit over with.*

Instead of anger, his eyes showed concern, taking me by surprise. “If you really didn’t like my rose garden so much then all you had to do was tell me. I would’ve relocated it somewhere.”

I stared at him in disbelief as I tried to process what he had just said to me. “Uhh, say what now?”

“I would’ve had my gardeners dig up the roses and replant them on another property I own,” he said with a smile as if it were no big deal. “I have multiple. I was going to have construction work done on them to build some stuff.” he leaned in closer to me and my mom and whispered in a sneaky voice. “Don’t tell anyone but I’m getting them built for the twins. Grace is so picky about where she wants to live it’s just better that I have one built for her. It’s going to be her birthday present.”

“No matter how big this mansion is, I know it’s never big enough for you when it comes to somebody you don’t like, honey.” my mother said to me with a hint of a tease in her voice. I stared at them both wide-eyed with my jaw dropped. I wouldn’t be surprised if a fly deceived it wanted to fly its ass on in.

What the fuck is going on? They should be furious with me! They both loved that rose garden! How can they just pretend that it’s no big deal!?

“I don’t… understand…” I barely managed to speak a handful of my thoughts out loud.

Gabriel and my mom looked at each other and then gave their tender smiles just like parents do to their children, Gabriel speaking first. “It’s just a bunch of flowers. You’re more important.”

“They were quite lovely but…” my mom sighed with a shrug of her shoulders that were just as small as mine. “Oh well. For some reason this doesn’t surprise me, no offense.” she beamed a smile. “That just means we get to plant *more* together.”

“You guys…” This was a reaction that I never would’ve imagined that I’d get in a million years. Where I came from, the only response you would get is a death threat. And yet here they are, shrugging off my action of hatred and accepting me, no, wanting me back in their lives. It was enough to get me choked up if I could… but I still couldn’t release any tears. My mother’s smile faded a little bit. She noticed this and was already aware that I stopped crying after Dad died.

*I would… what would Dad think of this…?*

What kinda dumb question was that? Of course, he’d be very happy. Still, I looked back at the maids and gardeners in the background. Gabriel and my mom may come flying my way with sweet words but I still didn’t trust anybody else in the mansion.

“And everyone else under this roof? How do they feel about me returning?” my tone was colder than intended.

“Don’t worry. They’re all aware to treat you with more hospitality than before. I want you to feel comfortable here.” Gabriel’s voice was firm. He must’ve had a serious conversation with his workers.

“And Grace?” I did my best to keep the distaste of saying her name off of my tongue. Gabriel stepped forward and placed his hand on my shoulder.

“Don’t worry about her. Julian insisted on talking to her himself and she promises that she’ll be more polite to you.”

*More polite? Like she ever was in the first place.* I looked at Julian in the corner of my eye. *So he did talk to her…* It made my wonder and suspicions rise further. But Gabriel didn’t seem too worried about what was said between the two of them. Yet again, Gabriel is far from the wary type. He was way too naive for that.

I let out a sigh with a quiet mumble. “...Sorry about that. It won’t happen again.”

My rarely-given apology was enough to satisfy both of them. “Come on, let's get you home.” my mom grabbed my hand gently and led me inside. I felt a hand on my lower back again. I knew who it was and I didn’t swat him away. But at the same time, I didn’t want to look at him either. I felt his eyes boring at the back of my skull the entire time and his hand felt a little stiffer on my body as if he were shoving me back into the August Mansion.