Chapter 48

“Don’t do you dare, mother.”
“Alexander, what is wrong with you? Why have you turned yourself into a blind person when everything is so clear?” Contessa demanded.
“It’s not me, but you, mother. Because of your own self-induced blindness, you are unable to perceive anything else.”
“Alexander, I won't be having any more arguments on this. I am done with this conversation.”
“I am not, mother. Today, you and your father have crossed all limits. First, you had no right to announce my engagement to Diona Gonzales; second, you cannot blame this attack on Heather. It is uncalled for.” Anger was dripping from his voice.
Heather, on the other hand, was shocked to learn this. She was not even aware of the attack, yet she is being accused.
“Your engagement to Diona was fixed long before. Your father and I did not do anything which we were not supposed to. You are the one who is stalling the inevitable. We cannot take our word back, Alexander.”
“I did not stall, mother. I downright refused to marry Diona, and I still stand firm on my decision. I do not care about the announcement you made about my marriage. You can declare it to the world, but the only woman I intend to marry is Heather Crown, and no one else. And I won't allow you to accuse her of this unforeseen attack. Heather cannot be held accountable for all our issues.”
“When it is the truth, I can. I am not accusing her, Alexander, because she is responsible for every bad thing happening in our life. What do you even know about that woman? Her past and family are a mystery. I refuse to believe that she does not remember who she is. Further, since the day she stepped into Warsavor, the only thing which had bought to this family is suffering. This attack is no coincidence. I am confident that she had planned it all. We were fortunate that no one died because of her.”
“Mother, you are out of line. Heather would do no such thing. How can you be so shallow?” Alexander was baffled by his mother's belief about Heather.
“I am being shallow? Your father is currently injured and lying unconscious on the bed, and you are accusing me of being shallow. Instead of standing beside us and throwing Heather in prison, you are supporting her? What kind of spell has she cast on you to make it such that you can't see things clearly?
“You are the one who does not want to see anything. Father is injured, and yes, I am worried about him, but he will be fine. Luciana will make sure of it, but I cannot say the same for me, mother. You are not going to blame this on Heather, as she had nothing to do with it.
Contessa let out a sarcastic laugh, “She had everything to do with it. I can bet you on my life that she is collaborating with our adversary. She is passing information about us and she is complicit in this assault. I do not need visible evidence to make this claim. Heather was familiar with the entire schedule of this event. She had been working alongside Alfredo….”
Heather did not wait any longer to listen. She turned around and headed back to her cabin. Everything had turned out for the worse. Every single thing. This was not how events were intended to unfold. Instead of things turning for better, they turned out for worse.
She had made up her mind.
However, the same was not the case with Alexander. He was an exception to the rule. As he was burning with rage, he was not being rational in being decisive from Contessa's perspective.
“I have had enough of this crap. I am leaving.” Alexander said.
“You won’t dare to, Alexander. You won't be returning to Heather under any circumstances; that is an order not only as a mother but also as your queen.” Contessa stated firmly.
“What will you do, mother? Cut me off? Disown me? I no longer care about it. I do not need all this in my life. I will survive without it just fine.”
“Although you might not care about us, your family, but you do care about Heather, don’t you?” Contessa crossed her arm.
"What do you mean by that?" Alexander pronounced.
"I might not be able to stop you from returning to meet her, but you won't go on with your relationship. If you don't marry Diona Gonzales and proceed with your alliance with Heather, I will personally make sure that neither you nor anybody else on the earth will ever see Heather Crown in their life. Mark my words, Alexander. Any trace of her with vanish from this land as if she never existed, to begin with."
Alexander's eyes were wide with shock, and so was Juan’s. The brothers were rather glad that there was not much audience present in the chambers except for Malka, and Luciana Han, the doctor, to witness their mother’s deplorable remarks.
“Mother,” Alexander feared for Heather’s safety. Knowing what his mother was capable of, he had no doubt that she would hurt Heather if the situation called for it.
“Yes, Alexander. You leave me no choice except for this. Heather will perish if you continue to pursue her. This is my final warning. If you wish to meet her, by all means, go; I will encourage you to do so in order to sever all ties with her. I want you to end your intimate rendezvous with her at this very second. Now the option is yours. Do as I say and enjoy your guilt-ridden life, or live your life with Heather's blood on your hands and feel guilty all the time. In either case, you will wed Diona. Choose wisely. The decision of Heather's life is in your hands.”
Alexander remained in disbelief. He was silent for a change, and all he could manage to say was, “I despise you, mother.”