Chapter four: Torture

Damien's POV

I stood before the French window, staring at the city of New York, sipping the wine from the glass.

My mom was seated a few meters away, a cigarette in hand. The doctor has just discharged her from the hospital after a few weeks of illness.

I was glad because my mother means the world to me and I would never let anything happen to her.

“Damien.” She called. “I'm glad you have finally decided to move on with Maya. It's the best decision you've made.”

My face remained expressionless.

She continued, “The engagement party tomorrow is going to be lavish. New York has never seen what's coming.” 

“I planned just the best for you, darling.”

After sipping from the glass, I spoke calmly without turning my gaze, “You should prioritize your health, mom.”

“Nonsense!” She brushed it off. “I made sure to hire the best event planner and I oversaw every single arrangement down to the kind of flowers to be used.”

“It's my only son's engagement.” She declared, “Nothing matters most.”

I remained mute.

“Why are you quiet? Is something wrong, darling?”

Before I could reply, she added, “Don't be worried about the engagement. Those enemies of yours won't have the guts to ruin it. I have already stationed thirty bodyguards in advance.”

“It's just an engagement party, mom.” I said with a deep, reverberating voice.

“Well, seeing how well your union with Maya has made the company's reputation skyrocket, I'm not wrong to imagine a thousand and one things that could go wrong tomorrow.”

“In fact, to make you happy, I'd ordered lilies from the UK. Fresh and well-scented. They've always been your favorite, right?”

I paused.

Lilies were never my favorite.

They used to be Eva's favorite. A few months into our engagement, I'd told my mother to have fresh lilies ordered from the UK just to surprise Eva.

She never got the surprise, as she broke my trust by trying to ruin the very company my mother and I struggled so hard to build.

I did not want to believe it, until she confessed to it.

Since then, I've been unable to love anyone else. 

“Yes.” I answered, to avoid any more pressure. 

“Great!” She laughed, “I knew you'd love it! You deserve only the best, Damien, and Maya is the only person right for you.”

I sensed where she was heading and said, “Isn't it past your bedtime?”

“If that girl had not shown her true colors, everything we struggled to build would have been taken away.” She lamented.

I turned just then, my enchanting green eyes locking on her frame.

“You need adequate rest, mom. Let's go up to your bedroom.”

“Even though I tried to warn you many times, you blindly trusted that woman over your own mother!”

I seethed.

“You don't have to remind me of the pain I caused you, mom!” I blew up, “I know I loved the wrong person and it nearly cost us everything but I've apologized to you severally.”

I added, “I am even marrying Maya just to make you happy and forget whatever happened in the past!”

She rose from the couch and tossed the cigarette away, “I will keep reminding you, darling. It will serve as a huge lesson to you for the rest of your life.”

“You have to always listen to me, your mother. I raised you with no damn help from your father! Everything you have is as a result of my sweat and blood!”

“And the fact that you nearly threw that at the feet of that woman makes me wonder what must have happened to us if she had not been found out.”

“She's in jail, there's no need to keep living in the past.” I told her, lowering the wine glass on the center table.

“I'm not living in the past, Damien. I only want the best for you and reminding you of the near catastrophe you caused us will only keep you on your toes.”

Suddenly, the door dashed open and Maya stepped in, dressed in a short dress that clung tightly to her straight frame.

“Discussing Eva Cole again, are we?” She walked in with a smirk on her face.

“It's forbidden to mention her name in this house.” I said firmly.

Maya stopped in front of me and placed her hand on my chest, fixing my tie.

“I know you still carry the pain of her betrayal in you, honey, but it's been three years.” She sighed and added, “You need to face it and deal with it.”

“I have moved on, Maya. Discussing that traitor and mentioning her name feels like torture coming from my mother.” I replied.

“It shouldn't, darling.” She licked her lips. “Tomorrow's our engagement. The whole world is talking about us. Eva's name shouldn't cause any raccour.”

I wanted to speak but a lump remained in my throat. 

I rubbed my temple and resigned, “See you tomorrow.”

I left the house.

*   *   *

“Thank you so much, mother!” Maya held Margret Hale in her arms, “You're the best!”

Their glasses collided, “Of course I'm the best, dear. I know what I want for my son and it's definitely not that low class girl.”

“I wonder how she's doing in jail,” Maya thought aloud and added, “Washing the restroom, probably!”

They burst out laughing crazily.

“Do you think she must have heard of my engagement to Damien?” Maya asked through fits of laughter.

Margaret replied, “I'll have pictures of the engagement sent to her privately in jail. She can't afford not to see how glamorous it will be!”

Maya blushed happily, “Damien is mine at last. How dare the bitch think she could marry him!”

“Save your emotions dear. You need it for tomorrow's party.” Margaret advised.

“You're right, mother.” She pursed her lips.

“Tomorrow, the whole world will watch Damien Hale become mine!”