Chapter 1 Stone Family

  CHAPTER 1: STONE FAMILY 

"Are you out of your mind?" Aideen's mother exclaimed, her voice laced with shock and frustration.

"I had no inkling of her pregnancy," his father replied, his tone surprisingly composed.

"Didn't you consider how Aideen would react to all this?" his mother seethed with anger.

"He's a bright young boy, he'll understand, and they'll grow up together," his father nonchalantly stated.

"What? So you expect me to accept them? In our house? Seriously, Edward?" His mother was dumbfounded, unable to fathom her husband's audacity.

"I'm not saying you have to accept them, but they will live here," his father insisted firmly.

"Damn you, I won't allow it, ever," his mother erupted, losing her patience.

"They will, Veronica, and that's final. This is my house as well," his father's voice rang out with a stern undertone.

Not his wife, but his employee.

"Please, Edward, don't be like this," Aideen's mother pleaded desperately.

"If you can't handle it, I'll buy a house for them, and I'll visit and spend nights there frequently."

"What? No, no," Aideen's mother objected.

"Fine, I'll let them stay here. And any other woman you get pregnant with will stay here too."

"Very well. Sounds perfect," his mother agreed sarcastically.

"But Edward, make sure the babies are all girls, or else," his mother asserted, "My son will be the sole heir of the Stones."

Meanwhile, Aideen sat in his room, engrossed in a book, as his parents' argument reverberated through the walls.

Though the sound of their heated exchange reached his ears, Aideen chose to disregard it, wearied by his father's recurring tumultuous behavior.

"Why is my little prince still reading when it's bedtime?" Aideen's mother barged into his room without knocking.

"You should have knocked first, Mom," Aideen calmly responded, feigning obliviousness to their prior confrontation.

"Oh, my apologies. Sorry, sweetheart. You're only five, yet you have the maturity of a teenager," his mother chuckled.

"Now, now, young man, it's time for you to sleep. You have classes tomorrow," his mother gently coaxed.

Putting down his book, Aideen climbed into bed, his mother settling beside him.

"You know, Aideen, when you grow up, you should marry someone you truly love, okay?" his mother advised.

"Why are you thinking about that? I'm only five years old. I'm too young for such matters," Aideen innocently responded, puzzled by his mother's comment.

"When you're older, my dear, don't emulate your father. Learn from his mistakes and engrave that lesson in your heart where no one can erase it," his mother imparted, offering a life lesson.

"Why would I do that, Mommy?" Aideen inquired, his curiosity shining through his innocent gaze.

"You know, my sweet boy, life is about more than just pursuing happiness. It's about enduring pain and learning from the lessons your mother has taught you. Be cautious about who you trust, my love. In this world, trust can be a double-edged sword, even with those closest to you. Remember that," Aideen nodded, his remarkable intellect shining through at such a tender age.

"Tomorrow will be a significant day for your father, I presume. Sleep well, my young one. Goodnight, my love," his mother said, planting a gentle kiss on his forehead before exiting the room, the dimmed light casting a soothing ambiance.

Morning arrived, and Aideen's mother roused him early for breakfast. After freshening up, he descended to the dining room, unsurprised to find another woman present.

"Good morning, Mom and Dad," he greeted, gently pecking his mother's cheeks before settling into his chair.

"Good morning, my dear," his mother replied, forcing a smile.

"Meet your Aunt Jolie; she will be your sister's mother," his father introduced.

"Really? But I thought a family only had one mother. That's what they taught us in school," Aideen innocently stated, unknowingly unsettling Jolie.

"Aideen Drew!" his father warned, his voice tinged with admonishment. Aideen gazed at his father, his eyes reflecting innocence.

"What? I'm just stating some facts, Father. Am I mistaken? Mommy?" he turned to his mother, seeking clarification with a puzzled expression.

"Oh, umm, Aideen, let's start eating now, alright? You still have classes," his mother interjected, her irritation evident.

"Alright, whatever," Aideen responded curtly, beginning to eat. However, he abruptly stopped as his father raised his voice at him.

"Manners, Aideen!" his father exclaimed.

"I have manners, Dad. The one lacking them in this household is you! Bringing your mistress into our home, in front of your wife, my mother, and casually announcing that she's carrying your child? It leaves me dumbfounded, Dad, truly," Aideen's words shocked everyone present.

"You won't understand this matter, Aideen; you're still a child," his father pointed out.

"A child? Now, Dad? You're going to use that as an excuse? Do you think I'll act like a child at my age? How could anyone remain naive when all they've heard their entire life are their mother's screams and cries, all because of someone who knows nothing of respect?" Aideen's words tumbled out, leaving him gasping for air after his direct confrontation with his father.

"How dare you speak to me in that tone, young man!" his father retorted.

"Aideen, please stop," his mother pleaded, but Aideen's rage wouldn't dissipate.

"How dare you treat my mother like this!" Aideen lost his composure, a seething disdain for his father simmering beneath the surface.

"You can live here, but be kind to my mother. She's the only one who has the right to demand anything in this house, not you," he declared, fixing his gaze on his father's mistress.

"Aideen," his mother whispered.

"I will excuse myself now, Mother. I'm full. Thank you for the food," Aideen announced, his voice laced with finality, as he walked away from the table and the kitchen.

Since that day, his mother never ceased imparting life lessons to him during his sleep. His father brought another pregnant woman into their mansion, and months later, his father left for a business

 trip to Italy that lasted over six months, leaving Jolie to increasingly irritate his mother. Jolie continued to lay claim to their home, further exacerbating his mother's frustration.

One afternoon, as Aideen was about to leave for school, he heard his mother engaged in a heated argument with someone, unmistakably Jolie. Moments later, Jolie's screams of pain echoed through the house.

"Mother, what's happening? Why is she screaming?" Aideen inquired, his concern evident.

"Aideen? Please call the hospital, my baby," his mother implored, as she rushed to Jolie's aid, and he immediately complied.

"Hello? Is this the hospital? Please send someone to our residence. I believe a woman is in labor. Please hurry. We're at the Stone Mansion," he spoke swiftly as soon as someone answered the phone.

Within minutes, an emergency ambulance arrived, and they swiftly transported Jolie to the hospital, his mother occupied with a phone call, likely speaking to his father. Aideen sat there, observing the flurry of activity surrounding him.

An hour had passed since his mother last spoke to him.

"Baby, why don't you go to school? You're running late. You don't want to be absent, right?" his mother suggested, and he nodded, ready to depart. However, before he could leave, the doctor entered the room.

"Any family members?" the doctor inquired.

"Here, doctor," his mother, Veronica, replied, stepping forward.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Stone. We did everything we could, but the baby did not survive," the doctor somberly informed her, his head bowing slightly. Veronica was left stunned by the news.

"Thank you, doctor," she murmured, offering a sad smile as the doctor respectfully exited the room. Shortly after, Jolie was transferred to a hospital room.

When Veronica's phone rang, Aideen recognized the caller ID as his father's. His mother let out a sigh and answered the call.

"How did it go? Did the baby-" His father's words were cut off by Veronica's interruption.

"The baby didn't survive. He passed away," Veronica stated, causing her husband to gasp in disbelief.

"He? Veronica, you-" Her husband attempted to speak, but Veronica interjected once more.

"What about me, Edward?" Veronica smirked as she walked away from her son. "Stay there, Aideen. Your father and I need to talk," she instructed.

Aideen nodded and moved away, hearing his mother's parting words.

"You murdered the child!" Veronica's statement carried no hint of a question.

"Oh, did I? Do you have any proof?" Veronica retorted, aiming to provoke her husband.

"You evil woman! What did that child ever do to you? He's innocent!" her husband exclaimed, firm in his conviction.

"Really? Do you have any proof that it was me? Huh? My beloved husband?" Veronica laughed, tauntingly.

"Veronica!" her husband exclaimed, his frustration evident.

"That was for what you did to me and what you did to cause our son to be the way he is now. Consider it a warning, Edward. Remember that," Veronica gritted her teeth. "And oh, make sure it's a girl! A GIRL who won't disappoint me!" she added before abruptly ending the call. She turned to her son with a smile. "Shall we go?" They stood in front of the hospital, waiting for a car.

"Is it okay if you miss the afternoon, Aideen?" she asked her son, who simply nodded.

"Mommy, may I ask something?" Aideen's voice held a tinge of sadness.

"Of course, my baby. What is it?" Veronica responded, her heart aching.

"Why won't mommy leave daddy? He's causing mommy pain," her son innocently inquired, tugging at her heartstrings.

"I will explain that someday, my love, okay? Let's get inside," Veronica gently evaded the question. Her son nodded and climbed into the car.

Aideen dozed off during the journey home. Veronica sighed, gazing at her son's peaceful face.

"Oh, I wish I could leave your father, my young one. I love him, even if he hurts me. And besides, I know you want to have a happy and complete family, so I'll do whatever it takes to give you what you desire—a complete family, even if it's not as happy as you've envisioned. You'll understand this when you grow up. For now, let mommy handle this," she whispered softly, a melancholic smile on her lips as she closed her eyes and drifted into sleep.