Choice outburst

She stared at Alex as if she was seeing a ghost. The color drained from her face, shock freezing her in place.

“Al…..AAA …..A……lex? Alex!”

Alex stiffened. His entire body went rigid, every muscle locking as the name echoed in the room.

Mommy Grace wasn’t any different. She was even more shocked. Mommy Grace hadn’t thought she’d be back this early. She’d only gone out to the market to buy a few things. She wondered what could have pulled her back to this place in such a hurry.

She blinked, trying to focus her eyes on what she was seeing. And what she saw in the eyes of the woman standing in front of her was betrayal. The moment she realized Alex was here, she saw the woman’s face, and Mommy Grace regretted her decision. If she hadn’t called Alex here, she wouldn’t have felt this betrayed.

She should have fixed a place for them to meet instead of inviting Alex here. Now look at what she had caused. She should have chosen somewhere neutral, somewhere safe. She thought, while Alex, on the other hand, just stood there frozen. He didn’t even know what to say. He couldn’t find his voice. All he could do was stare at her.

It was Madam Choice. Joseph’s mother. The woman who had loved Joseph more than anything in this world. Madam Choice would have done anything just to see a smile on Joseph’s face. Alex still remembered the day he’d first come to their house.

How Mama Choice had been so happy, embracing him and welcoming him like he was her own child. The smile. The sparkling brown eyes that Joseph had copied from her. Everything about her had been warm, alive.

But now… she was still young, but she looked pale, drained, as if she’d been starving all her life. The same eyes that once carried happiness, that once looked at him with love, now looked at him with nothing but accusation and hurt.

Alex was pulled from his thoughts by the sharp sound of Madam Choice’s voice.

“Alex Maradona! What are you doing here, Alex?”

Alex flinched. Because she didn’t call him Ali Baby like she used to. Not Bati. Just Alex Maradona. The full name. Cold. Distant.

To anyone else, it would sound like a woman consumed by anger. But to Alex, he saw a mother grieving her son. And that made it understandable.

"you murder ? How many times have I told you to stay away from us? What do you want ?

She turned on Mama Grace, shaking her arm.

“Mom, why did you allow him in? Did he break in? Did he steal anything? Did he do anything to you? Tell me! Were you here to kill my mom?”

She stepped closer, tears streaming down her face.

“Alex, get out of here! I don’t want to see you! Did you bring my Joseph with you? Is Joseph here with you? I told you not to step your feet in this house until you bring Joseph back to me.