Chapter 88
Chapter 88
“Finally!” Amalia said the moment Monica opened her door. Her voice had an edge, something that Monica didn’t miss hearing. “I’ve been knocking. Did you even hear me? What were you doing all day? Don’t tell me you just woke up?”
“Do you need something?” Monica’s frown deepened, her features twisting into something unrecognizable, something ugly.
Amalia ignored her daughter’s answer. “Did you call Izzy? Did she answer you?” Amalia asked, her eyes narrowing as she examined her daughter’s appearance. Since she got fired, Monic had been staying inside her room all day, doing nothing. Amalia knew that Monica was pregnant but this shouldn’t be a reason to waste her life like this. “And what are you even wearing? Have you taken a bath? You stink.“/
Monica sighed heavily, rolling her eyes as she brushed past her mother, her shoulder grazing Amalia’s. “Move,” she muttered.
“Hey!” Amalia snapped, spinning on her heel. “I’m talking to you Monica!”
Monica whirled around abruptly, her eyes blazing. “Why would call her?” she asked. “Did you forget that she just discovered that her boyfriend’s fucking me? Did you want me to remind her that her boyfriend betrayed her?”
“You- “Amalia blinked, stunned by her daughter’s hostility. “Well, if you haven’t yet then you should call her. It’s her birthday, and-”
Monica froze mid–step. She turned slowly, her eyes narrowing to slits. “What does her birthday have to do with me? Her tone dripped with venom. Izzy just discovered that Calen and Monica betrayed her. It is totally normal for her to stay mad for a while. However, this doesn’t mean she’s gonna go around begging that woman to forgive her or Amalia or even Calen
“Monica, how could you-”
“Stop it!” Monica’s voice cracked like a whip, silencing Amalia instantly. “Izzy isn’t here, alright? She’s in Macau with her project, and Calen’s chasing after her like the lovesick puppy he’s always been!” Her voice shook with barely contained rage. Since the call, Monica had been spiraling, her mood darker than she cared to admit. Not only had Calen calmly laid out his plan to “resolve” her pregnancy, but she’d also learned he wasn’t even in the U.S.–he was in Macau, chasing Izzy like she was the only thing that mattered.
Amalia flinched, but a glimmer of something dangerous flickered in her eyes. “Then isn’t that great?” she said, her voice soft, almost coaxing.
Monica halted abruptly. “What?”
“If Izzy can forgive him,” Amalia continued, stepping closer. “Then maybe she’ll forgive you too. Maybe she won’t actually kick us out of this house. I mean her marriage to Calen would be very favorable to us, right?”
The words hit Monica like a slap. Her breath caught, and for a moment, she couldn’t move, couldn’t think Forgive? That’s all her mother cared about? Forgiveness and wealth? Not Monica, not her pain or her child–only Izzy and what she represented.
Money.
Monica’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “Of course,” she said softly, almost to herself. “It always comes back to Izzy.”
“Speaking of Galen,” Amalia began as she continue ignoring her daughter’s expression. “Did you tell his mother about the baby yet? Maybe I could come with you to talk to-”
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10:34 Mon, Jan 20
Chapter 88
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“Will you stop?” Monica snarled.
“If you’re not planning to tell Calen about the baby, then don’t tell me-” She gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “Monica… You can’t mean-”
“The child cannot exist,” Monica said, her voice low, devoid of emotion. “I already told you. I am getting rid of it.”
dare-”
Amalia stepped back, as though the words had physically struck her. “Monica, no- Listen to me- Don’t you “Why?” Monica’s voice broke, and for the first time, her fury cracked, revealing the pain beneath. “What do you want me to say? That I’ll keep it? That I’ll raise this child while Calen runs off to Macau to play house with Izzy? Is that what you want to hear?”
“Monica-”
“Fine!” Monica screamed. “Yes! I’m getting rid of it! No, I am not going to tell the other members of the Weiss Family. Now, stop bothering me. I need to eat.”
SLAP.
The sound reverberated through the room like thunder, the force of it sending Monica’s head snapping to the side. Her cheek burned. Slowly, she turned back to face her mother, her lips trembling, her eyes shining with unshed tears.
“Have you completely lost your mind?” Amalia’s voice rose, sharp with disbelief. She advanced on Monica, her eyes blazing with fury. “That child is going to change everything, and yet you What are you even thinking? This child-” She grabbed Monica’s hand, her grip ironclad. “Even if Calen doesn’t want this child, his mother would never abandon it. Don’t you understand what this means? This is your chance–your one chance–to turn your life around!”
Monica’s lips pressed into a thin line.
“Giving birth to someone from the Weiss family will change your life forever!” Amalia added, her voice pitched higher, her eyes so wide Monica half–expected them to pop out of their sockets. “This child is your golden ticket, Monica! The first grandchild of the Weiss family? Do you even comprehend what that could mean? The benefits! The opportunities! Everything you’ve ever wanted could be yours if you just stop and think for once in your life!”
e wasn
Monica stared at her mother, the words sinking into her like shards of glass. Yes, she understood the advantages- stupid. She’d considered it a hundred times over. But every time one question screamed louder than all the rest: at what
cost?
Would Calen truly accept this child? Would he ever hold them, love them, or protect them? Or would he always see them as nothing more than a mistake to be erased? The memory of his cold, calculating voice echoed in her mind. It was a cruel reminder of the lengths he was willing to go to make this “problem” disappear.
No.
Monica shook her head fiercely, tearing her hand from Amalia’s grasp. Her mother’s touch felt like chains, shackling her to a future she couldn’t bear to imagine.
“No,” Monica said. She won’t do it. She won’t bring a child into this world just to be a pawn in someone else’s game. Calen doesn’t want this child, and she won’t let him treat them like they’re nothing. She might be selfish and greedy, but she’s not that cruel–not to her own flesh and blood!
Amalia’s face twisted with fury. She lunged forward, gripping Monica’s arm with such force that her nails dug into her skin, leaving crescent–shaped indentations on her daughter’s arm. “Hey!” she hissed. “That child is my grandchild too, and I have every right–every right–to stop you from getting rid of it! Do you hear me? This child… I won’t let you get rid of it!”
