"They could not open the gates to allow me inside? My name is the reason he has this home. He should be grateful," Nathaniel said, annoyed he was treated like every other guest.
Josephine approached the gate but remained at more than an arm’s length from it. "Why would they allow you inside when all you have done is act a fool? Until you can apologise for what you did wrong and work on your relationship with your son, you will never be welcomed inside."
"I didn’t come to speak about that, Josephine. I have come to take you home. This has gone on long enough," Nathaniel said, tired of the game Josephine was playing. "This isn’t a good look for either of us. Let us go home and talk."
"I am not going home with you until we have talked. I am not going back there just for you to not listen to me and for me to stand beside you while you upset our son. I have spent many years doing it, and I am tired. I cannot go on like this," said Josephine.
"You are the one creating this rift between us by moving away and not telling me. I have been searching for you all over this town-"
"Oh, please. Your first stop should have been here and then to my father. You didn’t find me because you were so busy meeting with the others to end their marriage. Now you are being scolded by your father for it, so you have time to find me," Josephine said, seeing through his excuses.
"I am not going back home unless you can move on from who Xavier has married. I know you think he has gotten inside my head, but it is you who has done that. Your actions are what makes me think you regret choosing me," Josephine said.
Nathaniel sighed, tired of the repeated conversation. "It is not like that. I do not regret anything about our marriage."
"So, you are just a terrible father who will not give his son the same chance he got? That doesn’t make it any better, Nathaniel. Your actions are causing you to lose your family. I warned you that you would reach a point where Xavier would never forgive you," said Josephine.
That point had come.
"I don’t care if he doesn’t want me around him. I have come for you," Nathaniel said, focused only on his wife.
"It presents a problem since I want to be around Xavier. I want to be around Selene, Xavier, and whoever else will join their family. Being away from Xavier left him alone in this big home and he almost went to sleep. I want to be around more," Josephine shared.
It would have been even better had Nathaniel been right by her side, wanting the same thing, but Josephine had learned she couldn’t always get her way.
Josephine continued, "It is not a good feeling that for me to see Xavier, I need to leave you behind. You two cannot be in the same room, and it is not because of him. It is because you will find every reason to question his wife."
"I no longer care who he has gotten married to. I’ve lost my right to speak on it since my father cares for Xavier more. I don’t have any reason to come here anymore as long as you are at home. I won’t mind when you come to visit him. Just come home," Nathaniel said, pleading this time.
"All of a sudden, you don’t care. Is it because your father will strip the Blackthorn name away from you? If that is the only reason you are letting it go, then I am not going home with you. I know you, Nathaniel. You will grumble about their marriage at home," Josephine said.
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