My Fiancée Hates Me novel Chapter 25

[First Life]

My mother was a strict person. She was a thoroughly trained Noble and the epitome of the perfect Noblewoman. I could hardly recall a moment of her compassion, until she was on her deathbed.

"...Arielle, I have not been a good mother to you," Mother said.

She had been struck by an incurable illness at the time and was made to be bedridden for what would be the rest of her life. The bed that she had slept in also inevitably became her coffin.

"Please, Mother has been nothing but good to me."

She touched my cheek with her frail hands.

"That is not true. I know you very well, Arielle. My dear Arielle...I had thought that giving you some tough love would give you room to grow. You did grow...at what cost?"

It was the first time I had ever heard of her speak to me so much before.

"Mother?"

"When I was young, I was often harassed by other women because of jealousy. It drove me to try to take my life at one time. On my second attempt, I found that I was pregnant with you. I was filled with unimaginable joy that even I could become a mother. When I first held you, you were the size of my forearm and your eyes were filled with life and wonder. I felt the need to protect you. I rejected your love and forced you to become a person suited to the name Maddox so that you would never lose to anyone. You eventually exceeded my expectations and became a wonderful young lady."

My heart felt like filling up with warmth. I never thought that Mother thought so much of me.

"I was hardly a mother to you more than a mentor."

"That is not true..."

"Is it really? I do not even remember when the last time was you smiled at me," she said as she turned her head away.

"...You never slapped my hand away."

She turned around towards me.

"I never did what?"

"When I was three, there was a time that I was curious about how your hand felt. I grabbed it one day and you never shook me off until I released my grip from you."