HIS DOE HIS DAMNATION (by Vivienne) novel Chapter 42

Alaric’s POV:

I didn’t say anything in response, I just fixed her with an indifferent stare, hoping that she would actually see that I was way past my limit already.

She tutted, narrowing her eyes at me as she shook her head. “Ten years and it’s still the same damn reaction, Alaric.” Her voice was a whisper. “I wonder what this wife of yours would say if she saw you now. This look in your eyes…” She trailed off.

And then she grinned, letting out a weird laugh.

One would describe my mother as bipolar, but that wasn’t the term I would use to describe her.

Damaged was more like it.

“You handsome, devilish son of mine… Scheiße. You think you’re clever.”

“Ma-”

“You married her to shut me up, didn’t you?”

I froze. I knew that she would figure it out sooner, but hearing her say it with that smile on her face… it couldn’t be good. “You married her so I would stop talking about Clarissa.”

I flinched, but she was looking away now, so she didn’t notice.

“Well, now I have to see her.” Her voice was steel as her eyes met mine again. “Consider my curiosity piqued.”

My gaze narrowed. “Whatever you’re planning-”

“Who says I am planning anything?” She asked airily, turning away from me and heading over to the window again. “I just want to meet my… daughter–in–law.” She tried to hide it, but I didn’t miss the sarcasm and bitterness in her tone.

My jaw ticked. “I won’t let you torture her, Mutti.”

She scoffed. “Please, like you would care. You’ve only cared about one woman in your life, and she was the only one–She’s ‘still‘ the only one who can touch you.”

My heart clenched.

‘No,‘ I wanted to say. ‘She isn’t.‘

But I didn’t say it, and I didn’t understand why.

Maybe it was because I knew that it wouldn’t change a thing. My mother had her mind set on another woman, and me meeting someone else whose touch I could feel wasn’t going to deter her from her goal.

She turned to face me “You tried to get over her, distracting yourself with other girls who you can’t even teel-*

“Yeah” My tone was clipped. “And you scared off every single one of them because you can’t stand not getting what you want!”

She scowled at me, her voice cold as she said, “Well, forgive me for only wanting the best for you.

My nostrils flated, fists clenching at my sides. “You’ve never wanted the best for me. All you always wanted was the best for ‘you‘ Isn’t that why you remained with him after everything that he did to you?”

I haze, my eyes widening as I wished that I could take back the words that I had just said.

We never talked about him. Mentioning Clarissa was nowhere near as forbidden as mentioning… him.

And now my mother’s bottom lip quivered and tears welled up in her eyes.

Fuck

Not that I ever forgot, but their presence made sure the memories were permanent.

Her eyes narrowed again, glittering with unshed tears. “I know, Mein Herz. It’s why I want you to be with the right person.”

I arched my brow. “Back to this again?” My phone buzzed in my pocket and I took it out. “You haven’t even met her and you’re already being like this. What makes you think I won’t change my mind about coming to your party?”

My mother scoffed, grabbing her purse from my desk and slinging it over her arm. “Fine, then. Don’t introduce me. Keep her hidden. But remember this, sweetheart. If she means anything to you, anything at all–which I doubt–don’t make the mistake of underestimating exactly what you’ve dragged her into.”

“She can handle herself,” I said tightly. Though, I wasn’t sure I believed it or not.

“Can she handle you?” Ingrid asked, tossing me a cold look over her shoulder. “That’s always been the real question, hasn’t it?”

She didn’t wait for a response. She just walked out, heels clicking against the floor. “I hope to see you both at the party.”

She walked out the door, and just like that, something heavy settled in my chest.

I was selfish. That was something I already knew. I wanted Meadow, and whether she could handle being with me or not, whether I was good enough for her or not, it didn’t matter.

I needed her.

And I wouldn’t let anyone convince me otherwise.

Not even my own mother.