The Unveiled Rose novel Chapter 24

"Can you honestly imagine them getting married? Will Nigel ever catch a break? Amara, even if you won't think about yourself, think about Nigel. He's your own flesh and blood. Can you bear to see him mistreated?"

At first, I couldn't. I always put him first and was terrified of him facing even the slightest hardship.

But what did that get me?

It led to him hurting himself and hurting me, all to push me aside for his stepmom!

I no longer felt the need to explain myself, simply saying, "She treats him well."

Mom didn't take kindly to my retort: "But does she treat him as well as his own mother would?"

I scoffed, "Seems like it since he's calling her 'mom' every day."

Mom frowned, clearly not expecting Nigel to go that far. She didn't know what to say; she just held my hand in silence.

But at that moment, I felt the urge to pour my heart out. "Leander likes her, Nigel likes her. In our own house, I've become the outsider. If that's the case, I don't want this family anymore."

"Oh, honey." Mom looked disappointed. "Nigel's still young and doesn't understand. She gives him a bit of sweetness, and he's off following her. If you give up over this little issue, then when she and Leander get married, she'll make sure all the family wealth goes to her own kids. By then, Nigel won't get a dime."

She earnestly tried to make me see the pros and cons, hoping I'd realize how dire Nigel's situation could become if I abandoned him.

But she didn't know my heart had already turned cold, devoid of any pity for Nigel.

"This was Nigel's choice, Mom. So, he should face the consequences."

Seeing that even bringing up Nigel couldn't persuade me, Mom realized I had truly lost all hope.

She gently patted my hand. "Amara, even if not for them, do it for me. Please hold on a bit longer?"

Hearing that made my tears unstoppable.

She was my only family in this world.