Chapter 16 - Diane Came to the Mansion
Three days later, my former mother-in-law arrived.
Nobody invited her.
Diane marched into the estate wearing a camel coat and the same expression she used whenever she believed the world had inconvenienced her.
I was helping Richard practice walking inside the library when security called.
“You have a visitor.”
I frowned.
“Who?”
The guard hesitated.
“She says she’s your mother.”
I almost laughed.
“Definitely not.”
Diane entered before I could stop her.
Then she froze.
Richard was standing between parallel support rails.
His hands gripped the bars.
I stood beside him.
Diane looked from Richard to me.
“What is this?”
I exhaled.
“What are you doing here?”
“Michael’s career is being destroyed.”
Richard slowly lowered himself into his wheelchair.
Diane pointed toward me.
“And somehow you’re involved.”
“Michael’s career is being investigated because his company committed fraud.”
“He said you gave investigators information.”
“I did.”
Diane stared at me as though I had admitted to arson.
“You vindictive woman.”
Richard’s face changed.
I lifted one hand.
“I’ve got this.”
Diane continued.
“You couldn’t stand seeing Michael successful without you.”
I almost admired her consistency.
Even now.
After everything.
She still needed me to be the villain.
“Michael cheated on me.”
I said.
“Yes, and you divorced him.”
Diane snapped.
“You got what you wanted.”
“No.”
I looked directly at her.
“I got what I needed.”
She frowned.
“A life where nobody gets to tell me betrayal is something I earned.”
Diane’s mouth tightened.
“You think this mansion makes you important?”
I looked around.
“No.”
“You think this man’s money makes you better than us?”
“No.”
Richard watched quietly.
Diane stepped closer.
“Michael told me you’ve been staying here with criminals.”
I laughed once.
“Interesting concern from the woman who came uninvited into their house.”
Her face reddened.
“Maya.”
“No.”
The word surprised even me.
“You spoke for twelve years.”
I continued.
“You criticized my clothes, my cooking, my career, my infertility, and finally my failure to keep your son interested.”
Diane’s face changed.
“You said those things because you believed I would keep standing there and taking them.”
She opened her mouth.
I raised my hand.
“I don’t anymore.”
Silence.
Then Michael appeared in the doorway.
“Mom.”
Diane turned.
“You followed me?”
“Yes.”
“I came to fix this.”
“There is nothing to fix.”
Michael walked toward us.
His voice was calm.
“I cheated.”
Diane looked stunned.
“I lied.”
“Michael.”
“I failed Maya.”
Diane shook her head.
“No marriage is one person’s fault.”
“The affair was.”
Diane stared at him.
Michael continued.
“And the company investigation is my responsibility too.”
“You were protecting your job.”
“That doesn’t make it right.”
For the first time since I had known her, Diane had nothing to say.
Michael touched her elbow.
“Come on.”
She looked at me one last time.
The superiority was gone.
She seemed older.
Smaller.
Not defeated.
Just finally unable to control the room.
After they left, Richard looked at me.
“That felt personal.”
I laughed.
“You think?”
He smiled.
Then he grew serious.
“You were shaking.”
I looked down.
My hands were trembling.
“I know.”
“Still afraid?”
“Yes.”
Richard nodded.
“But you didn’t surrender.”
I looked at him.
“No.”
May you like
This time, the word felt different.
It felt like freedom.
