HEIRESS REBORN: MARRYING HER EX-FIANCÉ-Chapter 101: Estranged mother and son (2)

*Ten years ago*

’’Son, your father is just worried that you are not capable in handling the affairs of the kingston corporation.’’

A much younger Lucinda and Noah sat opposite each other in the visitor’s lounge of the Kingston Mansion.

Noah stared quietly at his mother from his wheelchair. His pale, sickly features carried a faint mockery at her words, but his mother was too preoccupied with her own agenda to notice. Her focus was obviously on persuading him to relinquish his claim to the president’s position of the Kingston Corporation and hand that over to his father.

’’You shouldn’t believe what that girl has told you, my son. We are family and as family, we should be of great help to one another.’’ Noah watched as his mother spoke in a righteous manner and directly contradicted herself and his father with those words.

’’Now that I think about it, she seems very strange all of a sudden. She hasn’t visited our home for a while now, and her behavior at the funeral was not normal.’’ His mother murmured under her breath with a thoughtful look.

’’Whatever that girl told you, ignore it. Your father and I both agree that you lack the necessary education in business administration and management to take over the corporation—"

’’Isn’t that because you and father crippled my growth, mother?’’ Noah put on a faint smile. He couldn’t tolerate his hypocritical words from his mother any longer.

His mother appeared startled, too stunned to speak at his words.

’’N-Noah?’’ It’s clear she seemed not to believe that those words came from him.

’’You know...sometimes I had assumed as a young naïve child that you both have been unaware of your actions towards your first child, but now, I know that it isn’t the case.’’ Noah’s sharp eyes peered into her startled gaze.

’’It’s humiliating and shameless how you both come here and educate me on not having a prior education to lead the family business, when we both aware that you and father were the reason for that.’’ He sneered openly, not hiding the contempt he had always felt for this family of his.

’’Noah Kingston!’’

His mother snapped, raising her voice in an attempt to assert her control. ’’How could insult your parents that way?’’ She appeared very bothered by his rude words.

’’Oh?’’ Noah’s mockery deepened. ’’So you finally remembered your duties as my parents?’’

’’N-Noah...’’ His words seemed to have shaken her.

’’You know mother.....There are parents in average families, families with far fewer resources than ours, who worked tirelessly to ensure their children are greatly cared for, no matter how sick they are.’’ Noah paused before saying with a grin, not reaching his eyes.

’’But mine? My family had more wealth than those families, yet they abandoned me without hesitation.’’

’’Noah!’’

"You don’t like hearing the truth, do you?" Noah leaned back slightly, his piercing gaze fixed on her agitated form. It was obvious she wasn’t as cold and heartless as his father, but that didn’t make her actions any less unforgivable.

’’N-Noah, your father and I did not abandon you.’’ His mother tried to defend herself. ’’Back then, we only decided that you weren’t fit to work at the Kingston corporation in the future because of your poor health—’’

’’The Kingston corporation again.’’ Noah interrupted her with a bitter laugh. "This is what it always comes back to, doesn’t it? The reason you and father have turned this mansion upside down with your frequents visits. Am I wrong, Mother?"

"N-No...that’s not—"

’’I’m going to say this once and nicely because you’re my mother and this will be the last time I’ll refer you as such. You aren’t a good one anyway, both to me and that arrogant girl called my sister.’’ He didn’t care how much his words hurt this woman called his mother.

His mother’s face paled. ’’Y-You....’’

"I enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania as an online student. Surely you know it’s one of the best universities for business administration and management?"

"W-What?"

"Since you and Father paid no more attention to my education after highschool, I took matters into my own hands. So, Eldest Madam...." Noah said, emphasizing the title mockingly, "I do have the education necessary to manage the Kingston Corporation."

He added. "And once my cousins come of age, they’ll inherit the position from me. They’re the rightful owners, after all."

"B-But...’’ His mother struggled to respond. ’’How could you overlook your father? He has more experience and knowledge than those children. Son, no matter what that girl has said to you, it doesn’t change we’re family. Your father and I...we’ll do better than in the past. I promise that we’ll pay more attention to you this time. It’s just that we’ve been so busy—"

’’Busy?’’ Noah cut her off with a cold smile. ’’Then I wonder who has been raising Arabella all these years?’’

His mother opened her mouth to protest, but no words came. She could only sit there with her lips quivering, and stared at him as though she were just meeting the person in front of her for the first time.

Well...what more could she say? He was telling the truth, after all.

"I hate that the two of you treat me like some child starved for affection.’’ Noah frowned slightly. "Maybe that’s exactly what I am...who knows....’’

’’S-Son...’’

’’But do you know what? I don’t care anymore. I might have found my real family." Noah briefly noticed the slight tremor on the hands that fisted tightly on her lap.

The sight did not incite any pity or whatsoever, even if she was his mother and the woman who had birthed him.

’’I have also noticed about you and father, Eldest madam.’’ Noah calmly looked up at his mother and noticed how she flinched at his voice. It was as though his words have already become a trauma for her.

’’You both are selfish and greedy parents who had abandoned your first child for your despicable goals.’’

****

Lucinda blinked her eyes at the memory of ten years ago that had resurfaced in her head. To think she had forgotten such memory.

No...she had included that memory as a bad one and forced herself to forget what had happened between them. Even if she sometimes and rarely recalled the memory, she would admonish herself for remembering such.

She had repeatedly told herself that she had no son who would insult her, his mother. He was going to die, according to many renowned doctors, so what was the point of being sentimental?

Had he known how much complications his birth had caused her? Yet, he had such audacity to speak to her in such a rude manner.

Anger, betrayal and many more had what Lucinda felt back then. However, she had never felt so lost and defeated, because she couldn’t have denied those words as lies.

’’I guess I really meant nothing for you to have forgotten the last meeting with your son.’’

’’...’’ Lucinda had no words to say. Her hands only fisted tightly on her lap as she recalled those words from her son.

Back then, she had only taken her purse and hastened out of the Kingston mansion like her feet were on fire. In all her entire life, she had never felt humiliated, especially by someone younger than her and her first child, no less.

Her son had peeled off the layers of her mask and thoroughly exposed herself and her husband.

’’Well, I remember you kept on mentioning that girl, that girl.’’ He spoke of the memory in a calm tone. ’’Were you referring to Ayana? If you were, then I ought to tell you that she had never remarked badly about you and the Eldest master in my presence.’’

He then chuckled to himself. ’’In fact, Ayana had treated me more carefully. She was cautious, not to mention any of you that much. Despite the strong front she put in the presence of others, it doesn’t change that she has a very kind heart to those good to her.’’

Lucinda saw as her son’s eyes softened when it came to children of her late brother-in-law. Just like in her birthday banquet, his eyes hardened at the sight of his own family, but softened with tenderness and affection when it came to his relatives.

Her son was handsome. His looks took after her husband, and Mark was quite handsome in his youth. Affection from a handsome man was very heart-thrilling to the opposite gender, especially when it came to family.

As a mother, she couldn’t help but feel a tinge of envy, because having such a son dote her as his mother would be a beautiful experience. Others would have surely praised her for having a filial and handsome son.

’’You saw it at your birthday banquet.’’ His hazel eyes peered into hers. ’’You saw how Ayana had not believed that Madam Hitson or whatever when she used your daughter’s name as a shield for her rude daughter, hadn’t you, mother?’’

’’...’’

"It’s pathetic how the Eldest master and first young miss Kingston repeatedly schemed against Ayana when she had done absolutely nothing wrong."

Lucinda bit her lips when she heard how her son referred to his own father and sister.

’’...They are your father and sister, son.’’ She couldn’t just be quiet and watch how her family was being insulted....by her son no less. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

’’I have no father and mother, but a younger sister and brother, Eldest madam.’’ He said, calmly.

’’Noah Kingston!’’ Lucinda finally snapped, her composure breaking as she slammed her hands on the table. She surged forward, almost rising from her seat. ’’How could you curse your father and I when we are very much alive?!’’