Agatha sat alone as Reece went to prepare the dinner he had spoken of. Her hand gripped the front of her dress, the fabric crumpling beneath her fingers, as Reece created a painful ache in her chest.

Agatha had never been hurt like this, and she hadn’t expected the betrayal to come at the hands of her favourite child. The one she had first and the one who had placed her in the role of mother.

Agatha leaned over, trying to find a position that would ease the pain. She wanted to call Reece’s name, but then she would be calling for the person who had hurt her so much. So, Agatha bore the pain alone until it settled.

’These rotten children,’ Agatha thought, livid at how much her children had spoiled her plans.

Both Reece and Iris could have placed her in a position where she never had to worry about money again. Where she wouldn’t have to bother seeing the nosy neighbours ever again.

There could have been servants at her disposal and land in her family’s name, but Iris and Reece didn’t understand her vision. They were only thinking of the present, not the future, where the days would be colder and money harder to come by.

Agatha stood up from her chair, not yet done with her talk with Reece. She needed to talk some sense into him.

Agatha walked towards the kitchen, where Reece diligently prepared a meal for her. "I never taught you how to cook," she said, surprised he was truly preparing a meal.

"I have lived on my own since I came of age to work. Aside from finding a place to rest my head when I left to find work, I had to learn how to cook. I’m not the best at it, but I can prepare a decent meal to fill your belly," Reece said, without turning to face Agatha.

"Does your wife not cook for you?"

"I didn’t meet her right as I settled down. Was I to wait to find a woman instead of learning how to prepare my own food? I like to cook, Mother," Reece confessed, finding the knife to slice the vegetables with. The blade scraped against the wooden board. "I had a job cutting fruits and vegetables for a month. You get to eat a bit as long as the cooks don’t see you."

"It is a woman’s job," Agatha said firmly.

"And yet all the nobles and wealthy families hire men as their head cooks. Isn’t it strange how we don’t question why those men are doing a woman’s job, as you say, but you question me about cooking for my family? It is odd," Reece chuckled.

"You know what I mean," Agatha said, annoyed that he tried to act as if he didn’t.

"Yes, I do. If I can help prepare a meal for my employers, then I assure you that I will cook a meal for my family. I like doing it as it gives my wife a break, and with her being pregnant, there is no need for her to do it every night," Reece said, though he knew Agatha wouldn’t care.

"When I was pregnant with you and Iris, I did my part as a wife to cook for my husband since he was working every day. There are duties a woman must fulfil regardless of the state she is in-"

"Mother!" Reece silenced Agatha. He set the knife down as he was having a bad thought he didn’t want to act upon. "I see now why others question who raised me. What you are saying now is disgusting. Not only as my mother, but as a woman."

Reece turned around to face Agatha. "Perhaps it is that I went all my life using your marriage as an example of what I shouldn’t do. I am not going to make my wife work when she is carrying our child. You should be angry with your husband for following the norms of society."

"Reece, your father taught you to be a man," Agatha said, her anger showing again.

"Whatever man he was trying to teach me to become, I am glad that I became different. I stand here thinking of the kind of man I could have been if you two had succeeded in spoiling me. I could be so awful that I leave my wife and unborn child for money," Reece said, grateful he wasn’t so bad. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"Mother, you should be thankful that your son is nothing like your husband. That I went about having a child the right way. I married the woman I love, we have a child coming into our lives, and I am working to keep us fed," said Reece.

"You did it right? You didn’t invite your parents or your precious sister to the wedding, yet you think you did it right. You should have come to us for approval first. I don’t approve of this marriage now, and I never will. It doesn’t benefit this family," Agatha said, refusing to bend.

Reece sighed, followed by a low chuckle.

Damien had been right to be against taking Agatha back home to be with his wife’s family. She would only ruin the happiness he had built there.

"I love you, Mother, but I am not going to let you ruin the happiness I have built. Did any of the men come for their money?" Reece asked, changing his plans.

"They did, but I didn’t answer since the money could be used on a dowry. We can settle the debts if only you would just listen to me. Reece!" Agatha called as Reece walked away from her. "Reece, do not walk away from me while I am speaking."

Reece went in search of the money to ensure that it was still present. He found the bag he had brought home sitting on the table and opened it to find his money. The coins clinked faintly as he checked them. "Did you spend any of it?"

"How could I? I need to present Iris when I present the dowry. He’s more interested in how she looks than what else we can offer him," Agatha explained.

Reece grabbed the bag and began walking towards the door. "You need to find a way out of your problems by yourself. I can’t save you. I won’t."

Reece could no longer think of giving up the money he was saving for a home to help his mother. He had his wife and child to think of.

Agatha’s eyes widened. "What are you doing? Where are you taking that money? Reece!" she yelled, grabbing him by the arm.

Reece pushed Agatha with enough force for her to fall back onto the floor. The thud of her body against the floor made him wince. It pained him to do it, but he knew the money wasn’t safe within reach of his mother. He had to put it somewhere safe in the meantime.

"I’m sorry," Reece apologised before going towards the door.