Chapter 5 - The Confrontation
I drove back to Coral Gables with a terrifying sense of calm.
The confusion and sorrow were gone. Only a cold, clinical anger remained.
When I walked through the front door of my mother's estate, I heard laughter coming from the dining room.
My mother and Charlotte were sitting at the large oak table, looking over wedding invitations.
"Oh, good, you're back," my mother said brightly, as if the morning's screaming match had never happened.
"We were just deciding between the ivory and the pearl cardstock," Charlotte added, offering a tentative smile.
I walked straight to the table, grabbed the stack of expensive invitations, and threw them into the air.
They rained down over the plates and crystal glasses like snow.
"Lucas! Have you lost your mind?" my mother shrieked, standing up.
"I saw him," I said, my voice eerily quiet. "I saw my son."
Charlotte gasped, pressing her hands to her mouth.
"I also found out about the phone call, Charlotte," I said, turning my dead gaze to her.
She shrank back in her chair.
"Lucas, let me explain—"
"You threatened the pregnant mother of my child with a restraining order?" I asked, stepping closer to her.
"Your mother told me she was crazy! A stalker!" Charlotte cried, tears streaming down her face.
"She told me Camilla was trying to ruin our new life!"
"So you didn't even ask me? You just made the decision for me?"
Charlotte sobbed, looking down at the table. "I didn't want to lose you."
"Well, you just did. Pack your bags. I want you out of this house tonight."
Charlotte let out a wail, but I turned my back on her and faced my mother.
Eleanor stood her ground, her chin raised in defiance.
"You are throwing away a perfectly good marriage for a mistake made five years ago," she sneered.
"You destroyed her career, Mom. You blacklisted her. You forced her to scrub floors while pregnant just to eat!"
"I protected our wealth!" my mother shouted back. "If she had a child, she would have a claim to the estate! I did what any protective mother would do."
"You are a monster."
My mother flinched. It was the first time I had ever spoken to her with such pure venom.
"You will not speak to me that way in my house," she warned.
"I won't be in your house ever again," I replied.
I pulled out my wallet and took out the platinum credit cards linked to the family trust.
I tossed them onto the table.
"I'm done. I don't want your money. I don't want the trust. I don't want anything to do with you."
"You're making a huge mistake, Lucas. You won't survive a month without my backing."
"Watch me," I said.
I turned and walked up the stairs to pack my things.
My aunt Laura was standing at the top of the landing. She had heard everything.
She reached into her pocket and handed me a set of keys.
"It's the keys to my old condo downtown," Laura whispered. "It's empty right now. Stay there as long as you need."
I hugged her tightly.
May you like
"Thank you, Aunt Laura."
"Go be a father, Lucas," she smiled tearfully. "It's time."
