Xavier's POV

Yesterday when I picked Cassie up from the restaurant she looked very distant. She has hardly spoke ever since, she just gives me one word answers.
I can tell something is on her mind.

I was sitting at the dinner table having my morning coffee with a newspaper in my hand.

Cassie walked into the room, already dressed for her antenatal classes.

She sat on the far end of the table as Paula served her breakfast.

"Morning," I said looking up from the newspaper.

"Morning," she replied then looked down at her plate.

She exhaled deeply then looked at me undecided, as if she had something on her mind.
She stood up from her chair then took her plate to sit closer to me.

"Xavier, there is something I need to tell you." She said, her arms folded. I could hear the seriousness in her tone.

"Okay," I said.

I folded the newspaper putting it on the table along with my cup. I turned my attention onto her.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Yesterday when I went to the restaurant." She paused. "Someone tried to poison me. But someone else warmed me in time." She said quickly.

My jaw clenched, placing my hands in fists trying to calm myself down.

She continued explaining everything that happened, each word taking me by surprise.

"Are you saying my mother paid someone to poison you?" I asked.

"I don't know Xavier, maybe. It was her I saw handing that guy money." She said.

"Maybe it was someone else you saw and not her." I defended.

"Maybe," she answered shrugging her shoulder.

I didn't know what to believe anymore. I knew my mother would never do such a thing. Could what Antonio said possibly be true, despite the fact that he's a liar.

Before I could say another word, my phone rang.

It was a call from Daniel, I knew whatever he was going to say wasn't a conversation I wanted Cassie to hear.

"Please excuse me," I said going to my study.

I closed the door to my study.

"What?" I answered the phone.

"Morning," he said sarcastically.

"Daniel, I'm busy. Get to the point." I said.

"I have bad news," he said.

"What is it," I said. I let out a deep breath embracing myself.

"You remember, we tied up that asshole then left and called the police." He began.

"What happened?" I asked.

"He escaped, he never made it into police custody." He said.

I face palmed myself, "I should have handed him in myself," I said.

He sighed, something he did often did when he was hiding something, to think he should be a better liar.

"What's the other news?" I asked.

"Well, you remember what Antonio said about your mother," he paused.

"You don't expect me to believe him do you?" I interrupted him.

"Then you might not like this," he paused. "I've been keeping tabs on a long list of people for you, your mother being one of them. I looked at her bank statements. Three days ago she transferred two thousand dollars into one of Antonio's accounts. That's not the first time either." He said.

"What?" I whispered.

"I think Antonio might have been telling the truth. Think about it, why else would she transfer that much money to him." He said.

I’ve been trying to convince myself other wise even with all the signs. I couldn't deny it anymore. Maybe my mother wasn't the person who I thought she was. It was time I confronted her.

"Thanks," I said then hung up.

I walked back into the dinning room where Cassie was having breakfast.

"Cassie, Benjamin is going to drive you today. There is something I need to take care of." I said.

"Is everything okay?" She asked.

"It will be," I said, I placed a kiss on her forehead before leaving.

It was time I put a stop to this madness.

I grabbed my car keys and sunglasses, I walked out to my car.

I took my phone dialing mom's number. She answered on the third ring.

"Xavier sweetheart, how are you?" She asked in her usual cheerful tone.

"I'm fine, are you at home?" I asked.

"Yes," she answered.

"I'm on my way," I said then hung up.

I walked into my car then drove to her house.

Growing up, my mother was all I had. My father left us so she had to make a lot of sacrifices for me. I know she loves me but why would she do this? She knew how much I loved Cassie. I needed answers. I would have never thought my mother would be so cruel.

I drove as memories raced through my mind causing me to tighten my grip on the steering wheel.

Thirty minutes later I was at the gate, waiting for it to be opened.
Seconds later, the gate was opened reveling the front garden. Mom loved flowers, she invested most of her time into the garden.

I drove into the yard then parked my car into the front yard.

I was welcomed in by Ralph, mom's bodyguard. I still don't see the reason of her having one, she kept nagging that her life was in danger. In my opinion, it's all in her head.

I walked into the house, mom in her usual silk morning gown.

She rushed to me pulling me into her arms.

"Xavier my baby, mommy missed you," she said in an attempt to place kisses all over my forehead.

She still treated me like a five-year-old, she hadn't accepted the fact that I was a grown man.

"I'm not five," I said pulling away from her.

"I'm so glad you finally decided to see me." She said.

She pulled my hand walking me into the kitchen.

"I want you to see the new chandelier I just bought. I replaced the chairs with new ones along with the cupboards." She said.

My mother was a sixty-year-old shopaholic and I had to pay for all her expenses or she would guilt trip me into paying for it anyways.

"There is something we need to talk about," I said, my expression turning cold.

"What is it sweetheart," she said in a concerned tone.

I pulled my hand away from her then took two steps backwards, creating distance between us.

"Why did you do it?" I asked.

She looked at me confused, her eyes widen.

"Do what sweetheart?" She said, her voice a bit shaky.

She stepped forward taking my hand into hers.
I pulled my hand away and took another step back.

"Why did you pay Antonio to do it?" I asked.

"What! What are you talking about?" She said.

"Mother, I know you are the one who paid Antonio to do what he  did to my wife and I." I said.

"Is that what your wife told you. She's just trying to manipulate you. She is only after..."

"Stop lying!" I yelled interrupting her.

I really tried to be more tolerant towards her because she is my mother but I can't believe she would lie to me like this.

I took my phone out to show her a copy of her bank statements Daniel sent me, proving her payments to Antonio.

I had also requested a video footage of what happened at the restaurant. I was going to make sure that asshole pays for it.

I walked over to her, showing her the document.

"Are you still going to deny it?" I said, holding my phone out for her to see.

She kept staring at the screen as her eyes began to tear up. For a split second I saw the guilt in her eyes that was quickly replaced by anger as she looked at the bank statement.

"Why mother, why would you do this?" I asked, my voice breaking in anger.

Growing up my mother was all I had, I loved her. I never thought you would do such a thing.

"Xavier... I'm," she stuttered. A word couldn't escape her lips.

"I don't ever want to see you again! From this day forward you are dead to me." I said.

I turned around walking away as she started crying, I didn't want to see any of her crocodile tears.

"Xavier!" she yelled. Her voice suddenly sounding foreign, I couldn't recognize it anymore, this wasn't the woman who raised me.

I turned around facing her for the last time.

"You didn't expect me to allow you to remain married to her, did you? You have to forgive me. It was for your own good." She said.

"You ruined our lives. You know what I went through, did you stop for one second to realize the pain you caused? How could you?" I exclaimed.

"Why wouldn't I? She has no degree and no qualifications whatsoever she's just some dumb girl with a lot of baggage," she snapped.

"You had nothing when dad met you, so why mom?" I yelled.

"He left me for someone more sophisticated and rich. It taught me a lot." She said. "The rich and the poor are never meant to be together, the sooner you realize that the better." She said.

I never knew my mother carried so much hatred in her heart.

"I don't recognize you anymore. You taught me to see people for who they are and not what they have.” I said. "I'm leaving. If you ever do anything against my wife and I again, I will personally bring hell to you." I threatened.

I walked out of the house, a million thoughts racing through my mind as she called my name in the background.

I was done being her puppet, she pulled the strings and like a fool I fell for it.

I regret everything I did to Cassie, I can't put all the blame on my mother.

I was an idiot.

•·················•·················•

I paced up and down in the living room as I stared at the clock. It was 10 p.m. and Cassie still hadn't returned from her classes since morning. She wasn't answering her phone and neither was Benjamin. I called all my contacts and asked Daniel for a favour  but no one seemed to know where she was.
I didn't even know where to start looking.

Suddenly the thought of Antonio having something to do with this hit my mind, or my mother.
The asshole had escaped.

If anything happened to her or my children I wouldn't know what to do.

I called the police but they said they couldn't do anything until 48 hours.

I grabbed my car keys ready to go look for her.
I couldn't live without her.

Just as I was about to leave, Cassie walked in. She seemed to be in a rush. Her head was tilted down as she continued walking.

"Where have you been? I've been worried sick." I said walking towards her.

She didn't reply, she just kept walking towards me.
That's when I noticed the tears rolling down her cheeks. She was crying, her eyes red while sniffing her nose.

As she stood in front of me, I pulled her into a hug as she cried into my chest

What happened?

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A/N: Thanks for reading

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What would you do if your child was married to a person you didn't approve of? (be honest)