Hey everyone. I hope you're having a good morning. Things are about to get heated and I'm excited for what this series has in store!!
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I turned around, spotting Diedre charging towards me, with Dorinda trailing behind her.

As expected Diedre was dressed in tight velvet. Oh, how original that was.

Even in an atmosphere like this, she felt the need to compete.

"Mother, wait!" Dorinda screeched, trying to reach out. "What is going on?"

I raised an eyebrow, utterly lost. We hadn't spoken to her. What could I have possibly done this time?

Diedre narrowed her eyes at me. 

"How dare you accept such a proposal!" She hissed. "You have no idea what you're doing!" 

I quickly glanced down at my index finger, noticing I wasn't adorning my engagement ring. Oh. So she had been present out in the garden. 

Dorinda, however, remained passive, looking between us both.

"What's this?" 

I squared my shoulders, preparing for the worst. 

"I suppose you saw Hero asking me to marry him?" 

After I said this, Dorinda's eyes nearly went to the back of her skull as she turned away from us in denial.

Great. We were back to square one. 

I thought she and I had moved on from this.

"I did." Deidre spat. "I don't like it. You're going to tell him that you made a mistake and you want to cancel the engagement." 

I scoffed.

"I'm sorry. I'm having an issue recognizing where this concerns you."
 
Like an errant child, she screamed, throwing out the worst of her insults at me. 

"He doesn't love you. He can't love you."

I had to force myself not to laugh. This moment was too precious. She was hooting and hollering because she wasn't getting her way.

I would have thought she'd have more poise. 

"Are you sure about that?" I challenged. "He seemed to profess his love for me out back. This may be difficult for you to comprehend Diedre, but our love is something for the ages. I bring out the best in him and we're going to continue to heal each other." 

"I know what your doing!" She went on. "If this is your way of taking him away, it won't work! You can't erase me, little girl. You can't keep his mother away either."

"I don't want to keep his parents away." I said through clenched teeth. "In fact, I'll be inviting them to the wedding. Though my plans weren't to hurt you, Diedre, I'm not sorry that you feel pain. You will not be attending."

She let out a poisonous laugh. 

"Oh, dear girl. You do not know what you're in for. I have more authority and power than you could ever imagine. I know my grandson, better than anyone. He and I are two sides of the same coin. Do you know what he yearns?"

Dorinda began backing away towards the chapel looking uncomfortable by the situation. I ignored her, feel the fire ignite within me. 

"You... wouldn't know what he yearns..." 

I tried to murmur, but Diedre's strict voice cut through mine like a knife. 

"What does he yearn?" She demanded once more.

I went silent, staring at this callous woman in disgust. 

"Why are you like this?" I whispered. "You talk about him as if he's your property. That's your grandson. You shouldn't even be thinking of him sexually."

"He needs a stable life." Diedre went on. "You think you can offer him that? You, a girl that prefers lit books and a boyfriend from Yale? You're a phase honey. I know his needs. Do you really enjoy the controlling, domineering side of him?" 

When I refused to answer through a fragile state, she went on. 

"I know for a fact that's how he is. He will never give it up. He and I share something that all you common college girls don't. You may not notice it but, my dear, my control over him will always be present. Whenever I call for him, he comes. It's the way it works."

I shook my head, not willing to accept. 

"That is not the way it works. I refuse to believe that. He's in hell because of what you do to him. He never wanted this. Was this always your plan? To wait for your spouse to die so you could pray on an innocent little boy?" 

"He was anything but innocent!" Diedre snapped, cracking a tiny smile. "That boy had a harsh life. He needed the discipline, he needed the guidance. My aim was never to hurt his ego. He's right where he needs to be."

I chuckled.

"Yes, he is. With me. I have a feeling you had your husband hacked off. Would make sense coming from a psycho like you." 

Diedre lunged towards me.

"How dare you! I loved him with every fiber of my being. I know your kind. You are never going to be good enough. You're just what he despises; calculating, mousy, preppy-" 

Before Diedre could hit me with much more of her vitriol, Dorinda and Hero came hurrying down the lot.

I hadn't even noticed she had left us alone. 

"What the fuck is going on?" Hero snapped, his eyes going wild with fury. 

All the things Diedre just told me came creeping to the surface. Oh no. What if they were true? 

I remained silent, not knowing what to say in the moment. Diedre, however, stepped forward, with her chin thrusted in the air. 

"I'm saving you from another monumental mistake." 

Hero faced his grandmother with purpose. 

"Care to explain?" 

"Gladly." She smirked. "That act you did back in the chapel was quite preposterous. Your foolishness with this girl has gone on long enough. I'm not alone in this. Your mother has tried to persuade you, but to no avail."

Hero appeared taken aback, blinking rapidly. 

"What the fuck? You think this was some sort of... joke?" 

"I would assume so. That girl must have coerced you into this."

He took a long, deep breath doing his best to compose himself. 

"I love her, Diedre." 

At this, I expected her to make a mocking laugh, but all I saw on her perfect face was shock. Pure shock. 
She pursed her lips. 

"She doesn't know you." 

Hero narrowed his eyes. 

"She does in all the ways that count. I didn't expect you to be here. I knew if you'd come, you would have reacted this way." 

"For good reason!" Diedre hissed. "She's not in it for the reasons you may think. She... she needs stability-" 

Hero laughed. "Then, I'll give it to her. Whatever she needs. I'm tired of you ruling my goddamn life, Diedre. You fucked me up, you really fucked me up. Kristina has taught me to love, above all other things. She's protecting me from you." 

Diedre frowned. 

"If you hadn't met her, you wouldn't be saying any of this." 

Hero smiled.

"No, I wouldn't. I've been so stupid. I didn't see your intentions until now... in your own convoluted way... you wanted it to be us, didn't you?" 

Diedre didn't say a word. She stumbled, nearly falling over her own feet. 

Her mouth fell agape. 

"This is where I draw the line." Hero growled harshly. "I warned you to watch it with my girlfriend. I told you she was important to me. I want you the fuck out of my life. I don't ever want to see you again." 

Diedre tried to beg but he wasn't having any of it. 

"Don't fucking touch me." He spat. "You should have gone to jail." 

"After all I taught you," Diedre breathed. "This is how you repay me? Who do you think you would be without me, Hero? What will you do? You won't be able to survive without me!" 

He glowered. "I'm sure I'll manage."

With one last fleeting look at us all, Diedre snapped at her daughter to follow her and disappeared into the chapel again. 

When I looked back, I was surprised to see Kylie staring open-mouthed at the scene. 

Oh crap. She didn't know.

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