Chapter 19: Panging Guilt
In Aurorica, Woods Mansion...
Inside a huge luxurious room, a woman sat near the fireplace holding a beeping phone.
The woman was Irina Wood who sat gracefully on the sofa with her black hair cascading down her shoulders. Her striking appearance captivates with an air of elegance, and her flawless complexion shows no signs of wrinkles, portraying a timeless beauty that emanates from within.
Her body naturally exudes an aura of confidence and poise, making a stunning presence but as of today, her face was filled with worry and fear.
Irina dialed Leon's number again and again but she got the same answer that the user's phone was either switched off or outside the network.
Though she sat in front of the fireplace, her body was cold. Her ears rang with Leon's angry screams, haunting her.
"Le...Leon..."
Irina's voice paused as she gasped in shock and disbelief holding the phone. She opened her lips to speak but choked on recalling how her own biological son talked to her.
Her mind was in a mess due to being treated roughly by her son whom she had pampered greatly.
Her son also loved her very much but now Leon whom many called Mama's boy because of hiding in her shadow was nowhere to be found.
At first, when she heard his rude tone, she was angry, and her maternal sternness wanted to scold her and ask him to apologize.
But as she heard his sudden outbursts, her heart was gripped with guilt.
A voice cold yet emotionless pierced her heart trying to cut it into pieces.No mother could take on such words from her own son.
She wanted to scream that she didn't abandon him in the spur of the moment but she was unable to. On realizing what she had done and how selfish it was to think that Leon would be happy away from her.
"Was I wrong? I just sent him to his father so why..."
"Why is this happening?"
"Leon isn't accepting me. My two daughters had gone far away from me."
"Where did things go wrong? I thought I would be happy and be myself but I feel more sad than before."
Irina's eyes became lifeless as she started pondering over her life.
She and her ex-husband Lex married in love, finding themselves complementing one another.
However, it was only after the marriage that she faced the harsh reality of the marriage.
She was shocked when she woke up and tried to forget it but she wasn't able to. Finally, after an argument with Lex, a large rift formed in their relationship.
As Irina gasped and sobbed, a man sneaked in and wrapped his arms around her neck.
"What happened honey?"
Irina froze upon hearing the voice and stared at the handsome man but for some reason, she didn't feel as much attraction as before.
Previously, she would find herself melting with just a word of him but now something seemed to be changing.
As if a fog that was hazing her eyes had been lifted.
Irina hesitated a bit and explained Leon's matter to the man.
"He said all this to you. What an unruly prick! He thinks he has grown some balls after going there."
"Austin, he is my son. You can't speak to him like that."Irina shouted loudly, scaring the shit out of Austin.
Austin swallowed his saliva seeing his wife's violent look.
'She seems emotionally unstable. It's because of that damned boy. I should have killed him for real at that time instead of showing mercy. My new year had been totally ruined and all my expectations had been crushed because of that asshole.'
Austin held Irina's hands and caressed them softly trying to appease her.
"Irina, you should investigate first. Who knows what is happening for real? What if Leon is lying and the fault lies with him? I don't think Lex would do all this. I mean there isn't any reason for him to kick him out."
Irina nodded as what Lex said made sense.
However, she also eyed Austin strangely. For some reason, she felt that this man wanted to separate her from Leon.
Moreover, he had been recently staying outside the house at night without giving her a clear reason.
Thinking all this, she decided to also check up on him in case while pushing Austin away.
"Austin, I am not in the mood today and want to stay alone," Irina spoke in an irrefutable tone, kicking him away.
...........
While the couple separated with a sour feeling, Leon lay on the grassy snow bank of the river.
Unbeknownst to Leon, a seed of distrust was planted in his mother's heart, and his neutral halo started showing its effect on Irina.
And to make things more interesting, Irina's change in attitude would give Leon a surprise when he sees the system notification.