Redress (gxg)

Chapter 44 "Beginning Of The End"

Alexandra

After reaching her table, I eventually took a seat across her, and silently made myself comfortable as I met her blank gaze. Sadly, she put on her neutral expression ever since I got here, making me unable to guess what she was thinking at the moment. Earlier today she had called, saying she had something to tell me, and that I should meet her in person, and when she asked me to come over to her house, I eventually refused her, knowing Clifford could be waiting for me there. I couldn't let my guard down, and trust her.

Instead, I insisted we could meet on a neutral ground, in a public place, and with little convincing, she agreed.

"I don't have a lot of time, what do you want to tell me, Amelia?" I started, after giving me a silent treatment for a minute.

She cleared her throat, her expression had quickly changed to looking concerned, "Now that my husband had escaped, I want you to be careful Alex. He will surely come for you..." she replied, not beating around the bush, and I was here for that. Although, she could have told me that on the phone if that was the only thing she wanted to tell me.

"I know that, and shouldn't you be careful too? He will come for you and take you back, that's for sure."

"If that's the case, I know he wouldn't hurt me, because he loves me. What I'm worried about is your safety. Yours and your friends'..." she said, her forehead creased. Come to think of it, she looked like she hadn't slept well, judging by the dark circles and bags under her eyes, and she became thinner than the last time I saw her. I hadn't heard from her since the fair, even if that time Noah paid her a visit, she hadn't call. My guy also hadn't reported anything unusual, while spying on her, but it still made me wonder what she really had been doing the whole time. I refused to think she wasn't doing anything behind my back as I knew her too well. She wasn't capable of changing.

"You need not worry about us Amelia, we can handle ourselves."

"I know all of you are capable of doing that, but you couldn't stop me from worrying, I'm your mother after all," she said all of a sudden, making me snort mockingly as it hit a nerve.

"Please don't use that card on me, we're way past that," I replied bitterly, not liking how she liked saying it.

She frowned, "I thought you were giving me a chance to redeem myself...to prove to you that I can be your mother again," she mumbled, looking confused.

I sighed impatiently, "Look, if that's what you want to talk about now, then count me out. Like I said, I don't have time for that."

"I still want to prove to you that I've changed Alex, if you just give me a chance."

"I'm giving you a chance, it's just that this isn't the best time to--"

"Then let me help you find my husband," she interrupted, and I looked at her in disbelief. I didn't know who she was lying to, me or herself? I didn't know what was her motive. It was still hard to believe her even if she said something like that, when she was still proudly referring to Clifford as "her husband".

"I'm sorry but did I hear it right?"

She gave me a subtle nod, "I want to help you find Clifford, and bring him to justice if that's what it takes for you to forgive me."

I mockingly chuckled, "You want to help me find your husband and bring him to justice? Are you lying to yourself right now?"

"I'm serious, Alex."

I shook my head, my smile eventually faded, "No, you're not. If you really wanted him to be in prison, you could have done that a long time ago, Amelia, but no, you didn't and instead, you tolerated his wrongdoings...He managed to hurt a lot of people, kill even, and that's because of you too, for not stopping him," I reminded her, causing her to avert her gaze from mine. "Let me remind you that I'm giving you a chance to prove to me that you really changed Amelia. Don't make me regret that by saying things that you can't even do...It's hopeless with you."