UNINVITED

Chapter 19

Swiftly, Tom jabbed the password into his phone and the iron-wrought gate gradually slid open. Gripping the wheel again, he drove onto the large compound and pulled up a distance from the mansion sitting in front of him.

     Stella flicked a curtain, then peered out through the window. Tom was home. She cupped her hands on the glass panel and caught a glimpse of his face. He didn’t look like himself. She knew he wouldn’t. And whose fault was that? That stupid Elodie as usual. She’d never liked their marriage. Never liked her. When Tom had called and told them he’d found the woman of his dreams, Stella sighed and said, “Finally, Son. I want to meet her.”

     They arranged for dinner at her mansion. Tom had arrived with Elodie. Upon setting eyes on her and recognizing Elodie as the woman from the boutique, she frowned. Of all the women on earth, why did her son have to pick her? Till now, she was surprised they weren’t divorced yet, because she didn’t think they’d last a year.

     From the looks of things, Tom had been abusing her. Elodie was one of the most rational women she’d met in her life and she knew she wouldn’t exaggerate about Tom hitting her. To be frank, it didn’t come as a big surprise to her. After witnessing his father’s abuse, it was only normal that he’d turned into one himself. When she saw a therapist after Tom had pushed Anthony over the staircase, she told the therapist that she was worried about her son and not herself. That she was afraid the past was going to traumatize him.

     Her doctor advised her to persuade Tom to see a therapist, but he wouldn’t see a shrink. He was young, and she thought that maybe, with time, he’d forget everything that had happened. After all, the man responsible for the trouble was dead. She had been wrong. Now her darling son was hurting because she failed to do the right thing.

     But not this time. Elodie could forsake Tom. She wouldn’t. She’d always be there for him. If it was possible to marry Tom and take care of him, she would. Clearly, no woman would understand her son and what he’d been through better than her. Which was why she was the only person who could take care of him.

     Tying the straps on her luxury nightgown, she passed by her sleeping husband she married a year after Anthony died. Jeffrey was sweet, unlike Anthony. He’d never laid a finger on her since they got married. Perhaps, it was true love or it could be that she was controlling him with her wealth. After Anthony died, she and Tom inherited a fortune. His business. The mansion. The cars. No family member stepped up to fight with them over the property, as Anthony didn’t leave a will behind. His premature death hindered that.

     All his relatives were billionaires just like Anthony. No need to fight over his property and besides, Stella was such a lovely wife to Anthony in their eyes. His son, perfect. Her life now was excellent, and she intended to keep it that way. The only problem was her son. If she could find a woman who wouldn’t cause trouble for him, she would. But the problem wasn’t with the women. It was Tom. He needed help. She’d turned a blind eye for so long.

     Sighing, she went out of the room, climbing down a long spiral staircase to the grandiose living room that featured only state-of-the-art furniture. A uniformed woman stood, dusting the sofas. As she approached, another woman in a similar outfit neared her with a cup of steaming coffee. She took it and said, “Thank you.”

     “My son will be at the front door any moment. Let him in,” she added and blew over the coffee.

     “Yes, ma’am.”

     Stella paced around the living room, sipping from the cup. She paused momentarily and stared at the large portrait of her, Anthony, and Tom on the wall. Her face scrunched from looking at his eyes. In the picture, he was perfect. But in reality, he was such a brute. That portrait should be taken off and replaced with another one of her and Tom only. She’d moved on with her life. No pictures of Anthony should be left lurking around the house. It only triggered bad memories.