LOVE'S QUAGMIRE [18+]

Chapter 44: Past- IV

Daphne's POV~

"W-What?" I stammered, totally shocked. I honestly thought Zephyr was getting better, but he was just pretending.

"He was fooling us," she repeated, and I asked, "But why?"

"He believed he was stable and suspected that everyone wanted to rid themselves of him by sending him to the asylum."

... 

Evelyn couldn't believe what she was hearing from Victoria. All this time, she thought Zephyr was getting better, but he wasn't even taking his therapy seriously and wasn't taking his meds.

At the party, Evelyn couldn't stop watching Zephyr. He was hanging out with Xavier and some other kids of their age. She wanted to talk to him, but Adrian and Brian kept looking her way sometimes, so she couldn't find the right moment. She decided she'd try to talk to him after the party.

By midnight, most of the guests had left, and only a few people were still around. Evelyn took the chance and went to Zephyr's room. When she knocked, Xavier opened the door, and she slipped in quickly.

"Mom, do you need something?" Zephyr's voice came from the bathroom. She turned and saw him standing there in his black night suit, looking so innocent. But Evelyn's face was serious, with a mix of anger and betrayal.

"Zephyr, we need to talk in the guest room. Now!" Evelyn's voice had that edge that meant she wasn't messing around. Zephyr walked over, dragging his feet and tossing his towel onto the bed.

"But Mom, Xavi wants me to read with him like we do every night. Can't it wait until tomorrow?" he asked, trying to dodge.

"No," Evelyn said, her tone unyielding. She glanced at Xavier with a softer expression. 

"Xavi, it's getting late. You can read tomorrow," she said, then grabbed Zephyr's wrist, pulling him away to the guest room.

"Did you take your medicine?" Evelyn asked, her eyes practically burning a hole through him, though her voice was still controlled.

"Yeah," Zephyr said, sounding like he couldn't care less. But Evelyn knew he was lying.

"Show me the medicines," she demanded. Zephyr just shrugged and rolled his eyes.

"Is this why you dragged me here?" he asked, raising an eyebrow with an angry look.

Evelyn was stunned. Zephyr never spoke to her like this. "Is this the manner in which you address your mother?"

"Mother," he scoffed, letting out a bitter laugh.

"A mother who abandoned her son, standing by while her husband beats him without protest. A mother who sheds crocodile tears while applying medicine to the wounds she does nothing to prevent. A mother who never bothers to ask about her son's day or even knows where he is, what he does, or who he is. A mother who openly favors her other son, flaunting her love in front of the one who suffers, treating him like they're not even her own flesh and blood. A. Freaking. Mother." he spoke, eyes blazing with fury and teeth gritted.

"I-I never differentiated between you and Xavier," she stammered, not believing Zephyr thinks like that but he just looked away in anger.

Evelyn felt like her heart was shattering into a million pieces. How could her own blood think this of her? A wave of guilt washed over her, mingling with her anger and confusion. She always thought she was doing her best, always worrying about her sons, always showing her concern.