The Modern Adam and Eve

Chapter 21

"And you were worried I would spoil the party!" Stella raged at Stolas as the last of the guests finally departed. "It was ruined by that so-called nephew of yours and your disgusting male concubine!"

"Oh Lord, give me strength!" Stolas exclaimed, face-palming in frustration. "For the last time, woman! Benedict is not a male concubine!"

"Well, he might as well have been! He lived with us, and you fornicated with him the entire time we were together! The humiliation! At least with a woman, some people might look the other way! But a man?! Think of our daughter's reputation! How will she ever secure a respectable marriage?!"

"Oh, that's rich coming from you! Who tried to kill me with a butcher knife! At least my actions aren't criminal!"

"Wanna bet? A lynch mob would probably hang you in ten seconds if the world knew your filthy secret!"

"And they would burn you at the stake, you she-devil of a witch!"

"Stop it!" Octavia cried out, having heard enough of their bickering. "Both of you, stop! It wasn't Father's fault the party was ruined, Mother! Stop blaming him for everything bad that happens! I don't care who my father is attracted to! As long as he is still my father! And I don't care about my reputation! To hell with my reputation! Like that's actually going to lead to a good marriage. It didn't for you or Father!"

Stella wanted to argue, but she couldn't. Despite her young age, Octavia had made a very valid point.

"Mother, I love you! I miss you! I want you to stay for the week. I want to spend time with you. But not if you're just going to be cruel to Father. I know you're not well; I know you're sick, and that's why I keep trying to make things right between us. But if you truly hate Father more than you love me, I'll stop trying! And you'll never see me again! Is that what you want?"

Octavia's words hung in the air, heavy with emotion. Stella looked at her daughter, her heart aching at the pain she was expressing. The fierce anger she had felt moments ago began to fade.

"I... I don't want to lose you, Octavia. I love you more than anything in the world. In fact, you're the only person I've ever truly loved and who has ever truly loved me. You're the only pure thing in my life. But your father... he makes it so difficult."

"So do you." Octavia countered. "And forgive me, Mother, but you're more difficult than he is. At least Father tries to be friendly; you, on the other hand, are always ready to pounce on him. For once, can't you try? Really try? For me?"

Personally, I doubt Stella Goetia could stop hating Stolas even if she wanted to. The kind of disease that plagued her mind was like a force of evil itself—something that would always be there until the end of time. But it is often said that nothing is stronger than a mother's love for her child, and if a heart as cold as ice and a mind that burns like fire can still harbor one ray of sincere love for someone else, then there is hope for change.

I cannot say for certain if Stella could ever truly turn her hatred into peace, but she loved Octavia more than she hated Stolas, so perhaps she could at least learn to tolerate him. Only time would tell. Well, time and medical attention.

"I'm going to bed," she said, heading upstairs. "I'll see you both at breakfast tomorrow."

She embraced each of her parents, giving them a kiss before disappearing upstairs. Stolas began to follow, but Stella called out to him.

"The dress she wore tonight," she said. "That was my old dress, wasn't it?"

"Yes, it was," he confirmed.

"You told me you had that dress burned. That you burned all of my old clothes the day after I was taken away."

"I burned all of them except for two: that dress and your wedding gown. I knew you were saving them for Octavia, and as much as I hated you for what you tried to do to me, I couldn't be that cruel."