Annoying the Stubborn

f o r t y s e v e n

Y/N tried to keep her hands to herself during the entire trip back to Ohio. It was already hard containing herself when they're in public but it was harder with Clara's presence. Little did she know that Clara was also finding it hard to determine where the line lies as a parent to Lauren. She was still unsure of what she should and could do with the green-eyed girl. She thought of rules that she'd regulate but most of them didn't feel right after she'd been gone for so long. It was difficult to gain authority over her own daughter when she hadn't been around her for years. It was as if she didn't have the right to be involved in Lauren's decisions but she was just as eager to be a good mother to her. She wanted to make up for all the times she'd missed her opportunity to provide guidance to Lauren when she chose both of their safety over her relationship with her daughter.

"Mom, are you okay?" Lauren asked, placing a warm hand over her mother's hand as they sat side by side inside the car. "Aren't you feeling well? We're almost there."

"No. I'm okay." Clara shook her head as she smiled appreciatively at Lauren. "I was just thinking how Warren will react when he sees me."

"I'm sure he'd be glad," Y/N chimed in, smiling reassuringly at Clara. "I told him about you and he had to take his time sinking in the fact that you're still alive but I think that he's ready to see you in person now."

"About that. Is there any hotel you can recommend for us to stay in?"

"Well, we have a few guest rooms in the house that we can offer you but if you're not comfortable with that, we have the Pyramids not too far from Ryford Hills," Y/N suggested. "I'll have someone to take you there and accomodate you with everything."

"We'll take the Pyramids," Clara said. "How are the prices there? I also want to catch up with Warren and it might take days convincing him about my proposal."

Lauren's eyes widened at this. "You're not going to marry him, are you?"

"Lauren!" Clara exclaimed as her cheeks blushed furiously. "That's an absurd thought! What made you think that I'd want to marry him?"

Lauren bit her lip, shrugging. "Well, I'd find Warren extremely good-looking if I was your age and you've been alone for many years so, I thought that maybe the proposal you're talking about that is an actual marriage proposal."

Clara laughed as she playfully slapped her daughter's arm. "I think you got that crazy head of yours from your father."

"Too soon, Mom," Lauren said as she leaned back on her seat, crossing her arms over her chest. "Too soon."

Y/N's eyes instinctively focused on the bruise on Lauren's cheek, her hands curling into fists. The memory of Mike slapping her girlfriend made her chest heave with anger, thinking what she could've done if she wasn't stopped by Chris. She turned away from the green-eyed girl before she could even finish her thoughts. Violence was taking over her again and although she knew that it wasn't the solution, she couldn't think of anything else that could give them justice for what he did to Lauren. It was an eye for an eye. No one could hurt Lauren like that. Not even her own father. Especially not him.

After ten minutes, the wide gates of Y/N's mansion opened upon their arrival. The car stopped by the front porch, where Julia, Brooke, and Chris stood. At least three inches of snow covered Cincinnati, and the mansion was enthusiastic with the Christmas decorations around it. The various colors of countless Christmas lights brightened the mansion, an entire spectrum reflecting Y/N's eyes and instantly lighting them up just as Lauren looked over to see her expression. It was evening and the lights coming from the mansion made it seem like it was still morning, creating shadows that emphasized Y/N's godly features. Her eyes were in the color of electric blue under the LED lights and her cheeks were pink from the snow. She looked like an angel but the fierceness in the depth of her eyes reminded Lauren that she was more like a guardian—a fighter. Y/N was admirable for her looks—that was a given—but being in love with her personality, her mind, and her soul, was completely different. When she thought about the things that the billionaire did for her, looking at her was like having a palpitation. Lauren's chest would contract in a beautiful way, to the point where she was almost choking as if her breath was being taken away from her, and all at once, she'd realize that it was because of how much she loved Y/N. Looking at the greatest thing in the world was almost physically painful.