Promise from the heart

Chapter 39

She scoffed but didn't move a muscle.
"You know, when you, old lady Anna's grandson, came to our school, I was the only one who gave you a benefit of a doubt. Everyone thought you'd be bat shit crazy too. But I defended you. I told them that no one got to choose their family, and just because your grandmother was a freak of nature didn't mean you were one too. You could be perfectly normal, and they'd have avoided you for nothing. If it wasn't for me, you'd have spent your high school years all alone."

She put her hand on his chest and pursed her lips. "But you were so damn oblivious. Even though I got people to approach you, you were stupid enough to keep talking about her, keep visiting her. And she was no better. If she only had listened to me when I-"

Jade firmly grasped her wrist. "When you what? What did you do, Freda?" he spat.

She tore her wrist from his grip and rubbed it. "You should thank me, you know. I just told her the truth. When you were at practice, I went to your house to speak to her. I told her that being associated with her was social suicide for you, and that she was ruining your life. I asked her to let you go, tell you to leave so you could be happy. The crazy old bat didn't get it though." She rolled her eyes.

Jade opened his mouth to speak, but Freda continued. "She told me that she raised you better than that. That you would never let anyone else dictate who you spent your time with. That if you wanted to leave, she would never hold you back, but she would take care of you as long as she could. Such a selfish woman. She didn't care she was ruining your chances of being popular and having a real life." She shook her head and her lips curled upward slowly. "It didn't matter though. Turned out I didn't need to have a talk with her. Karma got her in the end. She dropped dead a few weeks later. Served her right."

Freda stood there smirking while casually inspecting her nails, completely oblivious to the livid man in front of her who had started shaking with rage.

"You vicious, hateful piece of garbage." He said in a low voice and her eyes shot up, completely shocked.

"You think I wanted to go to that high school? With a bunch of stuck up pricks who couldn't tell their own heads from their asses? Do you know even know why I went there?"

She raised an eyebrow. "To get away from the crazy lady of course."

Jade ignored her. "I only went there for her sake. Because that wonderful amazing woman who I owe my life to, wanted me to have a big life and experience everything I possibly could. I was content with spending time with her and my real friends and being home-schooled. But she had done everything for me, and spent her old age taking care of me. So I agreed. I went to high school because I owed her as much. Because I owed her everything."

He took a few deep breaths and pulled his fingers through his hair.

"You never did me any favours. I never had any interest in being popular or hanging out with those daft fools you tried to get to hang out with me. Honestly, you are even worse than they were. Because while they were simply hateful, you were downright cruel, even going so far as to try and break someone's family, and you still believed you were doing good. That you were doing me a favour. If anyone is crazy, it's you."

"Excuse me!?"

"No, I will not excuse you. Because you are fucking inexcusable. My grandmother was a loving woman who didn't have a selfish bone in her body and her death destroyed me. I would gladly choose her over you and those twats in that school any day of the week. And those two darling girls sleeping two doors down," he stared her down, "they are just like my grandmother. They are kind, and sweet and intelligent. They are everything to me and I will do anything to keep them safe. I knew that you had a difficult time bonding, but I had no idea you were this emotionally detached. Did you even love me?"

"Of course, I did. Don't you see? That's why I spoke to your grandmother. That's why I asked you to leave with me, to leave the girls behind. Even if you are blind, I can see what is best for you. They're worthless and they'll only bring you down with them. They're like poison."

"Get out." He spat.

She walked slowly toward the bedroom door but stopped in the opening. "I'm still young and beautiful, and I have money. I can easily get a new man and I have my whole life ahead of me. But you? You are still old lady Anna's boy, only now you're also stuck with two children who are also unnatural and evil, just like your grandmother was. Since I met you, you've always been so stupid. Sticking to and defending the wrong people. Having this ridiculous notion that it's a good idea to be yourself." She shook her head. "It's because you insist on doing such things that no one will ever want you. You will never have a real life. I gave you a shot at something real, but it turns out our classmates were right. And you and your children are just like her."

She leaned forward and whispered in his ear, "Completely worthless." Then she sauntered off into the kitchen.