The Gold and the Forest

XXXV

Chapter 35: Autumn Wings

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He walked briskly through the rooms of his mother's house. A security guard made a move to stop him, but he sidestepped that and opened the door to his mother's study. When they made eye contact, they both had the same ice cold fury in their eyes.

Though he had the color his dad had, he had the same glare as his mother.

"Kade." Her voice was like stone. She had been standing, likely pacing around as she went through her notes. "You have a peculiar way of entering."

"Give it back."

"The apartment, is it?" His mother dragged a hand through her hair, sighing. "You come back for that?"

"Give me the fucking apartment, Mrs. Evans."

His mother returned her eyes to his, eyes paling in anger.

"Do not speak to me that way." She hissed, marching over to him.

Her high heels meant there was only an inch difference between them. He did not falter. He was angry enough to stand his ground.

"I'll speak however I want." He seethed. "You only got in the way. You never helped me at all. If I could, I would emancipate myself from this cursed family register."

She raised a hand to slap him, but then she stopped.

"Don't do that." She commanded, but her voice had a hint of exhaustion. "Do not."

"I would disown you—"

"Kade." She snapped. He stopped. He noticed his own pause and then he was ready to speak again when she walked back to her desk, picking something up. She stayed hovering over her desk, her back to him.

"Do you still plan on getting married with her?"

Kade searched for any malice in her voice, but arrived at nothing.

"Yes."

"Pack your bags."

"What?" He exclaimed. "I'm not coming back here!"

"You're going out of state to study somewhere else." She turned and looked him in the eye. "And she'll take the same business classes as you."

The room turned stock still.

"Inherit the company for me, Kade." His mother said, eyes tired and pleading.

In her place he saw a woman who had been raised to direct and manage. A woman who had power. Power she had to build up herself. A woman never ready for children, but she had them nevertheless. A woman who had lost her husband to a horrible disease that took him away too soon.

His tense shoulders went down, and his defensive stance relaxed.

"What?" His voice had gone quiet.

"I'll let you live the life you want. But I want our name to remain in this company."

"I know she doesn't want to be in her own home." She continued, talking about Min.

"Did you— Did you stalk her?" Kade asked incredulously.

"Angel told me." His mother leaned against her desk, sighing. "And—I have to know a bit about the woman my son is marrying."

Hearing his mother admit this fact made Kade's face explode into a bright crimson color.

"She doesn't have any connections. But we can work with what we have."

"Angel... talked to you about us?" He suddenly saw his own sister in a whole new light. "And you... you listened?"

His mother couldn't meet his gaze and shifted her arms uncomfortably. She cleared her throat in an authoritative manner. She stood up straight, holding herself in the usual way she does. "Bring her over this weekend. We will have a more formal talk."

Then she waved at him to leave. "Now go. I have matters to tend to."

"What about the apartment?" He asked, not wanting to leave just yet.

"For god's sake." She snapped. "Buy it back from me once you've got the money for it."

He frowned, spun on his heel and left, slamming the door behind him.

Alone in her office, she paced around some more before letting out a breath of relief, fingers touching the ring she had dangling on a chain around her neck.

---

Out of state. Her mother looked at her, betrayal clear in her face. She didn't want her to go out of state. She didn't want her to fly out of the nest so soon. She wanted her to come back soon.

"It's a full ride." Min's voice was meek, she had already told her parents about it. Her dad first looked at her incredulously. After they saw the papers, they knew that their daughter was leaving for real.

"Come back and visit when you can." Her mother urged, smoothing her daughter's hair.

She had packed. She put on her jacket. Staring at her mother at the door, and her father refusing to come out and see her.

Do whatever you want.

Min steeled her face. Her father had wanted her out of the house anyway. Her brother was still asleep. She had promised to text him later. Min's mom squinted in the harsh light of the hall. "Be safe." She mouthed.

"I will." Min whispered. "Goodbye, Mom."

"I love you, my dear."

Min swallowed. "I love you too."

She turned her head and left.

When she got into the backseat of the car, Kade was waiting for her. He gave her a tired smile. She sighed and curled up into him. Taken by surprise, he wrapped his arms around her.

"What is it?" He whispered into her hair as the car started driving away. "Regretting it?"

"I wish they could have been more supportive." Her voice was small.

He pressed his lips together, looking over her head and out the window at the dawning sky. He didn't know what to say. But there was nothing to be said about the years of hurt she was feeling inside of her. He understood that too. Free, but chained by fear.

It was a bloody mess to tear yourself free.

He held her tighter as she shed quiet tears. 

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