ᴛᴀɪɴᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ʜᴇʀ

ᴛᴡᴇɴᴛʏ ᴏɴᴇ

Ciel's body tensed the moment he stepped into the living room, his eyes locking onto the familiar figure standing near the entrance. His mother stood with her arms crossed, her sharp gaze flickering between him and Akira, who remained slumped on the couch, barely conscious.

His heart sank. He wasn't in the mood for this.

"Not now," he thought, already exhausted from the morning's events.

"Mother... what are you doing here?" he asked, his voice edged with shock and irritation.

Mrs. Chadwick arched a perfectly manicured brow, tilting her head in mock surprise. "Oh? Can I not visit my own son anymore?" she asked, her tone dripping with condescension.

Ciel exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple. "Of course, you can, but—" He cut himself off, knowing this wasn't going to be a simple visit.

Without waiting for her response, he stepped past her, gently lowering Akira onto the couch. He brushed a strand of hair from her face and murmured, "Stay here, okay?" He had to tell her more than once before she finally sat back, lips pursed in a small pout.

A tense silence hung between them before his mother spoke again.

"Well?" she pressed. "Are you going to tell me who that is?" She gestured toward Akira with a look of thinly veiled disgust. "I never thought you'd associate yourself with her kind."

Ciel's entire body went rigid.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" His voice was low, warning.

Mrs. Chadwick scoffed, waving a dismissive hand. "Oh, don't act so naive. It's obvious she's beneath us in class, in status, in col—"

"Mother," Ciel interrupted, his voice sharp. "If you finish that sentence, you're only going to make me angrier."

His tone was laced with such fury that Mrs. Chadwick actually flinched. She had never seen her son like this before not with this much heat behind his words.

"I was merely stating the facts, darling," she said, her voice softening as if that would somehow lessen the blow.

Ciel clenched his jaw, his hands curling into fists. "Get out." His voice was eerily calm, his anger simmering just beneath the surface.

Mrs. Chadwick gasped. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me. Get. The fuck. Out." His chest rose and fell heavily as he fought to keep his temper in check. "I'm so done with this. So what if she's Black? So what? She's beautiful, she's smart, and most importantly—I love her."

His mother's eyes widened, shock flashing across her face. "Ciel, don't be ridiculous," she said, reaching out to touch his arm, but he took a step back, out of reach.

A tear slipped down her cheek. "I—I can't allow this. That Jezebel, she's changed you! My sweet boy, what has she done to you?" She sobbed, clutching her chest like she was in physical pain.

Ciel swallowed hard, his emotions warring within him. As much as he despised seeing his mother cry, he wasn't going to let her manipulate him. Not this time.

"Mother, stop," he said, his voice softer but still firm. "Akira didn't do anything. You are the one making this difficult."

"You were never like this before," she whispered, shaking her head. "I should've never let you live on your own. You were my perfect boy, and now—" Her voice cracked. "Come back home, won't you? My baby..."

Ciel took a slow breath. "No, Mother. I don't want to."

Mrs. Chadwick's face hardened. "You cannot be with her, Ciel. What can she possibly bring to the table? Other than her plate?"