Emotional blackmail

"Alice, I think you should stay home today. It's been a week since you came home, so many days have passed without me seeing my son. Now that you're here, how about spending some time with me," Daisy softly spoke as she gently stroked Alice's hair while he lay on her lap.

She didn't know how to communicate with him. He had been absent for a whole week, immersed in work, and hadn't returned home. She felt restless and tense all week.

She reached out to his assistant and handled everything, but it seemed like he was ignoring her or avoiding seeing her face.

This was unprecedented; no matter how busy Alice was, he always came home for dinner and breakfast, making it a ritual for them.

But since Alisha left, he had changed. He was always a workaholic, but now it seemed intensified, and Daisy couldn't do anything about it.

Daisy didn't want to pressure him. Whatever had happened, she felt it was better not to agitate him further, especially considering it was Alice.

"Mom, I know I have a lot of work. I'm already here today, but I have to go back to the office in a few hours. I apologise for causing you distress, but the workload piled up," Alice softly replied.

He was aware of how his absence had kept his mother on edge. Everything around him reminded him of Alisha, and burying himself in work was his way of avoiding thoughts of her.

His office, his car, everything reminded him of her meaningless chatter and innocent eyes. Memories of their time together played in his head like a broken record, tormenting him.

Throughout his life, he had believed himself devoid of emotions, prioritising money and power above all else. But one girl had shattered his walls and filled him with emotions he never knew he had.

Now, whenever he was free or closed his eyes, he could only think of his ‘Angel’.

Her absence left him feeling as abandoned as he had when his father left.

Everyone seemed the same to him, which is why he avoided investing his emotions in anyone. Yet, he had unwittingly invested himself in her, as if she were his lifeline.

And she was, there was no denying it. He wasn't avoiding action because he couldn't; rather, he had too many conflicting plans, none of which seemed rational enough to execute.

One part of him pursued his desires, while another reminded him that such actions would only make her despise him more. Not that her hatred mattered; her mere presence was all that mattered to him.

But he couldn't bring himself to meet her with his sanity intact. This time, he sought her out to embrace his insanity without restraint.

He remembered vividly how she had walked out of his house, wearing only his shirt, driving him mad with desire.

Only he understood how she had driven him to the brink of insanity, occupying his every thought. Yet, she remained oblivious to his feelings, consumed by thoughts of leaving him.

"But you could spare some time for me too, son," Daisy whined, her voice tinged with sadness.

She couldn't understand why her son was so stubborn, why he seemed unwilling to hear her out. And it was true; he never did.

"Mom, it's not like that. Please try to understand. I have work, and there's nothing I can do about it," Alice said, lifting his head to meet his brother's sorrowful gaze. He hated being the cause of his mother's sadness; it wasn't who he was.

He did enough by being born, and his mother had struggled too much because of him; now, being the reason for her sadness was clearly not who he was.

"No, you've changed, Alice. I never imagined my son would leave me feeling this alone. I've always cherished your company, but now it seems you love your office more than your mom," Daisy emotionally pleaded, attempting to guilt him into reconsidering.

She knew that, no matter what, his work seemed to hold more importance to him than anything else. Her son might have flaws, but he had never been unkind to her. Despite her demands and desires, he usually compiled, even if he didn't agree.

That's why on the day she intervened to stop Alice from hurting Alisha, he relented. Truth be told, when it came to Alisha, Daisy felt powerless. But she was determined to pull her son out of the depression he seemed to be drowning in.

She knew she had to find a way to reach him, to break through the walls he had built around himself since Alisha's departure. Daisy refused to give up on him, even if it meant confronting the uncomfortable truths and facing his resistance head-on.

"Alice, please, I understand you have responsibilities, but don't let work consume you completely. Your well-being matters just as much as your career. Let me help you, let us help each other through this difficult time," Daisy implored, her voice filled with love and concern for her son.

She hoped her words would penetrate the armour he had erected, allowing him to realise that he didn't have to face his pain alone.

Alice sighed, feeling the weight of his mother's words bearing down on him.

"How about I work today, and tomorrow we can go for an outing? Wouldn't that be great? Tomorrow, my whole day will be yours, and there will be no disturbances," he proposed, attempting to strike a compromise.

He knew he couldn't resist his mother's persistent affection and concern. In her presence, he felt both blessed and guilty, knowing he had a mother who cared for him deeply. She never hesitated to shower him with the love of both a father and a mother, single-handedly filling the void left by his absent father.

Daisy's eyes softened with gratitude and relief as she heard Alice's proposal. The flicker of hope ignited within her heart, knowing that her son was willing to make an effort, even amidst his own struggles.

"Oh, Alice, that would be wonderful! Just spending time with you means the world to me," she exclaimed, her voice tinged with emotion. She reached out and gently squeezed his hand, a silent gesture of appreciation for his willingness to prioritize their bond.

"Then it's settled. We're going for an outing tomorrow."