CHAPTER 21

Lisa's POV

I conclude that Grandma isn't at home after knocking repeatedly without receiving an answer.

Despite the fact that it is still early in the morning, I am perplexed by her absence at home. She must have gone someplace.

I have no doubt that she will return to her previous job or hunt for another one now that her legs are recovered. Grandma was saddened by the fact that she could still not use her legs since she is not the kind to remain at home and is industrious.

She often laments her discomfort, but her complaints about being unable to leave the home by herself were more numerous.

I wished for her to regain her life. Another thing was the ache. It was sufficient justification for me to hunt for a quick fix. It was something I wanted gone. Anything that prevents us from being joyful should be removed.

We were thrilled even though we didn't have enough money before she lost her legs. Grandma's delight was short-lived since she lost her legs and turned into a shell of her former self.

I used to believe that she was feigning happiness for me all the time. just so I may also be happy. But I understand that Grandma is a content person who constantly strives to make herself happy regardless of the circumstances.

Happiness will never be a factor to consider if we are to look at what life has thrown at us.

Despite having money, we are still not content. Grandma was often depressed since money was the only thing preventing her from regaining her legs.

The money is now present, but the joy is gone.

Why must everything be this way? Is Damien not content? What about further billionaires? Aren't these well-off folks content as well? They used to claim that money could do anything and solve every issue on Earth.

My newlywed Damien is obviously not a happy guy, but I haven't figured out why.

He seems damaged. I never observed him having this quality. I always believed he was being rude on purpose while I was his secretary. He was harsh and conceited because, as the CEO, he wanted things done his way, but I now know better.

Damien doesn't mean to be cruel.

He isn't a cheerful dude. He is nothing more than an empty shell.

How is it possible for a guy to marry a woman and demand that there be no conditions if there are none?

I had no reason to be concerned about this, but now that I think about it, I feel as if it is unusual and out of the ordinary.

His work is unimportant to this.

I'm not thinking about having sex with him because I want to; rather, I'm simply interested in finding out what's going on and how this marriage came to be.

I didn't ask him before I started this since I was in desperate need of the money, but now that I'm curious, I'm hoping if I do, he'll be able to answer my questions.

The expression of sadness, remorse, regrets, and suffering in the eyes speaks volumes.

Damien isn't acting pleased since he isn't able to. He is having trouble letting go of something and making an effort to seem joyful when he is not.

Before being married, I didn't pay much attention to this, but now that I think about it, I'll make sure to answer all the WHYs that keep coming to mind and pique my interest.

I want to know what occurred, and if I can, I'll try to assist him. Damien is a decent person.

"What in the name of hell are you doing in my house?!" I am abruptly awakened from my trance by Grandma's loud voice, and I look up from the porch I am sitting on to find her standing there looking furious. She seemed to have just returned from a major excursion.

She isn't dressed in any of the outfits that we both got for her; instead, she is still in one of her old garments and is resting in the bag that she typically removes.

One of her favorite outfits is the blue gown she is wearing. She wears it on formal occasions.

I should have anticipated that she would continue to feel upset and angry. I ought to have given her ample time to comprehend and acclimate to the reality.

Isn't this a little early? As I bite my lips in remorse, I doubt myself inside.

I assumed it would be simple to persuade her, so we can go on with our plans to pack up her stuff and move her to the new home Damien found for her. However, it seems that it won't be feasible.

She trusted Juliet rather than me. I can't lie to her any longer because she knows I'm lying.

I can't tell her the truth now and genuinely expect her to trust me afterward. She'll be too badly injured.

What the heck are you doing here, Lisa, I asked. She shouts as she approaches me slowly and menacingly.

I get up and reach out to touch her, but she recoils with a disgusted grimace on her face.

As I gaze down, I sigh. I didn't realize it would be this difficult.

"Leave!" She yells, pointing behind her, her chest thumping in rage.

I grab her hand and say, "Grandma, you need to listen to me," but she pushes my fingers away angrily.

"I advised you to leave and never return. You stopped being my daughter the minute you lied to me, she says as a tear slides down her cheek. This causes my remorse to return.

She attempts to move by me after a long period of silence.

I catch myself exclaiming, "Grandma, I didn't lie," as I turn to face the door and see her go.

She stays silent, so I dash over to her to prevent her from using her keys to unlock the door. I'm sorry I don't have my key anymore. Grandma doesn't have to listen to me if she leaves the room.

I wouldn't trouble myself too much if I had my keys. However, I left it at home.

I pull her hands away from the doorknob and say, "You need to listen to me, Mother."

She quickly spins back, "You have no right to call me that name," in response.

I say adamantly, "You can't stop being my mother." She is a resolute person, and when I want to be, I can be as well.

Isn't this response going too far? She should at least listen to what I have to say.

She smacks me across the face while raising her right hand in the air. I feel the sting of the slap, and I struggle through the agony as I blink to recover my footing.

When a tear starts to fall from my eye, I realize that I cannot bear it and I immediately start crying more freely.

"You lied to me, and you want to keep lying to me now? Do you not feel shame? Do you believe I am ignorant? You treated me like a fool, and now you want me to keep using the title "Mother"?

I keep quiet. I'm at a loss for words with her. I didn't anticipate this.

I felt rested this morning after last night, and I had a glimmer of optimism that all will be settled today.

The optimism has now been crushed. It has fallen to the ground and been broken into fragments that can no longer be joined.

Do you believe that I am a fool? Since I've been a mother for 40 years, I can tell when something isn't quite right with my kid. Lisa, you lied to me. Is it reparable?

I say, "You believed Juliet over me," and she laughs.

One of the reasons I am upset with her is because of this. Juliet is no longer a friend; instead, she is an antagonist who opposes my advancement. She aspires to reach where I am and would stop at nothing to damage my reputation.

Is it your only worry? She growls. "Your main worry is that Juliet may turn on you? You don't care that you lied to me repeatedly to hide your first true lie, not just once, are you?

I can't even speak. Should I simply be honest with her? Grandma won't be quick to pardon me. Given how difficult it may be, I have never considered offending her.

Now that it's occurred, I must make up for my errors. Additionally, Damien can't let the lovely house he bought her go to waste.

I murmur, "I'm sorry," bowing my head and choking back my emotions.

My foot, I'm sorry. She tells me to "get lost" and puts the key in the lock so she can enter, unlock the door, and leave me here until I'm exhausted and have no option but to leave. But I have to resolve this before I depart.

My only living relative is Grandma. I now just have her as a friend.

I clutch Grandma's hand while crying aloud and say, "I'm sorry, Grandma." She attempts to get her hand away from mine, but I have a firm grip. We battle until I lose balance and start to fall backward.

My buttocks touch the porch edge as I fall to the ground, and I whimper in agony as more tears flow from my eyes.

"Go away!" She grinds her teeth and doesn't seem to care how I feel.

I muster up the confidence to yell at her as she turns to enter. "Mom, I completed this for you!"

She slows down but does not turn around. She could be thinking that I'm using this as a ruse to get her to listen to me.

Although I didn't want to, I now have no option but to tell her the truth.

I add in a loud voice while crying loudly and not bothering to stand up after falling. "Mother, I did this for you. I'm carrying this out for you.

She becomes stiff for a time, and she must have realized that this is related to both the money Damien gave me and the leg surgery she had, which she continued questioning me about.

"I was forced to do this due to your leg. because I want the anguish to end. This is the need for acquiring the agile lady who was formerly my mother. I yell at her, "Now tell me where I went wrong.

With the exception of my shrill shouts, silence falls. She makes a sharp turn back, frowning.

She approaches me slowly, hits me across the face with her palm once again, then marches back to the door, slams it shut in my face, and enters the home.