Not her mother

“So…umm…aren't you going in?” Danny asked when he got back and found Isabella pacing restlessly outside his office. It was getting dark, which meant the club had to open. Turning around, Isabella smiled faintly, then shifted her gaze inside Danny's office.

“No… I don't want to interrupt,” she said, shaking her head vigorously. Danny glanced inside his office and then back to Isabella.

“I thought you guys had a thing going on?” Danny asked as he crossed his arms over his chest. He knew something about Shawn and his little brother getting involved with Isabella.

“It's nothing…why don't you go in… I'll go downstairs and call Shania,” she quickly said and prepared to go when Danny grabbed her hand.

“There's no one here… I have a few things to do…why don't you keep him company until I get back,” he was glad Shawn was in town and agreed to come and help them. However, Isabella was hesitant. She didn't want to agree, but Danny was sinister enough to push her inside the office. Shawn, who had been looking at the computer, glanced up.

“Hey Shawn, she'll keep you company until I return,” Danny said with a chuckle and left right away. Isabella couldn't stand, her knees were already jelly.

“Hey,” she mumbled with an awkward wave of her hand. Shawn nodded and got back to work. Isabella was a little hesitant as she sat down on a different couch and watched Shawn pressing keys.

“It's been a while,” she said, breaking the awkward silence in the room. Shawn only nodded, which bothered Isabella greatly. He looked different. Scanning him from head to toe. Isabella saw how messy his hair was. He didn't look as if he had slept for days, seeing dark circles around his eyes.

“Shawn can we talk,” this time Isabella meant it? He left without saying a word. So much happened and none of it was cleared.

“I'm listening," he muttered without even looking at her. This irritated Isabella.

“At least look at me…damn it, Shawn!” She could hold her anger when she shoved the laptop off his lap and Shawn looked up at her disdainfully.

“What do you want…” he didn't feel like talking? He only came because it was Shania who needed help.

“You left without saying anything…you don't answer my calls, and you are always travelling,” if she didn't text him the problem, he wouldn't have shown up. Shawn wasn't happy.

“What else do you want…isn't it what you wanted,”

“This isn't fair… Shawn, please…” She felt something she couldn't explain. His cold, distant behavior was killing her.

“You sleep with him…or do you want both,” he remarked bitterly, surprising Isabella.

“Shawn…”

“I'm busy…please excuse me” saying that, he grabbed his laptop and some cables and walked away to Danny's desk. Isabella felt her chest tightening. Why did she feel this way? Why was he treating her like this? Without knowing, tears fell from her eyes.

___

On the other side, Shania and Christian arrived at her grandparents. To her shock, Madeline was there. Christian didn't like the tension in the room. Shania's grandparents didn't seem happy.

“Can you explain…why you decided to ruin our family's reputation," Madeline said and advanced? Shania dropped her purse on the couch and made her way in. Christian and Shania's grandfather already left the room. Although, Christian didn't want to leave her alone. It was a family thing.

“Madeline, calm down…she just arrived,” Shania's grandmother said, blinking at her granddaughter to relax. Of course, Shania was not afraid.

“Mother, this girl was given too much freedom…she ruined her life!” Madeline yelled, feeling ashamed to even look at her daughter.

“But don't scold her… I'm certain…”

“The only mistake I made was leaving her here…how could do something so cheap and disgusting,” Madeline went on venting her anger. All Shania did was listen silently. Despite the knot tightening in her chest. She kept calm. Suppressing anger and tears.

“I can't believe my daughter dances for men…filthy men,” Madeline added more, her expression of pure disgust.

“Stop it…you are going to make the poor girl cry” Shania's grandmother said, pulling Shania in her arms. But Madeline was not having it.

“Your flight is ready… I want you to leave the country until we solve this mess,” Madeline said and tossed some tickets and passports on the table. Shania was shocked as she glanced up and met Madeline's disdainful expression.

“W-what? What do you think you are doing…my beloved granddaughter is not keeping,”

“I'm her mother… I'm here to teach her the right way…as punishment…she'll leave the country,” Madeline remarked and averted her eyes away. However, Shania only let out a sarcastic laugh and wiped her tears.

“Mother? Hahaha, Madeline don't make me laugh,” it was ridiculous to hear Madeline say anything about teaching as a mother.

“Don't start…”

“You were never there…stop acting like some perfect mother when we know what you are!” Shania yelled as she walked to Madeline. Both mother and daughter stood face to face. Seeing Shania angry was rare. Her grandmother grew afraid of the outcome.

“What have you done as a mother…he died because of you… My father died because you were busy in another man's arms!” Shania yelled to Madeline's face that what greeted her next was a hard smack on the face which had Shania stumbling backwards.

“Madeline!” Her grandmother caught her before she could fall. By now the door burst open, Christian and Shania's grandfather rushed in.

“How dare you speak to me like that…you have no respect!” Madeline was not happy, she knew Shania disliked her, but she wasn't going to tolerate disrespect.

“Respect? Should I have respect for a woman who didn't love her husband…you couldn't wait for my father to die because…because you were willing to raise another woman's children than your own!” By now, tears had flooded Shania's face. She didn't even mind that Christian was there. It was hurting her a lot to know all these years Madeline had always pictured herself as the perfect mother.

“Sweetie, calm down,” Christian tried to calm Shania down, seeing how heavily she was breathing. Her face was drenched in sweat. He didn't like it when Shania got upset.

“I'm done here… I hate you more than you can imagine…you are not my mother!”