Mates 73
Chapter 73
FREDA WHITLOCK
I couldn’t stop myself from brewing in anger as I navigated the car through traffic. After Georgina’s
usation in Dad’s ward, I chose to leave and Lyra came along. I couldn’t stand it. It had been
days since this ident happened and for whatever reason, me and my son were taking the brunt.
On my knees, I apologized. Word would soon be out there about my assumed wrongdoing. People
would re at me and look at my son with disdain. They would think I brought him up as a
troublesome boy whereas he was not close to that. All this was because of a baseless usation
made by the Luna. The thought left a bitter taste in my mouth and my grip on the steering wheel
tightened.
Safiya’s ploy to defame me had finally pulled through. That sick woman! The hatred toward her
steamed in my chest leaving a painful tug. I had never hated someone before and the feeling was
more like holding tightly onto thorns and I wasn’tfortable with it one bit. But she had iting.
She deserved it for all her interference in my life.
wore
My mind wandered to the string of past events. Things happening so fast and not in my favor even
though I was in the right. The weight of the situation on my shoulders was causing me to have a
m**l breakdown. I was worried for my son. He was my top priority and I failed him.
Tears stung my eyes and I gulped down the painful lump in my
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throat as I blinked them back. I didn’t want to break down before Francisco. There was a lot that
had happened before him already that shouldn’t have. He was a child but I knew he was
traumatized by the myriad of events.
First, he had been involved in a life-threatening ident and then was med for it at every single
chance. How much more would he witness? There was more, my heart knew it and it worried me. Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g
Returning to this ce was the worst decision I had ever made in my life even though I did so for
Dad’s sake. Now, I felt like a terrible daughter for thinking that way.
Goddess, I’m a mess!
My hands were trembling slightly against the steering wheel as tears welled up in my eyes. I sniffled
silently and blinked them back yet again quite aware of Cisco’s gaze boring holes at the side of my
face. My eyes caught Lyra’s through the rearview mirror and she nodded at me, motioning me to
smile. She had seen through my facade of keeping it together
I gulped down with difficulty and forced a smile. She leaned forward and rubbed my shoulder. Her
touch left warmth in my chest. I couldn’t say anything because I knew if I let my mouth open, I would
be bawling my eyes out.
She leaned back against the chair, seething with anger. Cisco was in the passenger’s seat in front.
Initially, ying games on my cell but now, he was staring at me with all concentration.
N pulled the car over when we caught up with traffic and forced a cheery expression before looking
at him.
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“What level are you on?” I was making small talk to distract him from whatever he was thinking that
was making him worried.
Lyra and I exchanged nces and she nodded. She knew I was trying to distract myself. She
knows everything and I couldn’t love her more. “Fifteen? That’s impressive!” I was wowed when I
peeked into my cell to see the level he was at in the game Lyra had downloaded for him.
“That was fast, kiddo. I’m at twenty” Lyra chimed in, gasping dramatically as she pulled out her
phone.
Cisco didn’t seem phased by the talk, his eyes were still on me.
“Mom, my teacher says it’s not good to hold back one’s tears” He stated, the worry wiped away,
reced with a rxed smile.
My breath caught in my chest and my lips parted. There was a brief exchange of nces between
Lyra and I before I spoke
“Well, your teacher is right but why did you suddenly bring it up?” Surely, he hadn’t seen me trying
hard to contain myself, right?
“You look like you want to cry Mom” His voice was quiet but his smile unwavering. The tears I had
pushed back resurfaced and threatened to spill. Howe? Howe he saw through me with
that much uracy? My hands shook as I moved them from the steering wheel to myp.
I shook my head and wore a huge smile, “I don’t want to cry dear. Something just got into my eyes”
A faux smile
apanied by a lie. ssic tales for a child, except my big boy didn’t buy it.
He grinned, “Mom, there’s nothing in your eyes. If something got
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in there, you would ask Aunt Lyra to check but you didn’t – If you want to cry…” He paused, “Cry.
It’s not a bad thing. I do that a lot” He frowned as though he remembered something unpleasant
and I knew what. In the past few days, he had cried a lot, I feared he’d fall ill but here he was,
healthy, giving me the one advice I never thought I’d need.
My tears dropped in torrents as I nodded frantically. I would do anything for my son including letting
my tears out if he wanted. He was always thoughtful of me but today made me see how perceptive
he was. He had the mind of a wise adult. He wanted what was best for me and everyone. My
thoughtful boy.
One of the best things I had in life. Fransisco.
“Aww… Kiddo” Lyra also seemed to catch on to the emotions and she wiped a stray tear from her
face as she rubbed my shoulder. “You’re the best son ever. I envy you, Freeds”
Her remark made me chuckle through the tears and sheughed.
Traffic began to move and I quickly returned my attention to driving. Now, moreposed than
before. No more thoughts were racking my brain. I felt better, free even.
Cisco suddenly spoke, “Mom, I promise I didn’t push Harper. It was an ident. And when she’s
awake, I’ll ask her to tell the truth so her mother will say sorry to you”
His words were a warm pat to my heart but at the same time, made me recall something and I hit
the brakes, bringing the car to an abrupt halt by the road.