Chapter 189:
The Buck Stops Here
VIOLETTE’S GRIP TIGHTENED on Yulan’s sleeve. She was trembling. When he placed a hand on hers, he found her both sweaty and faintly cold. Her lips were pursed tightly, and she was staring at one specific spot in the middle distance, unblinking.
He could only imagine how many long years she’d endured this specific brand of motherly love. Her entire life, if he had to guess.
“You don’t have to hear it. Or see it. It’s okay to close your eyes.”
Placing both hands over her ears, he turned her head to face him. As her gaze darted to and fro, he intercepted it with a firm smile. If the traumatic memories were too powerful for her to fight, then he would simply have to pull her out of them himself.
One smile from Yulan and Violette’s tense body relaxed. Then she took his suggestion and closed her eyes. Her hands reached up and cupped his, and just like that, she could breathe again. Likewise, Yulan heaved a sigh of relief. With his hands still covering her ears, he shot a sidelong glance at the imploding family.
He had thought of this place as a dollhouse. Instead it was a sandcastle, so easily destroyed with the lightest impact. All trace of it had been washed away; there was no need for him to stomp on it himself. And yet…
There, for the first time since they arrived, his smile became genuine.
“…Well, that’s all we have to announce at this time. We shall now take our leave.”
Elfa turned to look at him in surprise, her expression so sincere that he nearly burst out laughing. It was as if she was completely unaware that she’d just smashed up her own household. And why would she understand? For her, nothing had changed since the moment she met Auld, years and years ago, long before they were ever married. Only now did the rest of them realize it.
“She will be my bride, no exceptions, no substitutions. That was our agreement.”
“I see… What a shame.”
She slumped her shoulders in disappointment but didn’t press the issue further, as if it were no less important than the news that her favorite flavor of ice cream was sold out at the parlor. She would have preferred keeping Violette, the daughter who looked so much like her husband, but she was willing to settle for Maryjune. The one she loved with her heart and soul was Auld—and no one else.
Yulan was tempted to have a good chuckle at her single-minded love crushing the spirit of its intended recipient, but there were more pressing matters at hand. He needed to get Violette out of there posthaste.
“Once we’ve moved everything out of her old room, we’ll see ourselves out. Don’t mind us. Continue.”
With one arm around her back, he eased Violette up onto her feet. Although she seemed a bit calmer now, her complexion was still ashen, and he felt the chill of her skin through her clothes. He turned his condescending smile on Auld, who looked to be in even worse shape than his daughter.
When he found Elfa, he must have thought he’d escaped from Bellerose. Being with her surely felt like living in paradise. After all, any woman who offered love without strings attached would seem like a saint in comparison to a jealous monster. Everything he’d loved and everything he’d despised—in an instant, it had all imploded into one person.
What was running through that smooth brain of his? If Auld were even halfway intelligent he could extrapolate what the future would look like. He no longer had a scapegoat for his failings. Violette was done being his punching bag. He was finished.
“I’m sure the three of you have much to discuss.”
God, how I’ve longed to see that look on your face.