Chapter 156: Where Do I Stand?
With Nolan’s insistence, they ate a snack in the dining room.
Ashley ate watermelon that he had sliced for her, one hand cupped against her cheek, her mind drifting elsewhere.
Is it because I moved them here? She wondered. How come this never happened in my previous life?
Even though Ashley hadn’t cared much about Primo back then and had remained a stranger to him, she knew that his biological mother had never come into the picture — not once. Her expression soured as she took another bite.
I wonder what caused this.
She narrowed her eyes, wracking her brain. She understood that changing things from what she had known would lead to different outcomes. This, however, was not something she had anticipated at all.
"Madam, why don’t you try some of these as well?"
Ashley’s thoughts came to a halt at Nolan’s voice. She glanced at the large plate he was setting on the table, blinking several times before looking up at him.
"Nolan, why are you putting so much food out? I’m not a glutton," she said, plucking a grape from the fruit-laden plate. "I can’t finish all of this."
And yet, she kept eating anyway.
He chuckled. "You don’t have to finish it all. I just... I thought you might like them."
"Haha." She laughed softly and continued brainstorming between bites.
Meanwhile, Nolan sat across from her, studying her face. Ashley’s expression hadn’t shown much sadness from the start — nothing obvious, at least. But somehow, seeing her curled up in that corner earlier had made him sad, and looking at her now still did.
"Madam, about the guest..."
"Emma."
"Pardon?"
"Her name’s Emma," Ashley said in a matter-of-fact tone. "She’s Primo’s mom. Lucian told me about her, but... I don’t know how she ended up here. Maybe she wanted to see how we were living."
Nolan nodded. "I see."
"Wait — Nolan, you hadn’t seen her before either, right?"
"No," he said, lowering his head. "I didn’t know anything about the Young Master’s biological mother until now."
"Right?" she nodded. "Me neither."
Nolan glanced at her, sighing faintly. "Madam."
"Hmm?"
"I’m certain the master had a reason for letting her in," he said carefully. "I’m just saying... knowing him as I do, there must be a reason."
His words made her brows lift before a quiet laugh escaped her. "Nolan, what are you going on about?" She shook her head. "Of course, Lucian has a reason. That man always has a reason for everything. He just doesn’t say it even if you beg him to."
"You think I’m angry at him, don’t you?" she continued, reaching for another grape. "I’m not angry at Lucian. I’m just... I just didn’t want to be in an awkward position."
She looked at him pointedly. "She doesn’t know he’s married and mistook me for a maid."
Nolan frowned. "Madam."
"It’s okay." She reached out and patted his arm. "As I said, I just didn’t want to be in an awkward situation. Besides, it’s their reunion."
A mix of emotions flickered across Nolan’s face at her insistence. "But you are the madam."
"I know."
"Madam."
"I am Lucian’s wife, but she’s Primo’s mom," Ashley said, puffing her cheeks. "Primo has lived his entire life without a mother, and I don’t want to ruin this for him."
She paused, picking up another slice of watermelon. "I wouldn’t want that either, if it were me."
Even though she’d never had a mother herself... because hers had died a long time ago.
"I see," Nolan relented, steering the conversation somewhere lighter. "Anyway, what do you think of the fruit?"
"Good!"
He chuckled. "Should I start buying from these vendors regularly?"
"You should. Support local."
Nolan did his best to lift Ashley’s spirits, and could only hope it was working. As for Ashley, she meant every word she’d said — and could only hope that Primo and Emma were getting along next door.
*****
At the house next door, Emma sat beside Primo while Lucian stood in the corner. He glanced toward Nolan’s house, only to find that the curtain had already been drawn shut.
What is she doing in there? He wondered, but then his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of sniffling from the living room.
Emma sniffed, pressing the back of her hand to her lips.
"Primo," she called softly, stroking his hair. "You’ve grown up so much, haven’t you?"
Affection and longing swirled in her eyes as she rubbed his shoulder and squeezed his hand gently.
"My baby," she whispered, sliding off the couch to kneel before him. "Primo, it’s me. Mommy."
Her voice cracked as she smiled through her tears. "My boy has grown so big and handsome. I’m sorry it took me this long, but I will make it up to you, I promise."
Primo simply stared at the woman crying in front of him.
How strange, he thought. Even with her looking at him like that — with such deep, open longing — he felt nothing. Not a single thing. Was it because, despite her calling herself his mother, she was still a stranger to him?
"Primo," Emma said, taking both his hands in hers. "Are you still angry with me?"
"Primo doesn’t talk." Lucian’s voice came from the corner, quiet and distant.
Emma turned to him, confused. "What?" Then she looked back at her son, eyes wide. "He’s... mute?"
Lucian was about to explain, but decided to save that for another time.
Emma turned to Primo again, another tear slipping down her cheek, her lips trembling.
"I’m..." her voice broke. "...sorry."
*****
Emma stayed as long as she could, but when she brought up staying the night, Lucian shut it down immediately.
"I’ll come back tomorrow, okay?" Emma knelt before Primo, gazing at him with quiet adoration. "I can take him out tomorrow, right?"
She looked up at Lucian, but he didn’t answer.
"The weekend, then," she said, looking back at Primo. "Does that sound good?"
Primo didn’t answer, sliding his gaze away.
"I see." Emma laughed softly. "Go rest inside for now."
This time, he nodded.
She and Lucian watched him disappear back into the house before she turned to face him.
"Luka, thank you for this," she said sincerely. "I really thought you would never —"
"How did you find this place?"
"Huh?"
Unlike the restraint Lucian had exercised in Primo’s presence, the repulsion and displeasure in his eyes were things he could no longer conceal.
Emma swallowed. "I have my ways."
"Nikki?"
Emma pressed her lips together and took a small step back. "Luka, I know you’re still angry with me, but... I’ve changed."
She reached for his hand, only for him to pull it away. Emma’s smile stiffened as she withdrew hers.
"I’ll be back," she said, holding his gaze. "I know words don’t mean much to you. But I really have changed, Lu. And I won’t waste this chance you’ve given me to fix... our family."
Lucian studied the sincerity in her eyes, then let his gaze drift to the corner of the house, where a shadow stretched along the side wall.
"Just go," he said, giving her one last cold look.
Emma nodded and left in her car.
Lucian watched the vehicle disappear before walking around to the side of the house. And as he’d expected, Ashley was there — back pressed against the wall, the toe of her slipper idly scuffing the ground.
She was looking down at her feet. Without glancing up, she spoke.
"Lucian," she paused, her foot going still. "I didn’t think much of it when you told me. But if she came here to fix your family and not just for Primo’s sake..."
Ashley looked up at him. Her expression was neither cold nor distant. Not even sad. She met his eyes with nothing but plain, calm, and open curiosity.
"...where do I stand?"