Chapter 6

Sebastian ought to stay silent and listen to everything that his mother says. The dynamic between them had always been like that before. 

He still remembered this phone call that his mother made before he consummated his marriage with Winter, and he truly believed his mother's words, making him nervous that he would see a monster under that makeup. 

But not this time.

Not when he knew damn well how gorgeous his wife was, even without her makeup on. 

"I've seen her without makeup before. She's even more beautiful bare-faced," Sebastian replied. "So I don't need to be scared of anything, Mom."

"What the hell are you talking about? You two barely spend any time together, and that woman is so reserved. There's no way you've seen her bare-faced," Camilla pointed out, leaving Sebastian momentarily silenced again.

He realized she was right. He had only seen Winter without makeup after they were married, not before. 

"You don't need to defend that woman, seriously. Just because you get married to her doesn't mean that you need to be affectionate," Camilla continued. "You're better than this, Sebastian. You have a bright future ahead. Why would you waste it on a widow ten years older than you?"

She didn't stop there. "Besides, she's old, frail, and stupid. Don't you know that she had two miscarriages with her late husband? If any child is born from that womb, they'd probably be a retard," Camilla chuckled, finding her own joke funny. "Please don't get her pregnant, I don't want a retarded grandchild."

"Take that back, Mom," Sebastian said as his mood soured.

"Take what back? That any child from her belly would turn out to be a retard?" Camilla sneered. "But it's true. That's why I'm warning you not to get her pregnant. Oh well, even if you did, I know a good abortion clinic to kill that retarded baby."

"YOU WITCH! TAKE THAT BACK!"

…

There was a long silence after Sebastian suddenly snapped at his mother. Both of them were in too much shock, until Camilla raised her voice as well. 

"Sebastian Saenz! How could you call your own mother a witch?!"

"I–" Sebastian was also stunned by his own words. He was taught to stay quiet and listen to his mother's words, but there was a switch in his mind, telling him to refute that slander immediately or else, he had no right to show his face in front of Winter anymore.

In his previous life, Camilla also slandered Winter a lot, mocking her for her sickly body and her miscarriages, but Sebastian said nothing because he thought it was all true, or maybe he was just too scared to fight back against his mother. 

'Have I always been this much of a doormat to my mother?' Sebastian asked himself. 'Even after she mocked Winter's miscarriages, I still can't stand up to defend her, my own wife…'

Slowly, but surely, he found this urge to fight back. Not for himself, but for his wife who had been mocked by someone else. 

Unfortunately, if he continued to snap at his mother, she might grow suspicious of his sudden rebellious attitude. So, for now, it was better to play it smart and stay silent.

"Sorry, Mom. I was confused. I think the alcohol got into me…" Sebastian lied. His chest heaved as he tried to suppress his anger towards his mother.

"You're scaring me, Seb. That woman is so poisonous. You just got married and you're already yelling at the mother who raised you. Who knows what'll happen next?" Camilla said with a frown. Her son had never raised his voice to her like this or even spoken to her like that. The wedding and alcohol must have confused him with her and that widow. 

"And don't be too sweet with her, alright? She needs to know her place."

"Mm… I understand…" Sebastian murmured.

"I'm telling you all this for your own good, Sebastian Saenz," Camilla gave her last advice before she decided to give her son some privacy. "Talk to you in the morning, son. Momma loves you!"

Beep.

—

Sebastian slammed his phone down as he just finished the call. He buried his face in his hands and grunted frustratedly, feeling a wave of shame wash over him for not defending his wife sooner. 

If only he had noticed how condescending his mother was in his previous life, maybe Winter wouldn't have to suffer and die... 

"Sebastian Saenz. You are a fucking pathetic momma's boy."